About 2 months ago I found out that a young woman named Yasmin Rodriguez had a baby boy. The Rodriguez family is a strong part of my past but because of so many negative factors I have not been in contact with them, except for Orlando, who escaped Paterson,NJ for a cleaner and better life in New Mexico. He has been there for almost 2 years now and doing well; taking care of the dogs and horses, planting a garden in that dry desert, watering it every day and taking pride at the results.
His world came crashing down when he was notified that his nephew, Ismael, his brother's son, was shot and killed this past weekend. Just two months ago, welcoming a new baby into the family, they have lost Ismael.
The matriarch of the family-Orlando's mother, Ruth, has lost 2 children to HIV/virus back in the 1980's. Her son, Nelson and her daughter, Maritza. Her life, since she left Puerto Rico back in 1962, has been a long and hard road. I know she never lost her Faith in the Lord when she could have so easily because of all the heartache.
Her heart must be breaking from losing Ismael, but she is taking comfort in the fact that he is saved.
You need a tremendous amount of emotional strength to leave that environment and not allow it to darken you. It took Ismael at the beginning of a more spiritual life.
May our Lord wrap you in His arms and give you peace.
“Does disaster come to a city unless the Lord has planned it?” (Amos 3:6). And I feel it again today and I breathe: A good God plans everything. Everything.
Isaiah 14:24, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand” (NASB). As God plans … so it stands.
