This is an article I wrote in 2008 while attempting to win a boat cruise for my wife.
“I KNOW” ever since our first date on July 1st, 1985, I haven’t wanted to be without my wife, Amy. She is the only girl I ever dated and someone who saw something special in me, when I couldn’t.
“I KNOW” one of the best moments in my life was watching Amy come down the aisle twenty years ago on March 24th, 1989. If I had not married her, I am certain the girl I did marry would have lived in her shadow.
“I KNOW” I have never been more proud then when my wife made me a father twice. Fatherhood has a certain way of validating a man.
“I KNOW” there is nothing worse than losing a child, as my wife and I can attest. On May 4th, 2000, my seven-year-old daughter went to be with Jesus five days after being in a car accident.
“I KNOW” it could have been much worse because my wife and then nine-year-old son were also in the accident and both survived. It is true God never gives us more than He can handle.
“I KNOW” at one time the number of couples who get divorced after they lose a child was said to be as high as 80%. My wife and I are more concerned with staying true to our vows, so we will not add to this statistic.
“I KNOW” we adopted our now six-year-old daughter because we had more love to give. Adoption, in my opinion, is the perfect picture of how God loved us so much He made us it possible for us to be adopted as His kids.
“I KNOW” I was reminded of how precious life can be when Amy’s appendix ruptured last year. Every morning when I say goodbye, before I leave for work, I am reminded of how blessed I am to have her for another day.
“I KNOW” from personal experience how a song can so deeply help to heal your broken heart. Mercy Me’s song, “I Can Only Imagine” comforts us with the knowledge one day we will join our daughter in Heaven.
“I KNOW” I am a better person for having married Amy because she is someone who everyday challenges me to be a better person.
“The more you invest in a marriage, the more valuable it becomes.” Amy Grant
Swavel
Showing posts with label healed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label healed. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Get Back Up
Have you ever had your bell rung? It can be a mind clearing experience. Have you ever rung someone else's? It can be scary. I've experienced both and found out you can learn from these unfortunate situations, if you decide to get back up.
One night as a teenager, I decided to tuck a pillow under my arm and tried to score an imaginary touchdown in my bedroom. For some reason, I decided to leap while attempting to score. The result was my head slamming on the doorframe and my feet sailing through the air. There was a horrific thud as my body slammed to the floor. I laid in silence, but it was only for a brief moment as I heard my dad’s footsteps coming up the stairs. Suddenly, I was miracously healed. Fear of my father motivated me to get back up.
When I was in my twenties, I was warming up to pitch in a softball game when a throw got away from me. The ball had sailed over a snack stand and directly behind it were bleachers full of spectators. Quickly, I ran to retrieve the ball. To my horror, I found my coach’s mother-in-law laying in her daughter's arms. At first glance I thought I had killed her, thankfully she was fine after the headache wore off. The realization I needed to improve (and of course, practice in the opposite direction of the fans) motivated me to get back up and eventually pitch again.
One very early morning a few years ago, as I attempted to get up for work, I lost my balance and banged my forehead squarely onto a desk. I felt like Goliath lying on the floor as I waited for the room to stop spinning. The commotion apparently woke my wife and she asked, "What are you doing?" Not having a good reply I got up, dusted myself off and left for work. Embarrassment motivated me to get back up again.
We all suffer setbacks from time to time and some more serious than others. Perhaps the best advice is to follow this Chinese proverb, “Failure is not falling down, but refusing to get up.”
Swavel
One night as a teenager, I decided to tuck a pillow under my arm and tried to score an imaginary touchdown in my bedroom. For some reason, I decided to leap while attempting to score. The result was my head slamming on the doorframe and my feet sailing through the air. There was a horrific thud as my body slammed to the floor. I laid in silence, but it was only for a brief moment as I heard my dad’s footsteps coming up the stairs. Suddenly, I was miracously healed. Fear of my father motivated me to get back up.
When I was in my twenties, I was warming up to pitch in a softball game when a throw got away from me. The ball had sailed over a snack stand and directly behind it were bleachers full of spectators. Quickly, I ran to retrieve the ball. To my horror, I found my coach’s mother-in-law laying in her daughter's arms. At first glance I thought I had killed her, thankfully she was fine after the headache wore off. The realization I needed to improve (and of course, practice in the opposite direction of the fans) motivated me to get back up and eventually pitch again.
One very early morning a few years ago, as I attempted to get up for work, I lost my balance and banged my forehead squarely onto a desk. I felt like Goliath lying on the floor as I waited for the room to stop spinning. The commotion apparently woke my wife and she asked, "What are you doing?" Not having a good reply I got up, dusted myself off and left for work. Embarrassment motivated me to get back up again.
We all suffer setbacks from time to time and some more serious than others. Perhaps the best advice is to follow this Chinese proverb, “Failure is not falling down, but refusing to get up.”
Swavel
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