I received an email from a dear friend today. She said that she was at a prayer meeting last night and people are hurting all over. She went on to say that "My pain may be different from your pain but PAIN, IS PAIN, IS PAIN...". It's in the air all around us. We are clearly aware of our own circumstances, but if you take 5 minutes to truly find out how your neighbor is doing you will learn that they, too, have some hills to climb; some burdens to bear. I think we can become so engrossed in our situations that we forget that we have not shed one drop of blood while striving against our perils. Sometimes I long for the teachings of old. I vividly recall my parents, other adults, and especially preachers telling us younger ones to "put that lip in and be strong". It wasn't that they were being heartless towards whatever wounded our feelings, they were just letting us know that in this life there will be heartaches and pain, but not necessarily unto death. Many of us will agree that we are a pampered society; a pacified people. We are hysterically germophobic and overly cautious about everything. Our children can't ride a bicycle without us first outfitting them with a helmet, knee pads, and shoulder pads. We refrain from doing any sport that envolves physical contact which may produce a little blood. I recall playing tackle football on the asphalt and I and my brothers were doing BMX jumps off cliffs before the sport became nationally syndicated. And we didn't have helmets! You can't help but to wonder what ever happened to kids playing Dodge Ball, tether ball, and jumping double-dutch at a dangerously fast pace...using two jump ropes at the same time? Yes, I miss the old days when even eating a dropped ice cream cone was alright as long as you kissed it up towards Heaven. And it was still delicious.
I received a text message this morning informing me that Jamal had gone to be with the Lord at approximately 9:07 a.m. Jamal was 11 or 12 years of age. He was born with a rare genetic condition called Larsen Syndrone which affects 1 out of every 100,000 people. Symptoms include:
- Short stature
- Additional skeletal abnormalities
- Cleft palate
- Heart defects
- Hearing impairment
- Mental retardation
- Pulmonary hypoplasia
Jamal never was able to ride a bike, run on the playground, play soccer or throw a baseball. He never knew the innocence of a first kiss by a girl and he never played a video game. Jamal was bedridden from birth and was under the constant care of his parents and nurses until he drew his last breath. I find comfort in knowing that today he is with the Lord and is running, jumping, laughing and skipping along with those who have gone on before him. In Heaven he is now whole. I want to challenge you, my friends, to do something today. I challenge you to let go of yourself and consider the needs of others more than the needs of your own selves. Stop acting as if God is unable to keep you and protect you better than you can do for yourself. Live your life. Have fun again. Take a dare and stop being such a wimp about everything. Come out of that restricted and afflicted state you have been living in for so long and Live Your Life! Tommorrow is not promised to you and you only live in this flesh once. What are you waiting on? You can sit there if you want, but I go to get busy.
Have a great and productive day.
Love you all,
Dennis
Great advice
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