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| Truth, Trust, And Transformation; Ref: Breaking Christian News | |
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| Topic Started: Dec 29 2007, 11:56 AM (48 Views) | |
| Stace4Jesus | Dec 29 2007, 11:56 AM Post #1 |
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Read Complete Article Here Truth, Trust and Transformation: One Ojibwe Woman's Story of Hope by Cindy Petkau as told to Jim Uttley : Dec 29, 2007 : Native American World, ASSIST News Service http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2007/s07120150.htm I challenge you not to give up on what God has called you to do. It might seem insignificant but if God is telling you to do it, then it's not unimportant. It has a purpose in your life. (Portage La Prairie, Manitoba)—Cindy Petkau endured much, growing up, from abuse to loneliness, and the pain took its toll. But another, stronger, force was working within her, since she had accepted the Lord of life into her heart at a young age. Cindy shares her very real and inspiring story in an article by ASSIST News Service. Below are excerpts, to read the full account, follow the link provided. For the first ten years of my life, I had many happy yet lonely times. I was not sure as a kid who I wanted to be—like I had a choice or I could pick. I saw no value in being Indian. I was afraid of that side of me. So many questions of my worth went unasked and unanswered. When I was three, my mom made the decision to end her marriage. My mother, a conservative Mennonite, was married to an Anishinabe, serving as a young minister at the church on the reserve. I was too young to know what a divorce was. All I knew is that I was with Mom…. One Sunday when I was about five or six, our Sunday school teacher, a beautiful grey haired lady, asked if any of us wanted to ask Jesus into our hearts. I did and I remember her smile and hug after I prayed. It was meaningful for me as a young child. During my tenth summer, Mom and Dad decided to reconcile. I don't know all the dialogue that went on but suddenly we had a dad and he was living with us again. I longed for a father's love and acceptance but almost from the start, he began brainwashing me against my mom, eroding my trust in her. He also began sexually abusing me. It went from bad to worse, lasting about three years. During that time, my dad attempted suicide. I remember it vividly because I was alone. Mom and my brother were gone to Minnesota and I was left in charge of my sister. Mom surprised us, picking us up early on the last day of school before Christmas. When she got back in the car, she told us that she had a restraining order against Dad; we all breathed a sigh of relief. Years later, I asked my mom why she made him leave. She said, "Something in the pit of my stomach told me to get him out of the house before something really bad happened." That was God looking out for me. I didn't tell Mom about the sexual abuse until I was 16. This was the harsh, raw beginning of my inner healing…. …While away with YWAM in 1993, I got a call that my dad was still abusing young girls. I was asked what I was going to do about it. I prayed hard and God showed me Micah 6:8—"He has shown you, oh man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." This was so clear to me… I went to the RCMP and made a statement. Dad was arrested shortly after on his anniversary of ten years sobriety. When the police told me this, I just wept. "This is too hard, God." My dad was found guilty of all that he'd done to me and my sister and sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. Four years later, I was at a prayer gathering for Native Canadians in Winnipeg. Looking over the crowd, I suddenly spotted my grandma, aunt, and my father. I broke down. I was paralyzed with fear of rejection and totally unsure about what to do. After crying for 45 minutes, a friend from church came and told me if I wanted to see my family, I had to come now because they were leaving. Racing through the crowd, I reached my grandma and aunt. Dad just said hello. He and I stood off to one side and I fully expected his anger. But he took off his tinted glasses and looked me in the eye. "Cindy," he said, "Stony [prison] was the best thing you could have done for me." You could have blown me over! I cried and laughed the whole way home. A couple months later, my dad apologized for doing what he did to me. The scars are there and always will be but as Isaiah 43:19 says —"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert, and streams in the wasteland." God showed me my identity was not a big "oops." God didn't make a mistake making me Ojibwe. He made me just to be as I am. I challenge you not to give up on what God has called you to do. It might seem insignificant but if God is telling you to do it, then it's not unimportant. It has a purpose in your life. It's risky taking risks, but take risks. It's always more fun to go on a journey with a friend than alone. God has taught me to trust Him; He means so much to me. He made a way when there was none. Read Complete Article Here |
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12:33 PM Nov 25
