Hi, Helen,
I'm glad the Lord helped you this morning. I needed to be reminded of that
myself, even though the things I've been focusing on in my life most lately,
are not monstrous issues. I'm so glad the Lord knows all about it. And if
it's important to us, it's important to him. Getting his perspective
though, is what really counts, allowing us to see the big picture. Well,
I've rambled on about that for long enough. Smile.
Thanks for sharing this morning.
Blessings,
Vicki
----- Original Message -----
From: "Helen" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, November 26, 2004 8:26 AM
Subject: Re: my Thanksgiving
> Good morning, Vicki,
>
> I know this message was for Kathy, but just wanted you to know that I
> really needed to read this today, also. Thank you!
>
> Love and blessings,
> Helen
>
>
>
> Earlier, Vicki and The Rors wrote:
> >Hi Kathy,
> >
> >Glad the Lord gave you a good perspective here. It is so easy for all of
us
> >to get so wrapped up in one thing going on in our lives such that it
> >overshadows everything else. So, um, welcome to humanity. Smile.
Getting
> >a God perspective makes all the difference in the world, and for that
> >matter, the difference is out of this world too.
> >
> >Blessings,
> >Vicki
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Sent: Friday, November 26, 2004 5:55 AM
> >Subject: my Thanksgiving
> >
> >
> > > HI Guys,
> > > Well, thanksgiving day has passed and I must say that God blessed our
> > > family with a good day. It is such a good spiritual exercize to have a
> > > day focusing on thanks right in the middle of a stressful situation.
On
> > > Wednesday, as Greg and I were preparing for our church's Thanksgiving
Eve
> > > service, I must admit that, for a moment, a nasty little comment
flitted
> > > through my brain, something like, "oh yah, what have I got to be
thankful
> > > for." Then, it hit me, I have a great deal to be thankful for. I have
a
> > > wonderful new home, a healthy family and a wonderful marrital
> > > relationship. Chris is just one small thing and I rob myself and
everyone
> > > else if I focus on him rather than my blessings.
> > > I love the war analogy that Phil has planted in my head as well. I
almost
> > > feel like I'm working for the CIA right now, but that is the way
things
> > > must be. We know that Chris had a joint, and was hoping to get at
least
> > > one friend to come over and share it with him, but he didn't have any
> > > takers. Of course, when he was out of the house, we were franticly
> > > searching to find it, but no deal. Anyway, we learned from what we
read
> > > last night that he must have slipped out of the house, to his shed to
> > > smoke the thing in the middle of the night in about 30 degree weather,
by
> > > himself. That must have been an enjoyable high. We're learning that
his
> > > self esteem must be even lower than we realized because after he got
paid
> > > for work on Wednesday, one of the ploys he used to try to get someone
to
> > > pick him up and take him to the mall where he could share his joint,
was
> > > to say, "don't worry, I've got plenty of money." If that doesn't sound
> > > like the prodigal son, trying to buy friends, I don't know what else
> > > would.
> > > You guys, I know that you hear a lot of the bad stuff about Chris
because
> > > of what we are dealing with, but I know who he is deep down inside. He
is
> > > an artest. He can be a real clown. He's great at making people laugh
when
> > > he wants too. When he was younger, he was always the peace maker
between
> > > his siblings and he was usually the first to apologize to us, of all
the
> > > kids, when there was trouble. Underneath, he has a very sensitive
spirit.
> > > I often think that his growl is his attempt to protect himself from
> > > getting hurt worse. His perfectionism and hiper anxiety make him not
> > > value what he has to offer to the world. The weird thing is that he
> > > doesn't seem to know himself why he does some of the things that he
does.
> > > For example, earlier this fall, he and Greg were talking about Chris's
> > > history of explosive and violent anger. That hasn't happened for a
while
> > > now and Chris's comment to Greg was, "What was with that?" As if Greg
> > > might have the ansser to the reason why. That same question came up
> > > yesterday at the dinner table. Chris was really enjoying the turkey
and
> > > sausage stuffing and he asked us, "I don't know why I was a
vegitarian.
> > > What was with that anyway?" I suppose that some day, and I hope sooner
> > > than later, he will ask the same question about drugs, but now he is
> > > bordering on the dangerous and we have to find a way to intercede
before
> > > he decides to try something else. I find myself praying for wisdom by
the
> > > hour, to make the right move. Last night, he was really insistant that
> > > Honey go down stairs with him for the night. I insisted that, if she
were
> > > to go down stairs that the door stay open so that she would have the
> > > freedom to come back up and he was okay with that, but I can't help
but
> > > be suspicious that something is cooking.
> > > What if we Christians were always as vigilent in spiritual things as I
am
> > > becoming with Chris? I believe that that is what Paul means when he
> > > encourages us to be sober and vigilent and on guard, but we get lulled
> > > into a false sense of security, not taking seriously the warning that
> > > Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. It's good to
> > > enjoy the good times, as God's gift to us, but we must still be on
guard
> > > as well.
> > > God bless,
> > > Kathy
> > >
> > > ________________________________________________________________
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>
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