Hidden Treasures

“In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3

Do you ever wonder why something turned out the way it did? Have you ever wondered why you weren't given a promotion at work? Have you ever wondered why you were passed up for a job that you felt you were a great candidate for? Maybe you took a test and didn't pass it. Maybe you didn't get the bid on the house you wanted. Maybe a relationship didn't go as planned. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. Sometimes, it is so hard to see at the time and it easy to question God and ask, "Why?"

I challenge you to look at some of these instances in your life that you didn't understand at the time. Look hard at these situations. Did they work themselves out in the end? Can you look at those situations now and see an even better outcome? Can you see why things worked out the way they did? Can you see the good that came out of the situation? I know it can be darn hard to see the good in situations that we feel should have gone our way.

I remember several years ago applying for an in-house position. I was so hurt when I didn't get the job. I felt I was the best candidate and didn't understand why I wasn't chosen. A few months later, a Director of Nursing position opened at a different facility. I decided to go for it and low and behold, I got the job. I worked at this facility for over 13 years. I gained a plethora of experience and lifelong friends. It was hard to start in a new facility where I didn't know a lot of people. It was even harder to leave a job I was comfortable in and knew well. God didn't fail me, and I didn't fail myself when I didn't get that in-house position I had applied for. I was being set up for bigger and better things to come. I saw this once I truly reflected on the whole picture.

I also remember Mark being passed up for a promotion at his work. This occurred when I was pregnant with Kalli. I remember him being so disappointed and I felt so bad for him. He didn't understand why. A couple months later I was life flighted to Minneapolis as doctors knew both our unborn baby (Kalli) and I were in potential trouble. Kalli was born at 27 weeks and spent over five months in the NICU in Minneapolis. After she came home, she had a lot of medical needs, and it required all hands-on deck. It required Mark, Me, my parents, and hired nursing care. God knew what he was doing when Mark didn't get that promotion. There was no way Mark would have been able to dedicate his time to both work and family had he gotten the promotion. Looking back, it was for the best.

During our early years of marriage, my parents lived in Colorado. We were close and it was hard for them to be so far away. I had Justine when they lived in Colorado. I was going to have my mom in the delivery room, but Justine came early, and she was unable to be with me. I understood. As you all know, several months after I had Justine, I found out I was pregnant with Bailee. Several months later my dad was asked to resign from his position in Colorado. He was shocked and very hurt. He thought that the job was going to take him to retirement. He was depressed, but he and my mom began the process of moving back to the farm in North Dakota. He didn't understand the timing and continued to feel inadequate (which was quite unusual for anyone that knew my dad). Once they were home, they focused on being grandparents. They asked for Justine to stay overnight with them on December 1, 1998. God knew why and soon so we would too. During the early morning hours of December 2, 1998, I started bleeding profusely. I was taken to St. Alexius in Bismarck where I had Bailee at 26 weeks. Bailee spent the next three months in the NICU. I have no idea what we would have done without the support of my parents. They often took Justine overnight or if Mark couldn't make the trip to Bismarck, my mom or dad would come with me. None of this would have been possible had my dad not lost his job in Colorado. God knew we needed my parents, and this was the "Why" my dad needed.

Bring us to present day. Starting this blog was hard for me. It made me vulnerable, but both Mark and I felt it was important to tell our story. I can tell all of you that I still don't know or understand the why of everything that has occurred over the past year plus. Maybe a good portion of it did occur so we could share our story and inspire even just one individual or one couple. If one individual decided to make a positive change or if one couple decided to do all they could to make their marriage work because they read about our story, then maybe it has been worthwhile. Maybe that would be our why.

Sometimes we need some time to pass so we can reflect on what has happened in our lives. Only then maybe we realize why certain things turned out the way they did. Maybe what we perceived as undesirable circumstances or bad omens turned out to be hidden treasures. Look back at some situations in your life and find your hidden treasures. See the good that has come from these situations and thank God. "There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed or hidden that will not be made known." Luke 12:2