When I was 15 my parents got back together and we moved to Kelowna where I met Dwight, rededicated my life, got baptized and then went to Bible College right after graduation. Right after graduation we got married and moved to New Brunswick where we started our 16 years as Village Missionaries. We had 3 children and travelled all across Canada. That life tragically came to an end when due to lack of support Dwight had a major burnout so we moved back to Kelowna. Then due to many parental mistakes, tragic circumstances and other various reasons, all 3 of our children rejected us which affected our relationship with them as well as with our 7 grandchildren, and still is. Again something was missing in my life as well as a lot of pain and a sense of failure, especially as a mother. Then there was God. Through different “pictures”, books and God?s gracious love, He has brought me to a deeper relationship with Him then I have ever had. During the Beth Moore Bible study “Loving God”, she talked about wearing our shame as if it were a jacket and told us to take the jacket off and lay it at the cross. At times it is still a struggle but that was the beginning of my healing process. Another step towards my healing was God asking me a very difficult question. For years we sang songs about Jesus being enough and so He very directly asked “Cheryl, if your relationships with your children and grandchildren are never healed, will I be enough?” It took a long heart-wrenching time but I could finally say “yes Lord, You are enough”, because one thing I am discovering through this difficult journey, Jesus is my Papa and He loves me more than I will ever know. A significant passage for me is:

Deuteronomy 19:3-5 “....I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to

Myself. Now if you will obey Me you will be My own special treasure.”

However; my favourite picture and verse was one of me standing alone in a large golden-floored ballroom and a Man with the most beautiful smile, dressed in a tuxedo and top hat came up to me, took off His hat, bowed and said “Cheryl, will you dance with Me?” We glided all around that ballroom, with Him singing over me with such love and tenderness. Every morning I wake up and am reminded that today Jesus wants to dance with me. “For the Lord my God is living among me He is a mighty Saviour. He will take delight in me with gladness. With His love, He will calm all my fears. He will rejoice over me with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17. There are still days when I don?t feel like too much of a treasure and I need to be carried on eagles wings to God because I don?t have the strength to come to Him on my own, but I am finding that those days make my “dancing days” even more precious.