By Laura (Fernandez Troxel) Pickering
I was a good kid – I respected my elders, was helpful and kind, and typically did the “right thing”. But when I was 11 years old, staying with an older cousin, I did the WRONG thing.
We lied to her parents about skipping Vacation Bible School and I even stole a package of balloons from a nearby store.
That night I was heartsick – that’s not who I wanted to be! By my own puny efforts, I was not strong enough to resist the temptation to lie and steal.
The next day I returned to VBS and accepted Jesus as my Savior. I remember feeling so ecstatic that I didn’t walk – I skipped – and I couldn’t wipe the big grin off my face! I returned the balloons and eagerly continued to learn about Jesus.
I personalize Proverbs 3: 5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all my heart and learn not on my own understanding. In all my ways acknowledge Him and He will direct my paths.”
My faith in God and trust in Jesus helped me through the tumultuous teen years; I found ways to thrive and be joyful in spite of a heavy-handed, alcoholic father. I resisted the temptations that sidelined many high school friends, resulting in teen pregnancies, drunk driving, and drug addictions.
I graduated first in my class and earned prestigious scholarships that paid for my university education in full.
Later I graduated from university summa cum laude with my teacher certification – a dream come true!
My husband and I emigrated to B.C. in 1975 to a cattle ranch in Upper Clearwater. We arrived Christmas Day to a cold house (only wood heaters but no firewood), frozen, broken plumbing pipes, downed fences, cow manure ankle deep on the porch (where some of the 150 head of cattle were sleeping) and no hay!
Life’s new challenge was discouragement – pneumonia, no money (our emergency savings went to buy hay), no friends or family in Canada. But God sent new friends and neighbors to help and encourage us.
Throughout those lean early years God supplied our needs. Our growing family thrived physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
Eventually we sold the ranch and bought a gorgeous custom-built home on 100 acres. But on a windy April night in 1996 our beautiful home burned to the ground; we just got out alive!
God encouraged us with hope – a huge outpouring of love (clothing, food, clean-up, $$) from our community to help us begin again.
Life’s challenges continue – hurts, betrayals, losses. But God’s blessings are greater – a 40+ year career sharing the joy of learning, lifelong friendships, beloved extended family.
Living the Christian life doesn’t mean you won’t have problems, but God promises guidance and strength through good and bad times, and “… love, joy, peace… (Galatians ch. 5, verse 22).
Through it all, I am wiser, stronger, and more deeply joyful than ever, thank God.