“Life is not bias!” I see evidence if this more and more everyday. Whether it is family, money, relationships, sports, work, etc. there will be ups and downs. In sports, we call the “downs” a slump. In our family and relationships, we might call it a “rough patch”, with money its called “things are tight”, at work it might be a “slow month” or something along those lines. It seems like everytime something like this happens, it will happen twice, or three times and we quickly lose hope and label it a disaster. Optimism can play a significant role to help us through tough times, but so can its’ counterpart and it is easy to become negative and pessimistic. Last week, just in one week, I received bad news three-fold. The first was one of my best friends in the world was in the Dominican leading a sping break mission trip for FHU. He filled in because of a late cancellation by someone else. While they were down there, he experienced what he called one of the best weeks of his life until an incident made it the worst week of his life. Close to the end of the trip, he and a couple of the FHU student missionaries were swimming in the ocean on the beautiful beaches of the D.R. There were large waves and a hefty undertow. One of the waves crashed over the swimmers, and they all came back to the top except for one. He happened to be about ten feet away from my friend before the wave came. His body has still not been recovered. The second bad news is about another friend. A friend here in Lagrange who is an avid doubles tennis player. I don’t know the exact details, but last Saturday he played in a doubles tennis tournament. Around 9 that evening, his doubles partner was involved in an automobile accident in which he lost his life. The third bit of new is a little closer to my heart, and I don’t feel like sharing it right now. The point of all this is that it doesn’t matter who you are, what you’ve done, how old you are, or any of that. Life does not pick and choose and there are no guarantees. I pray for the loss of those two families, and I hope that they grieve thoroughly and then are able to celebrate the life of their loved ones.
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Good thoughts, Daniel…sober thoughts. With both of my parents facing cancer at the same time, I can do nothing but trust Abba that His will should be done above my own. In the mean time, whenever I talk with them I try to bring them a smile, share something good, lift their spirits. I feel if I lift the burdens of a hurting person even for a few minutes, life can seem more bearable. I’m sorry for the bad news you had … God bless you.
Daniel, I am so sorry for your losses this week. I to am working through some downs. Johnathan’s two grandfathers are fighting for their lives at the moment. One has cancer and the other has fluid on his lungs. Though those things are rough, I know that there is a greater purpose at hand. I may not see it quite yet but there is a reason.
We are optimistic and are looking for God to do his will. Not to change the subject, I just wanted to let you know that your dad has performed two of the best days of my life. One he married me and today he baptized me. Who can say that? I consider myself awefully blessed to have you all in my life. Your fam is great. Just wanted to say Thanks. Hugs JH
So last week, when all of this was going on in your life, I called and asked you to help pick up a donation for Harmony House and you didn’t even hesitate. Thank you!!!
I have found that helping others is a great way to cope with “rough spot” in life. For you, that may not apply – because that is what you do on a daily basis. Let me guess . . . last week, you had a zillion things on your mind and you probably averaged 5 hours of sleep per night. Of all the things you thought of, none of them were about yourself (except for the wedding). Your thoughts were about your friends and their family, your own family, the kids at Broad Street and the friends of the kids at Broad Street. To you, it’s never about you. You are concerned about your friends and the situations that they are going through. More people in the world and in the church need to be like that. It’s not about us – and you get that. It is about the pain that your friends are feeling right now and the importance of being there for them and showing God’s love.
I hate that you received all that bad news last week. The good news is that you have a relationship with the one that is in control – so keep praying and remain optomistic. As the mom of 3 of kids that pray for you daily- Thanks for caring. You are really looked up to because you’re “real” and you genuinely care for those around you – even when it causes you to have yucky weeks.
So, go call a 4:30 PM Educational Meeting with a mandatory line wetting involved!
Michele
Thank you JD, I will definitely heed that advice, and I also appreciate you taking time out of your busy blogging to read mine and comment. I am so happy, Joy Hulsey, that you and Johnathan have committed to the Broad Street family, and I am very excited that ya’ll are planning on going to Honduras. Michele, I can’t say enough about how you and the Bedingfield family have enriched my life since knowing you. We had one of those “educational meetings” last week, but I had to leave early so I’m pretty sure its time for another one. God Bless