A cold, stormy weekend seemed like a good time to clean out our attic. Somewhere between boxes of old clothes and books we’ll never read, I came across journals Mom and I had written years ago. We were on a journey and knew it was important to record it all. To this day, I continue to journal and make vision boards so I’ll remember the past miracles and look to the future. Cancer and autoimmune disease didn’t stop our lives, but instead gave Mom and I something to hold on to as we walked a broken path.
One journal entry stood out: “The rest of the story.”
I had written about a conversation between Mom and I during her chemotherapy treatment. She was in her favorite chair by the far window, and we were talking about a dear friend of ours who had been betrayed. It was a situation involving lies and deception that devastated our friend. Mom and I took time to pray for her that day, but I was so outraged by the people who had caused this injustice. How could they? Why did they? I wanted everyone to know the truth about what they had done, but Mom had a different reaction.
“God knows the rest of the story,” she said. “It’s not her battle or our battle. It’s God’s battle, and He is the rest of the story for our friend. Truth will prevail.”
We prayed for that truth to come out into the light and prevail for our friend. And it did.
Everything Mom said that day impacted my life eternally and continues to carry me through when I face hurt, betrayal, and confusion. I’m keeping this journal close by to remind me of important truths:
Don’t compromise. If God has given you a purpose, vision, and calling, stay true to it. This was one of the first things Mom said when we talked about starting 
a nonprofit. “No matter what happens—and things will happen—don’t compromise.” I can still see her crooked little finger pointing at me, and her determination that I understand the importance of her words. “Don’t compromise what God began. Don’t water it down, don’t change it, don’t lose it. He is why we are doing this, and He will move mountains. This is God’s organization, and we can’t do it without Him. This is how it began, and how it must stay.”
Stay on course and don’t listen to the noise. “If you feel far from God, He isn’t the one who moved. You did.” Mom said that so many times, but I can’t hear it enough. Little things pull us away, and before we know it, we are lost. We wander around calling for God, “Where are you?” The world is a noisy place – social media, news, busyness of life. It sucks us in little by little, and suddenly, we’re off course. “Don’t listen to the static and the noise, listen to the truth so you can hear His voice.” Mom was right about this. Every day it takes conscious effort not to be pulled off course by everything happening in our world.
It is not our battle to fight. “Lisa, give your battle back to God!” Mom’s words echo in my mind as I keep taking battles back into my hands, worrying and strategizing. I have learned during this season there is no strategy better than the one God has in the works. When you’re in the middle of conflict, cry out to God. The men of Israel were skilled warriors (1 Chronicles 5:18). They waged war so they could possess the territory God had given them. Even though they armed themselves with shields, swords, and bows, their greatest weapon was prayer. I am grateful for those who stood by us in prayer, and for Mom’s example. As we drove back and forth to treatments, she would talk aloud to God in the car like He was a passenger riding with us. And He was. We never walked into the treatment center without talking about Who had already won the battle.
Love always, forgive often. These were some of Mom’s last words to me. This truth came back over and over. Mom knew what would happen to the nonprofit she began. In fact, in her last lucid hours, she repeated, “I need to stay here. You are going to need me.” I told her I would be fine, and to go on and be with Jesus. After wrestling with the desire to stay here, she looked at me and said, “God is going to send angels to help you fulfill the calling. Don’t compromise.” And then those words, “Love always, forgive often.” Not long after those conversations, she ran to Jesus. As I read the words in our journal from that day, I could hear her voice reminding me of these truths. She knew that in the important fulfillment of the mission and calling, forgiveness and love would be in the forefront of it all. She was right.
The rest of the story. As a little girl, I never liked to read. In fact, Mom could rarely finish a book with me on her lap. “What is the rest of the story, Mom? Go to the back of the book and tell me how it ends. Hurry, Mom!” She would patiently respond with, “The middle is important, Lisa. It makes the end more wonderful!” Don’t skip the important steps. As we sat in chemo treatment that day talking about our friend, it took me back to the conversation about the rest of the story. The middle of the story is so important. And in our friend’s situation, there was a “rest of the story” others didn’t know. It was the part that revealed truth and justice.
The greatest storyteller I’ve ever known, brought the rest of her story out in the most beautiful way. It wasn’t hurried, and it didn’t come out too soon or too late. The story was perfectly paced. Justice prevailed and truth revealed. God was the rest of Mom’s story, and He fought the battle for her. This quote says it all: If it’s not God’s time, you can’t force it. If it’s God’s time, you can’t stop it.
Like our friend, I’ve walked through a similar heartbreaking journey with an organization I loved deeply. But I listened to Mom, and when changes came in that organization, I couldn’t compromise her God-given, purpose-driven legacy. God came first in everything. Mom laid out the mission, and I was not to compromise. Even through untruths and injustice, I knew it wasn’t my battle. It’s my job to stay on course and listen for God’s voice through the negativity and the noise. And most of all, to love. No matter who hurt and betrayed me, I am to love and forgive. I thank God every day that Mom and Dad walked out love and prayed for people who caused them pain. May I always do the same. No matter how deep the hurt, God has a plan and, yes, He also deeply loves the people who hurt us. There is always space for grace.
I closed my eyes and held the journal to my chest. I thanked God for the rest of the story, and that through all the trials, Mom’s legacy continued in a way only 
He could have orchestrated. That legacy continues through Lisa Bain Ministries. God saw the rest of the story. His handprints are all over it, and that’s the way it will stay. It’s Mom’s legacy, and now Dad’s as well. They knew. God knew. And I am thankful He is the rest of my story.
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