5 Ugly (and Some Very Painful) Things I’m Grateful For
Praising the Lord in All Conditions
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I’ve been putting off writing this article for about a month now, due to various reasons that you’ll see below. But here I am, ready to share how I’ve come to appreciate even the ugly things, some of which still bring me to tears as I write.
#1 — The Kidnapping Incident
Just over three weeks ago, my wife and I received the devastating news that our beloved brother — a father figure and a selfless man who offered us over 11 weeks of free online marital counseling, each session lasting around 2 hours — was kidnapped by gunmen. Alongside him, two female missionaries were also abducted. In the same town, a father was killed, and his two sons were also taken by the same group.
The sons were eventually released, but the entire incident has been nothing short of tragic and heartbreaking. Our concern deepened when a ransom was paid for the missionaries’ release. The kidnappers collected the money, allowed a brief confirmation of their captives’ survival, and then declared that the payment was merely for a “feeding allowance.” The missionaries remain in captivity.