I'm so proud of my sister

This is a letter I sent on August 13, 2008

I want to share a bit of news with you. You may remember that I spoke frequently of my sister who has had such a trying time in the last few years. She found out 5 years ago after 10 years of marriage and 2 beautiful girls that her husband had cheated on her and was leaving her for more fun times. She was obviously devastated and felt completely hopeless. She moved back to our home town where she found some wonderful high school friends who introduced her to their church. There she found much inspiration to get through the day. She also found a very supportive single moms group. From here she was encouraged by them and by our Mother to go back to college and seek her degree. The single moms group even had a scholarship program that helped pay her bills while she went full time to the local university. My sister developed quite a faith and relationship with God during this time. When life continued to bring hurdle after hurdle, she never stopped praying and believing that her time would come where her prayers were answered. It took 4 grueling years to earn her degree, and I mean grueling because it seemed any and every road block came her way, including her dead beat ex-husband who tried to discourage her. In Dec 07 she earned her degree, and worked part-time as a substitute teacher and counselor. From Jan 08 to present, she has been working with an autistic teenager named Becca. She had worked before with special-needs children while in college as a part time job; however, she always felt a strong connection with Becca. She has such an amazing personality that autistic children seem to relate to her and remarkably improve with her guidance. She decided, after this time with Becca, to seek not only a certification in early childhood education but also with special education. Despite her accomplishments thus far, she still has not had it easy. She has spent the entire summer applying for jobs with different school districts to no avail due to hiring freezes or preferences towards surplus teachers. My sister’s faith and constant prayer, though, kept her strong, patient, and encouraged. She prayed everyday for the Lord to guide her to where she was meant to be; she always felt she was put on this earth to help others. Today her prayers were answered. She was called by a principal of a school district (where she has relentlessly has been trying to reach the HR director throughout the entire summer) to interview for an immediately available position to work as the teacher for the autistic children’s’ classroom. Before her interview, she prayed to Jesus to give her strength to answer the questions, to remain calm and to present herself well. She also asked that if this is where she is supposed to be that she be hired on the spot. She was very nervous, especially because there was another candidate to be interviewed for the same position sitting in the waiting room with her. She went into the interview a nervous wreck and emerged with her prayers answered. Today, she was directly hired by the principal who said she answered every question the way the principal wanted – she was the perfect candidate. My sister reports to her job on Monday. Finally, her life is going to turn around and she will be able to support her 2 beautiful and smart girls. She will touch the lives of the eleven autistic children in her classroom. She also has been offered to return as Becca’s counselor for another year. I am so very proud of her – she never quit when it would have been so easy to do so. Her faith never faltered. I can whole-heartedly say that God does listen to your prayers, and while He may not answer them in the manner or timeframe you want, He does listen and has a plan for you. My sister was put on this earth to teach other women around her that hard work, determination and faith will get you through any obstacle. She is also going to touch the lives a family dealing with autism because, believe me, she has a gift for helping those with this disease. I thank the Lord for His continual guidance in her life and for showing yet another example of inspiration to triumph over every obstacle. Hers will be a story I share with every MOMS group, every single mother, and every young lady looking for guidance in today’s tumultuous world. God Bless.