As a life-long Falcons’ fan… I’ve been dealt a hard lot. The Falcons layed a big goose-egg yesterday against the Giants. It was painful to watch. But then Tim Tebow led the the Bronco’s to a long-shot (nothing short of miraculous) win over the Steelers in overtime. It was AWESOME!!! (sorry Steelers’ fans…)
Last night, I sat on the sofa – with my arms crossed – and despite the amazing Tebow-show, I was in a bad mood. The Falcons’ loss just helped all of my angst come to the surface. I complained to Eric… “I’m tired. I look ahead and see the same monotonous routines. There’s nothing to look forward to. Theoretically, I know God can give me joy – but I don’t want to pray, I don’t want to read my bible… I don’t want anything to do with ‘seeking God.’ I’m tired of Him too.”
Poor Eric – he just sat and listened as I scowled and acted like a spoiled-two-year-old brat. And he, always gracious and patient with me, just empathized and didn’t judge.
And later, as I pried open my bible, I read about how God loves us – even though we are still sinners. And God made the familiar words fresh… I’m a sinner – and you know what… I’m okay with that. I can own that label. I’m rebellious and down-right bad… unfaithful and whiny – and it’s an afront to the living God – and he actually died because of it.
But I’m not defiled by that label. God has given me a new name… My value comes – not from my performance – but because He made me and died for me. I’m part of His family, and He’s consumed with gathering His family close. I’m okay with that too.
So back to the Falcons and Tim Tebow :-) As Eric and I were going to bed, I said (tongue in cheek), “God poured His blessings DOWN on Tebow tonight!” And Eric had the audacity to say… “Well, He also poured His blessing down on the Falcons.”
What, Eric? I wasn’t in the mood to hear truth… But Eric can’t help himself – he was born to speak the truth. And he continued…. “Great blessing can be found in pain and suffering – if you choose to look for it.”
If you choose to look for it. Am I choosing to look for good? Eric rambled on about all the good that has come from our accident. He’s good at speaking truth, and it was good for me to listen :-)
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:14-19).
Crayons In My Water 
We all get tired of the same things you point out! But you have extra stuff to get tired of and I don’t blame you one bit. But God accepts us as we are as long as we believe in Him and what He can do for us! I have to sit back at times and come to the realization of ALL He’s done for me and recharge myself. I think it’s all just part of God’s plan.
I sit here and read your posts and I honestly don’t know what on earth I’m going to say. But when I start typing, it just all flows onto the page and I really don’t even have to think. I became aware of this some time ago, so I know that God’s giving me the words I need to convey to you. Thank you God!
God bless you, Kathryn! One day at a time! God’s with you at all times!
Hugs!
LikeLike
Thank you for always being so very honest. I have shared your story with many others and encourage them to read your posts. God is amazing how He uses our bad and good to encourage others. I am studying the Bible with a 17yr old that knows the truth. She struggles with truly allowing God to show her heart and to let Him use her and her talents. I think your showing her your story will help her understand how God wants us to pour ourselves before Him! Thank you!
LikeLike
My favorite verses come right after the ones you quoted…Praise be to God, who can do amazingly more than anything we could ask for or imagine! It seems he has been… in you. In Eric. In Anne. In Canon and Kate.
LikeLike
:-) Tim Tebow and Kathryn Jackson–What do they have in common?
(After the Broncos’ loss to the Patriots)
“How is the strength of your faith impacted after a loss?” I started.
“It puts things in perspective,” Tebow said. “God is still God. I still have a relationship with Christ, and a loss doesn’t change anything. Win or lose, everything is still the same. What matters is the girl I’m about to see, Kelly Faughnan. If I can inspire hope in someone, then it’s still a good day.”
And just like that, with a transition smooth enough to make a movie producer proud, Tebow crossed through the threshold of a doorway to the glowing face of a 22-year-old survivor of a brain tumor. After one question, the interview was over. A more important priority awaited him.
With his daughter glowing as Tebow engaged her and her family nearby, Jim (Kelly’s father) spoke to me about Kelly’s struggles — a conversation that jolted me far from the analysis of a football game that finished an hour earlier. We talked about the tumor that invaded her brain. About the tremor that remains unexplained by doctors. About the hearing loss that resulted from a lack of oxygen at birth.
“I can’t begin to tell you the impact he’s had on my daughter,” Jim said. “She’s very positive, and she tries so hard, but she’s had a struggle. Tim Tebow has built her self-confidence up so much — taught her to believe in herself — that when I see people criticize him, I’m just dumbfounded. I don’t get it. It’s almost incomprehensible to me. I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to see an athlete use his position and platform to do good for people.”
Nfl.com
And that’s what Kathryn Jackson does EVERY DAY in the life of Anne.
LikeLike
If that were even a tiny bit true, well, I’d be set for life. Thank you April! That was profoundly encouraging to me!!!!
LikeLike