It's 7:45 AM Thanksgiving morning and I just rolled out of bed. We are at Bob and Stacey's for the holiday. I have just finished reading Judy's post and I can't agree with her more. Staring death in the face has given Judy a fearlessness she hasn't known before...not to do crazy or stupid things with abandon, but to face and challenge every day as if it were her last. On second thought, there may be one exception to that last statement:
While we were in Costa Rica a couple of weeks ago, Judy rode a cable car to the top of a mountain and navigated eight zip lines through the rain forest for almost two miles to the bottom. Now that may be a little crazy and out of character for her. Aside from that, her bravery comes from an urgency to not let a day go by without making the best of her situation. Her eyes and heart are always looking for someone in need or some way she can do something good in the name of Christ. You may say that Judy has always been that way, and you are right. However now, she has a new resolve with the challenges that she faces each day.
Every day people are asking me, "But Ronnie, how are you doing?". You may have heard someone say, "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy". Well for me, I can testify that in my case, Judy's confidence and positive spirit and her "no fear" attitude make things so much easier for me. How can I be down and sad when she is so up and happy? How can I complain when she is so positive? How can I ask God why when Judy is asking God, what do You have next for me?
Our prayer on this Thanksgiving day would be to challenge each and everyone who reads this blog to look for opportunities to do something good for someone else...if maybe just a word of encouragment. If you haven't seen the movie, "The Blind Side", go out today and rent it and watch it with your family. You can make a difference in someone else's life by looking around and behind and then acting on the opportunity that God presents to you.
God called home last Sunday someone who was everything I was just talking about. So many or you can relate an incident or story where Debbie Puett was there when you needed her. Or, you may have gotten a note of encouragment from her at just the right time when you needed it most. That's what I'm talking about! Some of us need to take the baton that Debbie has handed off and run the race.
Judy and I are so blessed to have such a great host of friends who give us support and love and encouragment. I hope you know how much we love everyone of you and thank God for you. Now, dare to do something wild and crazy for someone else and see how God will bless you even more than you can imagine.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
From Judy:
It's Thanksgiving morning. There is so much to be thankful for.
It has been 8 months since we began this journey and it has been quite a ride. When I tell you,I have learned something new everyday, I'm not kidding. Mostly, I have learned alot more about the Bible. I can't believe all the love notes God has written to us, that have been new to me. Where have I been!
I have become very brave. This is not something I went after. It just happened.It has been a gift from God. I think about my cancer everyday. I think about the past,the now,and the future. We are very aware of what I have. We know there is no cure. This is a very rare type of cancer. It always ends in death.
However.......they are learning more about it everyday. Before many years they will find a cure.
In the mean time, I do not intend to just sit around and wait. I am moving on. There are many things I need to do and things I need to try to take care of. Besides.I am not afraid. We have such a great support team behind our family and that is one of the things I am very grateful for this morning. Truly,I can not think about how horrible this would be without YOU!
People always say,'God will give you what you need, when you need it.' Boy,they are not kidding. There is such a sweet peace with Christ. When you have no other place to go and the battle is too big for you, He is there. When the future looks bad and it's too hard to look at it, He is there..... Amazing. Believe me,I did not choose this road and honestly, even today, I wouldn't choose it. However.....it is still quite a ride. And as long as He is driving, am in.
I pray for you, that you will have a peaceful Thankgiving. And no matter what is happening to you, remember,there will always be a morning and there will always be someone that loves you a whole lot more than I do...and I love you alot.
Judy
.
It has been 8 months since we began this journey and it has been quite a ride. When I tell you,I have learned something new everyday, I'm not kidding. Mostly, I have learned alot more about the Bible. I can't believe all the love notes God has written to us, that have been new to me. Where have I been!
I have become very brave. This is not something I went after. It just happened.It has been a gift from God. I think about my cancer everyday. I think about the past,the now,and the future. We are very aware of what I have. We know there is no cure. This is a very rare type of cancer. It always ends in death.
However.......they are learning more about it everyday. Before many years they will find a cure.
In the mean time, I do not intend to just sit around and wait. I am moving on. There are many things I need to do and things I need to try to take care of. Besides.I am not afraid. We have such a great support team behind our family and that is one of the things I am very grateful for this morning. Truly,I can not think about how horrible this would be without YOU!
People always say,'God will give you what you need, when you need it.' Boy,they are not kidding. There is such a sweet peace with Christ. When you have no other place to go and the battle is too big for you, He is there. When the future looks bad and it's too hard to look at it, He is there..... Amazing. Believe me,I did not choose this road and honestly, even today, I wouldn't choose it. However.....it is still quite a ride. And as long as He is driving, am in.
I pray for you, that you will have a peaceful Thankgiving. And no matter what is happening to you, remember,there will always be a morning and there will always be someone that loves you a whole lot more than I do...and I love you alot.
Judy
.
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