As I got off the elevator I just stood there in shock.

What the Father has done in my life this past year is astounding. Below is a tiny sampling of His love and healing Hands.

In 2011 I completed my year and a half journey of trauma therapy. When I left my last session I felt like Will in the movie Good Will Hunting. What do I do when face to face with the doctor who changed my life? What do I say? What words could there possibly be to describe the depth of my gratitude? At that moment, I realized I could never compose a string of words to describe my appreciation to my doctor, so I remained silent and spoke the deepest words from my heart by smiling and extending my right hand to shake his, something I had never done throughout our journey together.

I left his office and entered the elevator. As I descended, I was in awe that I had actually completed all of the sessions. You know that feeling you get when you have worked so hard to achieve something and then the final moment of completion arrives? That’s how it felt, coupled with countless other emotions.

As I got off the elevator I just stood there in shock. I couldn’t believe I had been so vulnerable. Why did I do this? I did it because I deserve to live the rest of my life free from the shackles that abuse produces. I did it for Made in His Image, knowing that I could never launch the ministry without having dealt with my past. I did it for the women who are too afraid to seek help, to show them that it’s not their fault and that it’s okay to get help. I did it for my future husband and children, knowing that I could never fully love them without God’s healing touch.

My future children were always in the forefront of my mind. I offered every session for them, in the hopes that they will experience the depths of the Father’s love. When the pain slapped me across the face and I didn’t think I would ever finish, I thought of them. I imagined what their faces might look like and all that I would teach them about their dignity as a child of God created in the image and likeness of the Father. With God’s grace I crossed the finish line and it was breathtaking!

In June of 2011 I launched I fight Him with love (this blog) and then in September, Made in His Image. MIHI bought a beautiful logo and I wrote my manuscript, Choosing to See Beauty, which will be published in 2012.

I grew in my relationship with my Father, as my doctor challenged me to forgive those who had hurt me and to seek beauty in the ambiguity of life. God provided and blessed me with numerous donations which enabled me to launch and pay the overhead costs for MIHI. He blessed MIHI with a lawyer and accountant, without their help this never would have been possible.

To the Father be all of the honor and glory, for I am unworthy of His Majesty, but He bestows it anyway.

This morning at Mass I was moved to tears at the second reading.

Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God. – Gal 4:4-7

That reading touched my heart so profoundly, as it is the message of MIHI!

On this the feast of Mary, Mother of God I want to wish you the very happiest of New Years! Let us take a moment to thank Mary today for her sacrifice and “Yes” to bring forth the Son of God who would later die on a cross for our salvation. Indeed my friends, we have much to be thankful for!

Seek beauty in all things, even the cross.