Perhaps some of you know, the relationship with my father has been very difficult in the last 6 years. The period before the faith in which I rebelled against him and the period after the faith in which he rejected me because of Jesus led to total separation.
God through it brought me closer to his fatherhood, to develop dependence solely on him and still continued to give me love and patience and hope for the relationship with the earthly father and most importantly prayers for salvation and constant evangelization both in words and actions.
In the past year he has dealt with cancer and this has opened him up to closeness to my relationship, and although he still accused me because of faith, God showed me to continue to fight for him and not to relate to what is happening “in reality”.
I suffered from mockery, unpleasant words, rejection, curses and much more. And yet slowly I saw the heart soften and the relationship become closer. I was in a state of constant forgiveness toward my father with the understanding that he was a spiritually sick person and stuck there, and I had to continue to fast and to pray. Close friends from the Body of Christ continued to pray with me and encouraging with words and scripture.
Two weeks ago he underwent an emergency surgery to remove a benign brain tumor and have a shoulder surgery and after a week in the hospital he realized that he was given a new life. Yet he suffered from depression in the light of all that was happening. Again, the situation brought him closer to the Lord, the situation brought me closer to my spouse, and together we continued to pray, fast, evangelize and love my father.
For two nights in a row I was able to pour the Gospel into my father’s ears, and this morning he said these words: “Shiran I feel much better, your prayers help, God listens”. He also recognizes me as his daughter, someone who cares and loves him- God lets him see me through his eyes. Hallelujah!
I share because I want to give that honour to God. I share so that we will not give up on our families, because Jesus will not give up for them. I share so that we can understand that in God we have everything: father, mother, brothers , children.
I share so we can thank him.
By Shiran, our Jewish sister in the faith
