I’m sure that God has attempted to change my heart many times in my life. But one recent time that comes to mind was in late June of this year, when I was hospitalized with two brain surgeries. I had been experiencing severe headaches, caused by a fall from a ladder two years earlier, in which I hit the top of my skull on the brick corner of our house. The surgeries were done to relieve the pressure from blood, which had accumulated on the brain, causing the headaches.
I had been working hard as a mental health therapist with children in foster care, and with parents who had children in care. But at the same time, I had been neglecting my wife, who was experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dimentia, as diagnosed by her neurologist. And I had been neglecting my own health, as well.
The Lord got my attention when I spent ten days in the hospital. I was able to quit my work as therapist, and spent the next six months recovering from my surgery, and caring for my dear wife, as together we assisted in various ways around our church.
God truly changed my heart, making me much more aware of how I need to care for my wife, as well as my own health. I may soon return to work as therapist on a very limited, part-time basis, but I will never forget that my first obligation is to my wife and family, and my own health.
Robert, thank you so much for your transparency—you have blessed me and many others in the ODJ community. It’s so special to read that God has given you and your wife another season of ministry together. I will pray for both of you today, praising God for your lives and testimony to God’s grace.
God has changed my heart towards people with wealth. I was very biased against anyone with a large amount of material goods. I didn’t really want to help them as a therapist. I preferred the poor. God has softened my heart and showed me my judgemental spirit. I can now have the same empathy and compassion towards wealthly clients as I have always had towards others.
I was not able to forgive my Ex husband who abused me for 7 yrs.
I was very bitter after the divorce and could not bring myself to forgive him.
God helped me to forgive him and now I am free from hate and bitterness. I had tried to do it by myself but I could not. I prayed and gave my pain and disappointment to God.
Through Gods help I am able to be friendly to my Ex husband although he hurt me so bad.
God has changed my behavior showing in little situation how to have patience, how to make silent and how to understand.
I was a girl that used to complain about the weather, one of the things that I used to do; after to have found God I am a person that think twince before starting to complain about. I learnt to give thanks instead of saying bad.
it seems a simple thing, but actually is a blessed behavior; give thank before to complain.
Robert on December 14, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I’m sure that God has attempted to change my heart many times in my life. But one recent time that comes to mind was in late June of this year, when I was hospitalized with two brain surgeries. I had been experiencing severe headaches, caused by a fall from a ladder two years earlier, in which I hit the top of my skull on the brick corner of our house. The surgeries were done to relieve the pressure from blood, which had accumulated on the brain, causing the headaches.
I had been working hard as a mental health therapist with children in foster care, and with parents who had children in care. But at the same time, I had been neglecting my wife, who was experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dimentia, as diagnosed by her neurologist. And I had been neglecting my own health, as well.
The Lord got my attention when I spent ten days in the hospital. I was able to quit my work as therapist, and spent the next six months recovering from my surgery, and caring for my dear wife, as together we assisted in various ways around our church.
God truly changed my heart, making me much more aware of how I need to care for my wife, as well as my own health. I may soon return to work as therapist on a very limited, part-time basis, but I will never forget that my first obligation is to my wife and family, and my own health.
tom felten on December 15, 2009 at 10:49 am
Robert, thank you so much for your transparency—you have blessed me and many others in the ODJ community. It’s so special to read that God has given you and your wife another season of ministry together. I will pray for both of you today, praising God for your lives and testimony to God’s grace.
lyndygayle on December 15, 2009 at 4:45 pm
Robert,
I love what you said.
God has changed my heart towards people with wealth. I was very biased against anyone with a large amount of material goods. I didn’t really want to help them as a therapist. I preferred the poor. God has softened my heart and showed me my judgemental spirit. I can now have the same empathy and compassion towards wealthly clients as I have always had towards others.
Yohance on December 16, 2009 at 2:12 pm
I was not able to forgive my Ex husband who abused me for 7 yrs.
I was very bitter after the divorce and could not bring myself to forgive him.
God helped me to forgive him and now I am free from hate and bitterness. I had tried to do it by myself but I could not. I prayed and gave my pain and disappointment to God.
Through Gods help I am able to be friendly to my Ex husband although he hurt me so bad.
Glory be to god God his faithfulness.
Miriam sena on December 17, 2009 at 6:43 pm
God has changed my behavior showing in little situation how to have patience, how to make silent and how to understand.
I was a girl that used to complain about the weather, one of the things that I used to do; after to have found God I am a person that think twince before starting to complain about. I learnt to give thanks instead of saying bad.
it seems a simple thing, but actually is a blessed behavior; give thank before to complain.