NeverGonnaBreakMyFaith-JAM...: Gratitude

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Gratitude

I sit here this morning in gratitude--overwhelmed by all the love and kindness that envelope us. Jeff and the girls are my blessings and I see how Jeff's strength, integrity and grace continue to help me grow. I pray everyday to hear God's voice and follow his direction. My miracle has already happened in the life that is my husband. Jeff's miracle is there--waiting to be unveiled to us when we are peaceful and trusting enough to see it. Today I just want to be grateful for the constant goodness that is around us. We are strong because of the strength of those around us. We are never separated from God's constant care and love.

5 comments:

we-b-the-joneses said...: What a fitting title for two people show gratitude daily to everyone they know.

I am praying that you will find strength today and for the days to come.

P.S. I'm glad that Jeff made it out of the hospital with his shoes this time! Love to you both.; March 10, 2008 at 3:03 PM
Lynn and Mike said...: Just popping in to say hello, we're thinking about you...always. Love ~Lynn and Mike; March 12, 2008 at 10:05 AM
Anonymous said...: What a blessing to spend time with your precious babies, Lauren and Ashtyn! We continue to pray for all of you.....that you feel God's comfort and peace.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope.
Romans 15:13

Much love,
Kathy and Tim Carlisle; March 12, 2008 at 2:32 PM
Sandy and Charles Askew said...: We join our hearts with yours praying for God's mercy and for complete healing for Jeff. What a joy to know that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding in your behalf.

We've been in God's waiting room before and it's hard. Our hearts ache with yours. We wait with you and pray for God's comfort, strength, and richest blessings to be yours.; March 12, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Lynn and Mike said...: Holly,

I came across this quote and thought of you, Jeff and the girls:

"It is this belief in a power larger than myself and other than myself, which allows me to venture into the unknown and even the unknowable." ~Maya Angelou

Upon hearing that line, I thought of my friends, the Melton's, who have such an amazing strength and (with that strength) faith. Continue to be strong, but know we're here to help support you when you need us.

All our love,
Lynn and Mike; March 13, 2008 at 7:29 AM

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Sources of Strength

Romans 8:24
For we are saved by hope:

Romans 8:28, 37-39
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to (his) purpose.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, not depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

New Life Resolutions--for my husband, Jeff, December 29, 2007

In the blink of an eye life changes. It's true. I always thought that was an overused statement, but it's true. One minute I was helping out with the fall festival at my child's school--watching children in a bounce house. The next minute I was shaking at the prospect of what my husband's doctor had just told him. A CT scan showed "nodules on his lungs, lesions on his liver and there is something in the lymph nodes". Melanoma cancer.My husband and I have been through more than most marriages in our 11 1/2 years together. We are so much stronger for it all. We will get through this cancer diagnosis. It means many trips to Houston, Texas, to a world-class melanoma clinic. It means weeks away from our young children--weeks away from each other. It means pumping my husband's body full of biochemotherapy for five straight days and nights. A treatment so rough it is reserved only for the very strongest and "healthiest" melanoma patients. It means an uncertain financial future because we are self employed--there is no vacation time or sick leave. Most of all it means the life we had planned for ourselves no longer exists. While undergoing the biochemo my husband looked at me and whispered "nothing will ever be the same." No it won't, but that doesn't mean it won't be filled with goodness and love and grace and peace. My husband is the epitome of grace. He is teaching me about love and forgiveness, grace and self-sacrifice. I describe bravery in whole new terms. I imagine any family that is or has gone through a crisis can identify with my comments about his or her loved one. I want to appeal to those of us getting ready to make our New Years Resolutions. Instead I challenge you to make a New Life Resolution. Life isn't about competition--who has the bigger house, the automobile with the most gadgets, the newest tech item, the best physique. All those things count for nothing when you are truly challenged in life. Resolve to create a life of love and grace. Build a home of peace--drive to be kind--those random acts of kindness really count for so much more than the balance in your bank account. We have been blessed in all this. Our families, our friends, our church, my husband's clients, my children's schools, our neighbors, perfect strangers at the airports have reached out with prayer and kindness and love and support that goes beyond comprehension. Thank you seems such a trite phrase. This is a good world with good people. Remember to make Gratitude number one on your New Life Resolution. Even in the darkest of times be grateful. Pray, too. Pray and truly believe with your whole heart in whatever Higher Power you worship. Make sure it is a Divine Power--not a power of greed or fear or anger. Add Forgiveness to your list, too. It is a release--it is what allows us--propels us forward. Look Forward--not back--there is nothing in our past that we can change. Our future is in the next minute, the next hour.

NeverGonnaBreakMyFaith-JAM...

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Gratitude

5 comments:

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New Life Resolutions--for my husband, Jeff, December 29, 2007