Saturday, August 28, 2010

Would You? Could You?

A couple years back - so, a lot of years back - I was with a Ministry, Teen Mania Ministries, in Lindale TX. While there I knew two brothers and their lovely wives. As time happens, we lose touch with me people and before you know it someone you knew in High School has 5 kids and you didnt even know they were married! Well, this is what happened with these two brothers. Time passed and before you know it, I hear one of them is in the Final Stages on Liver Failure. I knew from the pictures I had seen on FB that he did not look the same, but I thought that that was just my memory. Then I hear that another brother - I did not know there were more than the two - is donating part of his liver so that his brother will have the chance to see his kids grow up. Great story, right? Well, this is where it gets difficult....you know there is always that chance, the littlest one; the one the doctors tell you about and then say, not to worry because it wont happen, they just have to tell you that it could. In this case, .001%. Yes, the decimal is correct - .001%. And, it happened. Ryan Arnold who was in perfect health, died to save his brother, Chad.

When I first heard about the transplant, I thought - excellent. Ryan's healthy, he will be okay. I hope Chad's body doesn't reject the organ....I never thought it would happen to Ryan.

Here is the point of this telling, would you give your life to save another, knowing that you could really be giving your life? When Chad's Dad told him Ryan had passed, he followed it with - God is still a Good God. Could You say that after losing a child, a friend, a parent when it seems all wrong? I would like to think I could, on both accounts. I would like to think that I would be able to say that my life is no more important than another and that when it was all said and done, that I could still say my God is Good. But, Would You? Could You?

To read the full story, go to www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-liver-transplant-death-txt,0,3369112.story

To read Chad's Blog as he recovers, go to http://cometoofar.com/

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

How Do You?

I know. Interesting question that could mean so many things, depending on your frame of mind. How do you see yourself? How do you wake up in the morning? How do you decide what to do each day? How do you see others? How do you react when things dont go your way; when they do?

For me, it depends on the day for most of these. I am, however, an optimist and choose to always see the glass as half full. I am able - in most cases - to see the good in every situation and am rarely the Debbie Downer. I will trust you until you give me a reason not to. I do also listen to the Spirit in my perception of people. I know on first encounter if you can be trusted and if you will be worth the time it will take to cultivate a relationship. If the answer is no, you may never really know (I am a Poker Player, you know) how I feel but you will never get my full attention. Maybe this is wrong, but I like to think of it as me staying out of trouble and regretting any time wasted on that individual. Randy has even asked me to come on estimates with him so that I am able to help him decide on the job. And he actually listens to my opinion.

I do wish there were other things that I did differently. I fully understand that I am a work in progress and will always be; that my day to day is missing some key elements and I hope to change that as well; that I would make better choices at times when it comes to how I spend my day and with whom; that the words I speak can always come back to bite me and I should be carefully about how sharp I make those teeth.

My challenge to you is this: think about "How you....." Make a decision every day before you get out of bed to see the glass half full; to not let yesterday's mistakes affect today's choices; to find the good in the people around you, giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. Choose to live your life for you and not through others. At the end of the day, and at the end of our lives, we are only accountable for our actions and choices. Try to remember the next time you have to decide "How you...."

Friday, August 6, 2010

Another Day Goes By

Do you ever wonder what would have happened if you would have ______ ? Insert whatever you want there: gone to a different College, not taken that trip, sent that email, made that phone call, etc. Some many little decisions end up being big decisions in the end. The School you chose is where you found your Spouse; The Trip you took is where you got a flat and made a new best friends; The email started a chain reaction that raised thousands for your Ministry; A phone call you didn't make was the last time you would have been able to talk to your friend. Every decision we make will make a ripple effect, we just dont know to what extent. And, really, we will never know the full extent as each decision, prompts other decisions which prompt other decisions, etc.

This, I have been thinking about a lot recently. Why? Who knows. But when I think back, in High School Kevin was fined by the Military for damaging Gov't property when he injured himself on Leave which helped me decide not to go to the Academy. Yes, I was supposed to go to the Academy - Air Force or Navy, I had yet to decide. That one situation changed my future and turned me in a totally different direction that has resulted in my not ever going to College. I even married a man that is totally against it as a whole. What if when Bruce asked me what I was doing Saturday, I said "Nothing"? Would I have ever gone to the website, where I met my husband? Would I have ever even met Randy? Would I still be living in NOVA? So many small things have such long range results, I wonder how many times we take that into consideration when we do something, dont do something, say or not say something.

What about those of us who have lost a loved one or heard of something tragic happening and think, "I was going to call them" or "I was supposed to be there, but...." When we are prompted by that little voice, how many times do we listen? Or how many times do we think, "I'll do it later", or "That isnt going to matter"? That little voice, it is what keeps us out of trouble or even allows us to keep others out of trouble. The next time it speaks, take a little more time to listen. It could have far reaching consequences for Generations to come.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Just Me

Today I had a very interesting thing happen which has prompted me to make sure who I am is Loud and Clear. I have a Facebook Page which I am on all the time. I enjoy keeping up with friends I have not seem since High School but also with friends I may have seen yesterday. I also get business on this page and have family as part of my "friends" group, including 2 nephews under the age of 15. Today, I was told my Posts were offensive. Seriously, my posts that my DAD, MOM and 2 Nephews read are offensive?! SO, I got to thinking and the only thing I could come up with is the recent posts about Music Preference. I am really enjoying "Our God" by Chris Tomlin. REALLY enjoying it. If it were a tape, it would probably be worn out by now. Seriously enjoying this song. And if that is the post that has prompted the Un-Friending and the Offensive comment, than maybe I have not made myself clear. Just so that we are all on the same page, I am a Born Again, Spirit Filled Christian. I believe the Bible, ALL of it - including the parts about Healing the Sick and Raising the Dead. There is nothing that anyone could say, do or show me that would change this. There is not a part of me that would ever, for one second, denounce this FACT or try to turn away from it. Without God, none of us would wake up in the morning and I am very much aware of this fact and owe my everything to Him.

Now, having said that, I have friends that are not Christians. I have friends that are. I have friends that are Jewish and I have friends that are Athiest and Agnostic. I have Straight friends and I have Gay friends. I have friends in Ministry all over the World and friends that would never consider going into the Ministry. My beliefs do not change who they are or my level of acceptance of them. I love all my friends the same and am very thankful to have each one.

When I said yesterday that I was hoping this Blog would have a point and be a Growth for me, I surely was not expecting this. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that maybe this is the best way to start. I don't know what tomorrow will bring or what lesson(s) I will learn, but I look forward to the Journey. I hope that you will stick with me for it.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Here We Go Again, One More Time

So, I cant seem to stick to this Blog thing for long and then when I do get back to it, it never seems to be what it was. That being said, I am going to try yet another new angle. I really do want this to be a learning experience. Not just for me, but for anyone who happens upon it. I have friends with Blogs about their Kids - no kids here; their New Recipes - I can cook and bake with the best of them, but make something up? Uh, No; their adventures on the road - vacation, sure but a lifetime?; politics - not here, not ever (yes, I have a VERY strong opinion but I do not feel that this is not the place to express it....So I have decided I am just going to write. My daily life or whatever else happens to fly off my fingertips. I hope to use this as a way to be purposeful and learn something new everyday. You so don't want to hear about how I slept in and ran errands and didn't make phone calls everyday. I know this and I hope to keep it moving forward with new insights and keep off the mundane.

I hope that you enjoy this new avenue and let's see how long I keep this one going.

TTFN