This evening, I just finished a letter to a dear friend in Washington State, Kathie Fitzpatrick. Within the past year she's had to face many fiery trials including the loss of her beloved eighteen-year-old daughter, Karen.
Karen Lee was a member of the U.S. Forest Service. She died while fighting a wildfire in the Chewuch River canyon about 30 miles north of the little town of Winthrop. This tragedy occurred on July 10, 2001, in what has been historically called the "Thirty-mile Fire."
In her recent letter, Kathie shared with me about a new wave of struggles she's now going through. So after a period of prayer, the Lord directed me to 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. This is a familiar passage of Scripture that encourages Christians who are undergoing difficulties.
I told Kathie in my letter that I felt God was getting ready to use her in a special way. I said that the pains and hurts she's been having are perfecting her for a deeper, greater, and even a more tender ministry.
I also told Kathie that God was going to make her into a "walking Kleenex tissue." Hurting people are going to be crying on her shoulders. I said that she was going to touch them with Jesus' love in ways that other Christians who haven't gone through as much will never be able to do.
Kathie is now a full-fledged “wounded healer.”
D.B.
Karen Lee was a member of the U.S. Forest Service. She died while fighting a wildfire in the Chewuch River canyon about 30 miles north of the little town of Winthrop. This tragedy occurred on July 10, 2001, in what has been historically called the "Thirty-mile Fire."
In her recent letter, Kathie shared with me about a new wave of struggles she's now going through. So after a period of prayer, the Lord directed me to 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. This is a familiar passage of Scripture that encourages Christians who are undergoing difficulties.
I told Kathie in my letter that I felt God was getting ready to use her in a special way. I said that the pains and hurts she's been having are perfecting her for a deeper, greater, and even a more tender ministry.
I also told Kathie that God was going to make her into a "walking Kleenex tissue." Hurting people are going to be crying on her shoulders. I said that she was going to touch them with Jesus' love in ways that other Christians who haven't gone through as much will never be able to do.
Kathie is now a full-fledged “wounded healer.”
D.B.