July 4, 2009 at 1:08 am (Family, Growing, Holidays, My Children, cystic fibrosis)
Tags: Amie, cystic fibrosis, faith, Family, Holidays, life, praises, thankful
Everybody always likes the 4th of July holiday. After all, we are celebrating the Independence of our country…right? Some people have birthdays on this day so that gives them something extra special to celebrate. By the way, happy birthday Nancy! I love you!
The 4th of July holiday holds something different for me. Fifteen years ago today, John and I were at Pitt Memorial Hospital with Nicholas. We had been agonizing for months; wondering what was wrong with our precious little baby. Due to my suspicions as a mother of what he may have, we had been through several doctors and were feeling helplessly at the end of our ropes. We could see that Nicholas was getting worse and no one would listen to us. We were not in a relationship with Jesus Christ at the time so we had no peace…no comfort.
After 6 months of trying to get a doctor that would test Nicholas for cystic fibrosis (cf), Dr. Taylor came in the room at 1pm on July 4th, 1994 and told us what I knew all along. Nicholas had cystic fibrosis. See what I didn’t realize was that even though we were not acknowledging that God was in our lives, He was there all along. He had been with me my whole life preparing me for what we were about to go through as a family.
Most of you know that my mama and daddy had been foster parents while I was growing up and we had Amie with us for a while. She had cf and we learned all about the disease, medications, and physical therapy with her. You can read more here (You should start at the bottom and work your way up. Later, as an adult, one of my first jobs was with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. God had been preparing me for this day. He had been with me through all of it and He is still with me today.
As I look back and see the steps along the roads of my life so far, I feel blessed to be able to see the proof of what my mama and my grandmother had always told me – “everything happens for a reason.” For whatever reason, God has chosen me and my family to fulfill a task for him. We may never know what it is. We may never know who it is for. We may be doing it now. It may take years, months, a day, an hour, a moment…All I know is that where ever we go He is with us. Whatever we go through, He is carrying us. Whatever is in store for us tomorrow, He has it under control.
As you celebrate this 4th of July, be thankful that we have an independent country. Pray that our country can stay this way and recover from its burdens. Be thankful for your family. Be thankful for your health. Celebrate your life. I thank God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon our family. Things could always be worse than what it is. We are thankful for the time we have been given. Tell your family you love them today. Reach out to the ones you don’t see everyday and tell them you love them too. Celebrate every moment.
Happy 4th of July everybody. Thanks for checking in today.
Love in Christ…Robin
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November 26, 2008 at 9:02 am (Family, Friends, Good Stuff, Growing, People)
Tags: Holidays, Thanksgiving
Over the past few days, I have been saddened by the fact that our country has decided to skip over Thanksgiving. Yes, we have tomorrow off from work, the children are out of school, the banks and post offices are closed and we will go to spend time with our families to eat turkey. But when you stand still to just look and listen, we don’t hear thanksgiving. It seems that the retail world has decided that money is more important. They go straight from Halloween to Christmas. People are declaring war, killing, hating…
Sunday, our Associate Pastor Joe, spoke about Thanksgiving – not the holiday – but the giving, or lack of thanksgiving. It really spoke to my heart. I too am guilty of not being thankful for the wonderful life I have been given. Joe asked us how many of us got up in the morning with an instant complaint or grumble about something when our feet had not even hit the floor. Good gracious – that hit me so hard. I am so guilty of that on many occasions.
How can I NOT be thankful. God has given me a wonderful husband, wonderful children, and a prosperous life. Many people wouldn’t call how our family lives “prosperous” because we don’t have the finest of things. We don’t live in an expensive house – we love our house because John was raised there. We don’t drive new cars, but the ones we have get us where we have to go and they don’t give us much trouble. Nicholas just turned 16. Most teenagers his age get a car for their 16th birthday, but we are unable to do that for him. And you know what? – he is OK with that. We don’t wear expensive clothes. We don’t need them. I am so proud that my children know that money cannot make you happy. Money cannot solve life’s problems. They are thankful for what they have been given. Now I’m not saying that they don’t ever complain. I love them dearly, but they are not saints – neither am I.
People please take time to stop and look at what you have been given. Don’t wait for the one day a year to do it. We take SO much for granted. We should be thankful EVERYDAY. And I am SO speaking to myself right now. Take a moment. Stop. Thank God for the breath you just took. Look around you and be thankful for what you have. Don’t be a grouch because you can’t have what you WANT. God has provided everything you NEED. He’s good like that you know.
God, I am so thankful for my family – my husband, my children, my new granddaughter. I am so thankful that we are healthy – we can walk, talk, see, take care of ourselves. I am thankful that I have a job to go to everyday because many people don’t right now. I am thankful for the friends that support my family in my times of need – even if it’s a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen, and for the fellowship with them. I am so thankful for the fact that I am one of the reasons you sent your son to die on the cross of Calvary. I am thankful that I am one of the chosen who will sit and praise you in Heaven when my days here on earth are over. Thank you…
Where is YOUR Thanksgiving?
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July 4, 2008 at 12:47 am (Holidays)
Tags: Holidays
and a safe weekend!
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