Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts

Monday, November 23, 2009

Luck -v- The Grace of God

The Love of My LifeThere are some things in life that we only get one chance at. Some call it fate, some call it luck, I call it the Grace of God. Seven years ago today, I became the luckiest man alive when the woman pictured here became my wife. We've had some great times together, and our share of bumps together, but one thing is certain: I love her with every fiber of my being, and even though I may not be the best at showing it sometimes, I still count myself the luckiest man in the world.


Here are some other people who got lucky in their own way. Somehow, I still don't envy them. Compared to the grace that God showed me seven years ago (and every day since), these guys just experienced blind luck.


Direct video link.

Your comments?

Joe









Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Our Maddy Has Cancer

Healthy Dog LegEarlier this week, I took our beloved eight-year-old (she just turned nine yesterday) Dalmatian, Maddy, to the veterinarian. She has a swelling on her right front leg that would rise and fall, and suddenly quit falling, swelling up more than ever. I posted the bad news on Twitter after delivering it to my wife: the dog who was our first child has cancer.

Canine Osteosarcoma, to be exact. From Wikipedia:
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone tumor in dogs and typically afflicts middle-age large and giant breed dogs such as Irish Wolfhounds, Greyhounds, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers and Great Danes. It has a ten times greater incidence in dogs than humans. A hereditary base has been shown in St. Bernard dogs. Spayed/neutered dogs have twice the risk of intact ones to develop osteosarcoma.
Cancerous Dog LegThe picture above is an X-ray of a healthy dog leg. The picture to the right is our Maddy's X-ray. In the far right of the picture of the healthy dog leg, you can see the large bone that is missing in Maddy's leg -- literally eaten away from the inside out by the cancer cells. The two bones in the healthy X-ray are the ulna and radius, though I couldn't tell you which is which. In Maddy's leg, one is completely eaten away and the other is very, very deteriorated. The large swelling, I understand, is a result of her body trying to fight the cancer.

The vet, who we have used for the first time but who came highly recommended, prescribed prednisone for her, to fight the inflammation and help relieve the pain. I'm not convinced yet that it is doing either, though all that I have read about it says that it takes several days of continuous use to have the desired effect. So far, it seems to have only succeeded in causing her to be more thirsty and urinate more.

We haven't yet decided what course of treatment to take. The doctor mentioned three options: amputation of the leg plus chemotherapy; amputation alone; pain management only. He seemed to believe that her case was too far progressed for amputation and chemotherapy to do much to prolong her life or improve the quality of what time she has left, which he says may be as little as three months or as many as six.

Again, studying the situation seems to suggest that amputation would greatly relieve her pain and improve the quality of the time she has remaining. It also seems that amputation plus chemotherapy might give her as many as four to ten months more life. However, all of the studying in the world doesn't necessarily apply to Maddy's case.

My wife and I are currently struggling with watching our Maddy. We keep hoping that she will just get better. It's hard not to do that. And we struggle with whether to try to just help her manage the pain, amputate the leg, or amputate and treat with chemotherapy. The struggle for me is that my own mother lost her fight with cancer several years ago. She started chemotherapy and ended it shortly thereafter, convinced that the treatment only made her feel worse and wouldn't prolong her life or add any quality to it. Reports suggest that chemotherapy in dogs does not have the same dramatic side effects as it has in people. I just don't know.

What I do know is that we love our dog, and we don't want to lose her. But we also have faith in God, and know that everything that happens is for His purpose. Sometimes, though, it's hard to accept that His purpose might mean taking away a loved one, like our Maddy.

Maddy's BirthdayYesterday was her ninth birthday. She's been with us since she was six weeks old, long before either of our children were born. We had a birthday party for her today, and pampered and spoiled her. She had a hot dog to eat, plus two new hot dog squeaky toys. She had several doggie cookies, and one real cupcake, which she absolutely loved.

Tomorrow, I'll be speaking with the vet again about his thoughts on amputation, chemotherapy, or just pain management. I just need to make sure that whatever decision we make, we are making as informed a decision as possible. I need to make sure that we aren't making a selfish decision. I don't want to prolong her life just to keep her with us longer if it will be a miserable life for her. But I don't want to just manage the pain if more aggressive treatment might add some quality months or years to her life. It won't be an easy decision to make, whatever we decide. I just wish Maddy could tell us what she would choose.

Your comments?

Joe


Maddy's Cancer Battle













Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Book Review: Martyr's Song by Ted Dekker

Book ReviewWhat would you die for?

That's the question suddenly thrust upon a small band of women and children in Bosnia at the close of World War II. When a group of bitter soldiers stumble upon their peaceful village, they suddenly face an insidious evil ... and the ultimate test.

It is then, in the midst of chaos and pain, that the Martyr's Song is first heard. It is then that the window into heaven first opens. It is then that love and beauty are shown in breathtaking reality.


One of Ted Dekker's shortest works at just 111 pages, The Martyr's Song is the ultimate story of love.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 [NIV]
Through this very eloquent story, Dekker tells not only a story of ultimate love, but one of ultimate beauty, delivering two very critical, timely messages for our time.

Young Marci is ridiculed by fellow students at her school for being ugly. When elderly Eve spies young Marci, she knows that she has to help. She knows that she has to share her story with Marci, to help Marci see her own beauty. Through Eve, we learn the story of thirteen year old Nadia, Father Michael, and how their deep love for Christ leads them both to make what for many would be an impossible decision.

At just 111 pages, Martyr's Song should be read by all. We see the brutality of war, the depth of true love, and the beauty of salvation all packed into those few short pages. Kudos to Dekker for penning this touching tale!

Your comments?

Joe




Friday, April 3, 2009

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday


Today, my wife turns thirty-one. She was twenty-one when I met her, and while the past ten years have been blessed with good days and challenging days, every day has been wonderful because of her. I cannot imagine what life would be like without her -- in fact, can barely remember what life was like before her.

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful woman in the world, from the most blessed guy alive. I Love You!

Your Husband





Wednesday, April 1, 2009

SOAP: Grace, Mercy, and Justice

SOAP {Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer}:
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE | ABOUT SOAP
Moses
SCRIPTURE
1-3 Moses climbed from the Plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the peak of Pisgah facing Jericho. God showed him all the land from Gilead to Dan, all Naphtali, Ephraim, and Manasseh; all Judah reaching to the Mediterranean Sea; the Negev and the plains which encircle Jericho, City of Palms, as far south as Zoar. 4 Then and there God said to him, "This is the land I promised to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with the words 'I will give it to your descendants.' I've let you see it with your own eyes. There it is. But you're not going to go in." 5-6 Moses died there in the land of Moab, Moses the servant of God, just as God said. God buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor. No one knows his burial site to this very day. 7-8 Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight was sharp; he still walked with a spring in his step. The People of Israel wept for Moses in the Plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end. 9 Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. The People of Israel listened obediently to him and did the same as when God had commanded Moses. 10-12 No prophet has risen since in Israel like Moses, whom God knew face-to-face. Never since has there been anything like the signs and miracle-wonders that God sent him to do in Egypt, to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land—nothing to compare with that all-powerful hand of his and all the great and terrible things Moses did as every eye in Israel watched. Deuteronomy 34 [MSG]

OBSERVATION
God's justice and grace know no limits.

APPLICATION
He was arguably the most Godly man in the history of Creation. Born of a pauper and raised by a princess, Moses was used by God to confront Pharoah when all of Israel was held slave to the Egyptians. God did many great and wondrous things through Moses. Moses -- a soft-spoken, ill-prepared stutterer -- was used by God to lead His chosen people out of Egypt into the Promised Land. He was chosen by God to present His Ten Commandments to the people. He was appointed by God to preside as judge over Israel, solving disputes and ensuring that the order was kept. God knew Moses face to face. God appeared to Moses in many forms -- as a cloud over the Tent of Meeting, as the famed Burning Bush -- He even allowed Moses to see Him pass by, though Moses was not permitted to look upon the face of God as the sight would have killed him. But Moses, like many of us, was not a perfect man, and the country he led was imperfect as well. As Israel repeatedly rebelled against God, even Moses at one point questioned God. It was a moment of lost faith that cost Moses his chance to enter the Promised Land. Through Moses, God led Israel to the Promised Land, but he denied Moses the privelege of actually entering the city. God took Moses to a high hill and allowed him to look into the Promised Land -- to see what he was missing. An act of justice? Or grace? I say both. God took Moses to the very gates of the Promised Land, but refused to let him enter, paying the price for his moment of lost faith. Justice, certainly. But at the same time, God had the grace to allow Moses a peek at the great city, to see that His chosen people had actually reached the land of their inheritance. He showed Moses high on that hill that He was a God of His Word, and that Israel would receive her Promised Land. Unmatchable grace. Then Moses died and was buried by God.

PRAYER
Father, You have always shown grace and mercy greater than I deserve, just as you did for Moses. I can't imagine how a sinner like I can be worthy of the kind of love and grace You once showed to one so great as Moses. Thank You, Lord, for not making me earn your grace.

Your comments?

Joe

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Week of Caring

Wife ran out of gas, but I won't nag her about it 'cause I love her.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Week of Caring

How does a man prove his undying devotion to his wife? Any suggestions?

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Blah

Suffering from an entirely unusual (for me) case of the blahs.

Monday, March 16, 2009

What Is "Week of Caring?"

So what, exactly, is the Week of Caring?

Too often it can be too easy to just stumble our way through life, plucking our way through a daily routine, taking life as it comes, and settling into complacency. It can be too easy to take for granted those who we love the most. I know, I've been there. You probably have been, too.

So, this morning, I decided it was time to take a week and overtly care for my wife. To be very obvious that I love her. Not just in words, but in actions. So I'll be posting here this week (often as part of my MicroBlog) about the things that I am doing to show my wife that I love her -- that I care for her.

What might those things be?
  • My wife is feeling a bit under the weather today, so I left work at lunch time (actually took a two hour and fifteen minute lunch) to go home, make lunch for the kids, and check in on her. I discovered she had a low-grade fever of 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit and gave her a fever reducer. I then cleaned up all of the lunch dishes and put my daughter down for her nap before returning to work.
  • At the end of the work day, I left about an hour early to return some library books on the way home, then make dinner for the wife and kids. I then cleaned up the dinner dishes and went to Dairy Queen to get a quart of soft serve ice cream, because my wife said she thought it would be good. I then sat outside with the kids while they played in the yard -- all the while letting my wife continue to rest -- watched a little TV with them, then put them to bed.
I can't share everything here -- not in advance, anyway -- for two reasons. First, I don't know what all I might find myself doing this week to show my love for my wife, and second, I don't want to tip her off to what she can expect. Tomorrow, if my wife is feeling up to it, we'll be heading to Brown County, Indiana, and possibly Edinburgh, to spend a little time out as a family, enjoying the awesome weather forecast for tomorrow. Stay tuned for updates.

Your comments?

Joe





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Week of Caring

Going home early to grill dinner for the kids and give wife the night off.

Week of Caring

Fed kids, put daughter down for nap, medicated wife, headed back to work.

Week of Caring

Home to make lunch for the kids while wife is under weather.

Week of Caring

A new week. What will you do this week to show someone you care?

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Life's Greatest Achievement

SlippersMy little girl is two-and-a-half years old, and she just loves her Daddy so much. I feel so blessed to have two wonderful children.

One day last week I asked my daughter to pick up my slippers by the side of my bed and bring them to me. She didn't understand what slippers were, so I told her that they looked like shoes. She grabbed them and brought them to me.

The next day, after I got home from work, my daugther walked up to me holding my slippers out and said, "Here, Daddy." My heart melted. Literally, I was so touched that my sweet little girl remembered that her Daddy liked to wear his slippers and relax after work. She wanted just to make her Daddy happy, and did so with such a simple gesture.

This morning, as I was sitting at the table after breakfast sending out some recruiting emails for some open management positions in one of the stores in my market, my little girl came down the stairs and walked up to me, saying, "Here, Daddy." Once again, she had my slippers in her hands, proving that this wasn't just a one time thing.

Again, my heart melted, and I asked her, "Did Mommy tell you to bring those to me, or did you do it on your own?"

She said, "Did on my own." Ouch! That's my heart melting at the thoughtfulness and love of this sweet little girl of mine. So pure and innocent, she just wanted to make her Daddy smile, and knew just how to do it. I don't know if I have ever felt more loved.

It's amazing, isn't it? The greatest achievement of my life took no training, no special skills, no work at all really. The greatest thing I have ever achieved is being a Daddy to two wonderful kids, and somehow I think that's exactly the way God had it planned.

Your comments?

Joe

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Loving As He Loves Me

Today's Daily Soap {Scripture | Observation | Application | Prayer}
FOR TODAY'S FULL READING, CLICK THE TITLE LINK ABOVE.
Wedding Rings

SCRIPTURE:
Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage. Ephesians 5:25-28 [MSG]
OBSERVATION: 
I am not only to provide for and protect my wife, but to love her so must as to almost elevate her above myself.
APPLICATION:
Christ showed His love for the church -- for His followers -- by serving them. He didn't put Himself first, but rather put us above Him. He washed the feet of those who followed Him. He broke bread for them and served them. He even died for them -- for us.

What kind of love do I show to my wife? Do I serve her, or expect her to serve me? After a long day at work I come home and expect to be able to relax. But my wife has worked all day, too. Do I give her a chance to relax? Why does it have to be a special occasion for me to whisk the kids away and give her a break?

I could do a much better job of loving my wife the way Christ loves me.
PRAYER:
Father, help me to learn from the example You provided some two thousand years ago. I want to love her like You love me.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Why I Love My Wife

Wedding RingsI love my wife because she always finds a way to put up with me.

I love my wife because she doesn't fuss when she goes to bed and I stay up getting caught up on political news and blogging.


Your comments?

Joe

Monday, October 20, 2008

Why I Love My Wife

Wedding RingsI love my wife because, during my only day off between two six-day work weeks, she let me play hooky from responsibility (with minimal nagging) and have a nice, relaxing day.

I love my wife because I can't imagine not loving her.


Your comments?

Joe

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