The Blessings

BTW, I do not want to be remiss in all the updates on this illness to not include the blessings, and I don't mention this because these people expect me to. I mention it because I think we live in a world that does not teach us how to serve others. I think it teaches us to implode, not explode, and frankly, I think most preachers are so busy covering their financial butts and keeping folks in pews with watered down or pick-and-choose-so-it-feels-good theology that we miss the commission to be like Christ, not to believe He once existed, but to truly be like Him, and I think it is imperative to tell the stories of the folks who show Him so others see and understand and can emulate...or just rejoice with how blessed my family is because trust me, THESE FOLKS BLESSED US, so in that vein I want to tell you about....

My cousin who lives about 2 hours away, I think, who "happened" to be near here Sunday when we were nearly out of staple groceries because I hadn't been able to get to the store. C helped at a garage sale during the day and on last minute notice (seeing my post on FB), offered to drive through here, get groceries, and bring them by. It was late. She was tired, and it added easily an extra hour to her trip home. She could have said nothing, and I would have never known she was anywhere near here, and there is more to the story, which is even more...did I mention she BLESSED us? She did.

MK offered to drive between 3 and 4 hours after work yesterday to pick up the kids and keep them till the weekend and bring them home. When she realized how sick I was, she offered to take the day off work today and simply come stay with me. Who does that? Then today she texted me, "Jer, don't be stupid. I know you think you feel better, but you don't. That is just the drugs making you feel like Superwoman. it's not really you." and to be known so well....BLESSED.

Other cousin. Mom of cousin above. I think she does more volunteer work in a week than I do in a year. REally. This woman knows how to serve, and despite the timing (love rush hour) still offered to drive the 30-40 minutes over here to drive me 10 minutes to urgent care and sit there with us so I wouldn't have to fight the world spinning so I could drive myself. She even told me multiple times she didn't mind, and I know she didn't. She would have done it because she loves the kids and me, and she is just that way. Since I assured her I could drive, she kept text watch, and I checked in until I finally passed out at home with meds in my system, and she was the first to text this morning to check on me. BLESSED.

Janis, city secretary. I called to find out if she knew the closest urgent care clinic because I don't know the roads well yet. Never crossed my mind that they would show up on a google map when I did a search. She spent nearly 10 minutes on the phone with me as she googled, found ones that were truly where they said they were, and relayed information. Then she checked on me this morning. BLESSED.

D who was the interpreter between her medical professional sister and me. I had no voice, so I texted D, and she talked to her sister. In the end, I was doing all the right things...and still losing the battle, but it was comforting to have a professional say, "You sound like you are at the point when you need to call in more help." I appreciate D's sisters help and time, and I deeply appreciate D being available to be used in such an unconventional...but so important at the moment...way. BLESSED.

To each of you above, I didn't mention names because I know you, and that isn't what you are about. May the Lord repay you with the His promise, "I will bless those who bless you". May those blessings be deep and wild in their abundance. With deep gratitude from this deeply blessed heart.

Because Sometimes It Takes Thinking Like a Marine to Heal

When a man or woman joins the Marine Corps, he or she enters boot camp. For the next 13 weeks these men and women have one purpose: learn to be a Marine.

Their way of thinking is addressed. Their way of acting is corrected. Their entire mentality and identity is altered so that when they leave boot camp, they live in such a way as to bring honor to the USMC.

These weeks are imperative in the making of a Marine. It is simply impossible to be a Marine without them. While these men and women are in boot camp, no one is bashing them for not being in a war zone shooting a gun. No one is telling them how they are failing the Corps because they are not covering someone's back. No one is trashing them for only in training.

People are praying for them to succeed. Their instructors are working with them to become the best they possibly can be, usually even better than they thought they could be. People are proud of them for making the choice to think beyond themselves, to see a bigger picture, to look beyond the right now...to see the possibilities of a better life for themselves and for others.

No one considers boot camp a waste of time.

On the contrary, boot camp is essential to stepping out of the present and into the possible.

What does boot camp have to do with healing? Everything.

Because if you heal correctly...
...the way you see yourself changes.
...the way you think changes.
...the way you act changes.
...the conviction of purpose is born.

When you heal well, you no longer see yourself as a victim or as weak. You know longer see a screw up who always gets it wrong. You no longer define yourself by others attitudes, actions, and words.

Instead you realize...

You are strong.
You are essential.
You have the power to change how YOU act.
You choose to define yourself.
You define yourself according to the value God gave you and according to how HE sees you.
You choose how you respond to people and situations.
You set yourself free from the prison of the lies that have kept you chained to brokenness and allow yourself the freedom to investigate and enjoy being the masterpiece God made you to be.

You no longer see what was or has been.

You see what can be.

 

THAT is what healing does.

Healing allows you to step out of the present

and

into the possible.
 

Unfortunately, it usually takes more than 13 weeks, but when you reach the other side and realize how far you've come and you are so thrilled with this person you've become and so proud of the battles you've won...then you know...you didn't waste your time all. You invested it in you.