“LOVED”

Happy Tuesday! and I hope your week is off to a good start. My days are getting a little better daily and I am very grateful for that. I am planning on getting this going again but can’t guarantee a daily thought. I do want to share a few ideas with you today. A simple way to give you a little understanding about a few things in my life.

Many of you know me and many have no idea about who I actually am and have been. It’s not as important to me that we fully know each other. In my world part of life is continuing to grow, develop and become the man or woman that God has created us to be. Professionally I was in ministry for about 30 years, and have been in some type of counseling work as a staff counselor the last 9 years.

Natalie and I have been married for the last 33 years. Most of our marriage I have worked 2-3 jobs at different times. I have always been grateful for the work I do. I would have to acknowledge that money has never been a good motivator for me. It helps to have money to pay bills, but I also probably have some unhealthy views around money. That part of the story is a completely different story.

That is a long part of the story to make this point. In 2020 I made the most money I have ever made. I was working at Hope Fellowship part time and working full time at Planting Seeds Counseling. In September I left Hope and added a group in Argyle, Redeemed Life Counseling. I was seeing 30+ clients a week. Everything seemed wonderful but I was struggling with a few things and couldn’t figure out what exactly.

In October I started having seizures but initially would not have guessed that’s exactly what I was having. I knew where I was but I would be a little disorganized for a few minutes. These were getting worse and after about 2 months, I had a seizure in front of my cancer Dr. He was concerned and sent me to get my head scanned and they quickly found the tumor in my head.

That started in November, by December I was unemployed. The last 5 months I have had, two surgeries on my head, a round of radiation and chemotherapy. None of this was part of my plan. I would tell anyone, there are some things we plan in our lives and other things that have nothing to do with our plans.

Give me a little grace. I am going a long way to share a couple of things. Not stuff I normally shared with people.

My wife makes a good living and I was making a good living. We were really getting to the first place in our marriage where we were beginning to have a little extra money. We have been paying off some school stuff but other than that most of our debt was gone. My plan has been to work hard, start to save some money for the first time and hopefully get ahead in life.

Here is really a long way to get to this. I have always worked hard, been grateful for my work, what I do and the opportunities I have had. I have never felt like anyone owes me anything. Something has happened the last 5 months that has really jacked with me and I am learning to simply be grateful.

My sisters started a fund for me. They didn’t tell me and at first I was a little irritated. At that point I thought “okay, if a few people want to give it will be helpful.” I have to tell you,“I did not want people sending me money.” 5 months into this process the money has been such a huge blessing. It has helped us get through some things and helped me not worry each day how will we pay for stuff.

There are some things I will have to start to figure out in the next month or two. We are going to have to put our house on the market. My main work as an adult has been ministry and counseling work. I don’t know if I will be able to do either one of those moving forward. This gets me back to. “What do I have control of each day?”

This tumor I have eventually takes your life. The norm is 6-18 months. It can always go a little longer. I am hoping this last surgery will give me a little extra time. I will absolutely take as many days as the Lord will give me. I am not trying to be negative, there are days many of us can’t do much about. So go live the days you have today!

A lot of stuff really just to say, “thank you!!!!” My life is better today because so many of you have, prayed for me, brought me beautiful little gifts and many have been so generous with your money. I hate being needy, but I have been and just have to acknowledge.

Thanks for letting me probably overwrite what needs to be written. Just blame it on all that stuff they took out of my head.

Remember, You are LOVED and of GREAT VALUE!!!!!