A few words of truth for today...

Ephesians 4:31- Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil-speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And BE KIND to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (emphasis mine)

1 Corinthians 14:33- For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.

Galatians 5:22-23- But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. (emphasis mine)

Romans 12:9- Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

Romans 13:1- Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
13:3- Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good and you will have approval of the same.

1 Corinthians 7:19 Keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

1 Corinthians 13:5- (Love,) does not behave rudely.

And finally, from Romans 3:23- for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The 'Right to Die': My Thoughts on Brittany Maynard

My friend Jen wrote her thoughts about Brittany Maynard and I suggested that I had a few 'thoughts' on the subject. I guess now is as good of a time as any. If you're not sure who Brittany Maynard is, Jen included links to her story. In a nutshell, she was the young woman with an incurable brain tumor that established residency in Oregon to make use of the 'Right to Die' law.

I will say to start that I do not mean this to be argumentative to Jen's post. I have an opposite view, that's all. I respect Jen and her position and hope my opinion adds to the dialogue about this issue and does not polarize or jeopardize any friendships in the process.

*****

I remember when the Oregon law was passed amidst the Dr. Kevorkian controversy. At the time, I was a college student with only a mustard seed of faith and even less knowledge of my chosen religion. I believed that the law was a good one. With certain diagnoses, I understood the desire to end the pain for one's self and the others around them. Now, with a few years and a little more knowledge I disagree for 2 reasons.

First, as a Christian, I am asked by God to fully and completely trust in Him. By choosing to die in this manner, Doctor Assisted Death, one is putting trust in another human being and elevating them to God's status.

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. from Bible Gateway

To make this choice, one would have to believe that God was trying to harm you, and had no plans for your future, and thus no hope. God's plans are always bigger than mine. My life, even if I had a debilitating brain tumor, will always be used as part of His great plan. Yes, this is a struggle to believe, even on the best of days, but I do.

Secondly, I believe that God has timing for a reason. Only God knows when our time is up, and by taking your own life to shorten your suffering or for the people around you, you don't give God a chance to do His work. What if God was waiting to give you the miracle of life? What if there was some insanely unlikely cure that worked in your case? What if ending your own life ended up haunting your loved ones rather than shielding them from pain? What if ending your own life denied someone that you love the chance to care for you or say goodbye? I believe in God's timing. I believe that regardless of our fear of pain, that we should trust in Him, and if we do then all things work together for good. (Even when that good is buried in a lot of not-so-good things.)

I fully trust in God. I believe his promises for my life and our world. While I may not live it perfectly, I have a Savior that has paid for it already, and I have given Him my life. It is His to do with as he pleases, including my time of death.

*****

All of this said, I also believe in Ms. Maynard's right to end her life in this manner. My standards as a Christian, are for me and for those who believe like me. If you don't believe in my Bible or my God then you have the right to end your life as you so choose. The law in Oregon allows for someone with different views on illness and death to do what they think is right, and I respect that difference. Even if I don't agree.

There are just some things that BEG to be blogged.

Last week I was bummed out. My annual trip to Vegas with my bowling league fell apart before my eyes. It is possibly the first time in 15 years that I haven't gone. I love this weekend. It's a great time for me to unwind, see a movie or a show, hang out with girlfriends (or sometimes my family,) and not have to do dishes. Ahem. This year I couldn't find anyone to go with me, which is a serious bummer, but with a wedding to plan and a kid in a baseball tournament I just let it go. There's always next year, right?

*****

Last night I let the boys have some friends over and after telling them for the millionth time to turn of the Xbox, I wandered upstairs around midnight. Just as I was about to turn off the lights, a sleeping Headless Dad started to moan and make noises that indicated pain. (Understatement. And also: foreshadowing.) By the time I got to the bed he was writhing in pain, shouting about his shoulder. (Back story here, here, and here. Oh, and here. ) I tried to pull the dislocated shoulder to pop it back into place. I tried to get him up. Nothing. Or actually there was a lot more pain so I had to stop. Luckily, the boy's friend's father was still up doing some work so he came over to sit with the boys, (Thanks A&DW!!) and I called 911. The fire/paramedics got here quickly, and thankfully without sirens. Then the ambulance.

You really should have seen the activity in our bedroom. My ohmygodsomessybecausethebathroomisstillnotdone bedroom. (Note to self: CLEAN THE BEDROOM.) There were 3 firemen and 2 paramedics going back and forth around our bed trying to figure out how to move an adult man when his arm was stuck out to the side and in so much pain he couldn't move. Finally, they started an IV and gave him morphine so they could 'splint' his shoulder and get him up and out of the bed, down the stairs, and into the ambulance.

No really. What did you do on Friday night?

I learned that it's way faster to get seen if you've ridden in the ambulance. We got there around 1:30/2 in the morning, and after more pain medication, xrays, more pain meds, and some propofol, the doctors were able to get his shoulder back in place. We've ridden in this rodeo before. I could write the script and direct it by now. We make the best of it with jokes and laughter when we can. Holding hands when we can't. The nurse even commented that we must have a strong marriage by how we were bantering through the evening (morning?).

Around 4 he was discharged, and we were on our way home by way of the 24 hour pharmacy to get more pain medication for the next couple of days. At home we sent our friend on his way and made our way to bed. Just as it was getting light outside.

*****
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,

I know that this is a wee bit out of context, but it still applies. God knew that I needed to be here last night. I can't imagine what the kids would have done had this happened if I had been in Vegas. My plans were obviously not in line with where I needed to be so He changed them. What about Headless Dad's golf tournament today? I don't know. I guess he wasn't supposed to play in it. Or maybe he wasn't supposed to be on the freeway at 6 am go get there. There are a million what-ifs but this is what I know. God knows and I believe that His plans are for us to be safe and taken care of and if He has to cancel trips to Vegas to make sure that I'm here when I'm needed, then I'm ok with that.

Day of Love

 "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth." (1 John 3:18)

 
Love means grinding the beans when he has to get up early.
Love means letting them tape the Grammys, even when you no longer see the appeal.
Love means taking the medicine upstairs, rather than making him get it himself.
Love is letting the two of them have the couch together.
Love means getting up a little early to make their favorite breakfast.
Love means another load of laundry to they have the socks that they need want.
Love is finishing the dishes at night so he wakes up to a clean kitchen.
Love is working long hours.
Love is bringing tulips 2 weeks ago, just because.
Love means playing catch on a beautiful February day. (That one doesn't hurt. Love shouldn't hurt.)
Love is giving her the tools she needs to fly--on her own.
Love is a testosterone filled evening, just for my boys.

May your day be filled with actions of love. xoxo

OK, Universe

....I give.

First, Maddie.

Then, Shannon's cancer came back.

Michele's son is in an awful situation.

This week, Anissa.

And today, Liz's brother has cancer, too.

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ⁵For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. ⁶If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. ⁷And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. (2 Cor 1:3-7 Bible Gateway, NIV)

God, comfort these families tonight, comfort those around them to give them great strength in the days ahead. May your mercies be great, Father. I ask in the name of Jesus that you bring supernatural healing to the sick bodies and hurting hearts represented by the names above. Touch the doctors involved, that they may have knowledge beyond understanding to touch and heal. I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Universe, I give these things to my God, who is all powerful. He is Mighty to Save. I believe that He is the one that can bring healing.

Will you pray with me?

The Firstfruits

⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Not Just For Fathers

Joy

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (James 1:2-3)

I am sitting right here in James this week, and I don't have to read very far into it to feel like I need to linger here for a long, long time.

If you've been reading me very long you'll now that joy is one of the hardest things to have. Finding it? It's elusive. Keeping it? It's slippery. I struggle with joy.

I do love my family more than my underlying lack of joy would have you believe. My husband is a wonderful man that routinely does the most amazing things for me just to bring a smile to my face. My children are happy and healthy. We have a great extended family.

Trials-I used to think of them as the BIG STUFF. You know what I'm talking about without even having to say it. I am so blessed to not have big stuff (so far) in my life. I have made so many friends through church, school, even this blog, that have had to step up to the plate for the big stuff, that I, in many ways cannot even comprehend what they have gone through. What they go through on a daily basis. What is my problem when compared to what other's do every day?

But that's the mistake when reading this passage. My mistake. My trials are not your trials. My internal trials are hard-for me. I really need to find- count! the joy in every frustration that I have, every day.

Dirty socks that don't hit the basket? At least I'm blessed to have socks and a basket. AND a floor for them to hit.

Dinner is later than I would have wanted? I am so thankful that we have food on our table, in abundance, when there are many others that have less... or none.

Whining during homework? I have children. They are healthy.

I want the joy. I want it deep in my soul. I want the trials that I face to end up reflecting the joy that God has for all of us when we believe and linger in Him. I don't want to miss one moment on this earth that could be- no, CAN BE joy.

So I'm going to read James this week, this month. Soak it into my soul. And find the joy.