For those of you who don't read into my comments, I thought I would just post my Mama's reply to Joy in this Journey.  I feel it may bless someone out there!

OH, and I am going to look into finding a way to update my readers by email when I have updated my blog, as I am hearing from many of you having a difficult time loading it.  How frustrating to wait for it to load only to find out I haven't written!  I will let you know what I come up with.

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Mama writes:

Once again, I am given that gentle reminder from the Lord that He cares and is in control. As you know, I have recently been facing a difficult situation. After two days of stressing, I had a very pointed and significant dream.

I was standing in a long line of people. At the head of the line was a man holding a book. As each individual approached him, he would point to the right and say "Free" or point to the left and say "Not Free" and the person would walk in the direction he pointed. When my turn came, the man looked at me and said, "Free." I quickly responded and said, "Oh, but Sir, you don't understand. I'm not free. I have this difficulty from which I have not yet been released!" The man laid his book down and looked me square in the eyes and said, "Dear Woman, true freedom does not come in being released FROM trials, but rather in being released IN trials!" He then pointed me again toward those who were free and I awakened from the dream.

Isn't this so true? The Lord does not always take us out of the valleys, but He does promise to walk with us in those valleys and desires to set us free in the midst of them. Thank you for your words of wisdom and encouragement, Dear Daughter! This is especially sweet to me, as I know well that you speak as one who has traversed many a valley in your life and have kept the Faith. Press on undaunted!

So Much Love, Mama