Henry

The first time I saw Henry was when I was walking my dog in our mobile home park.  Henry was talking to someone who was leaving and I heard him smile and say "every day is a wonderful day as long as Jesus is in your life."  I was hoping that I would get to meet him some day.  He just seemed to shine and I thought there must be a good story behind his 'shine'.

I eventually got to meet Henry.  Through a series of different conversations I found out some of the story.  Henry is about 5'7", thin build, white hair and beautiful light blue eyes that just shine.  When you watch Henry you can tell he walks with a little limp and the left side of his mouth is down turned, he looks like someone who has had a stroke, but has recovered very well.  Henry has had more than 1 stroke, he has had 11 strokes. 

The first stroke Henry had he was around 50 years old.  It was so massive that the Dr.'s said if he survived he would be a vegetable.  Henry had a good job, lovely wife of over 30 years and had built his own house before his first stroke.  He was estranged from his mother when he was younger and never really had a good relationship with her, before his first stroke.

After his first stroke he ended up being in the hospital for over 100 days.  His wife divorced him, but his mother took care of him.  Henry has told me more than once that he never thanked Jesus when he had built his house with his own hands; but after his stroke he was sitting at a table trying to eat, and he saw a 30 year old man who could not even lift his head off his pillow.  From that point on Henry started thanking Jesus for everything.  He says he was full of pride before his stroke, but now he is thankful for everything.

Henry also shared with me that he had suffered from 'grandma seizures' after his stroke.  He explained a 'grandma seizure' affects the whole body and it only stops after you pass out from the pain.  He said he had 2-3 seizures a week.  One night he just felt different.  He did not have a seizure for over 6 months.  He decided to go off his medications (19 pills a day), and his Dr. quit treating him because he went off his meds.

He said he would go through it all again because Jesus means so much to him now.  He said his wife left him, his friends left him, only his mother and Jesus stayed by his side.  He gives all of the glory to Jesus.

Now Henry takes care of his mom.  He feels like it is the right thing to do.  He goes to the gym 3 times a week, works on his truck and drives to a house he has in Arkansas for the summer.  He keeps busy, but he is never too busy to give thanks and glory to Jesus.

Job 23:10 "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."

For Granted

I have been married to the same man for almost 30 years (July).  I love him dearly and he amazes me often and irritates me too.  In the last few weeks I have noticed that I take him for granted more than I should. 

I have a few friends who are going through some trials in their marriage.  Their husbands have been making devastating choices.  Choices in which Biblically these friends can divorce for.  They love their husbands and really want to protect their marriage, but it may be too late. 

Last week I went to coffee with these two ladies and listened to them.  Their hearts are broken not only about losing their husband, but also losing their marriage.  As I was listening to them it really reminded me that I should never and I mean NEVER take my marriage for granted.  It is a blessed institution that Satan would love nothing better to do than break it up. 

When I got home, I thanked God for my marriage and my husband.  Then I prayed for our marriage and my husband. 

Don't take your marriage for granted.  NEVER believe the lie that you have a strong marriage and divorce or the possiblility of divorce will never happen to you. 

Hebrews 13:4  Marriage is honorable among all.

Integrity

I am a HGTV junkie.  When I want to relax and just let my mind go, I like to have HGTV on and play games on my computer.  Today I needed some download time, so I did my normal turn on HGTV and play my computer games.

I watched a show called Selling My First Place.  It featured a couple in the Arlington Virginia area that wanted to sell their condo.  They had bought their 2 bedroom condo for $340,000 in 2006 at the height of the real estate market.  Since then they had one child and have another child on the way.  They wanted to sell their place and buy a home with a back yard and another bedroom.  They have been living off of the husbands salary and saving the wifes salary, because they knew they were going to take a hit when they sold their house. 

At the beginning of the show the couple discussed trying to sell their condo for $300,000.  As the show progressed they talked to their real estate agent and he explained how much condo's were selling in their area and he suggested they start at $295,000.  If they did that it would take all of their savings, but they figured  they could swing it.  After having their house on the market for over 3 months and having their realator tell them that a condo just like theirs sold for $250,000; the couple decided to take their condo off of the market. They ended up paying off their second mortgage and refinanced their condo with the thought of renting it for the new refinanced payment.

During the show the wife said a few times to the husband that they could short sell their home or maybe have it forclosed.  The husband said each time "No! That is why the market is in the mess it is in."  He refused to give in to the easy solution or an easy way out and chose instead to take the way of integrity.  It cost him and his wife $70,000 which they will probably never see again.  I think the cost was high, but the integrity he showed to his wife and children is priceless.  He is a man of his word, no matter what the cost.

Proverbs 21:3  To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrafice.