I am a good secret-keeper. Whether it is the perfect Christmas surprise you are waiting to exchange or a special prayer burden that you simply had to share with one person, you can depend on me to keep your secret safe. Just a little-known something that my friends who read here may or may not know about me. And, the more I thought about it, there might be a few other random “facts” I could share. So, in the interest of pure fun, here are some things that make me – well, uniquely me:)
1- I can keep a secret. Yes, I mentioned that one already. The idea of secrets came from the FMF prompt this week. I really enjoy the FMF community and reading the other blogs and different thoughts that come from one simple word. Kate shares a fun secret herself this week! The idea is to write for five minutes, unedited (which is just about impossible) and I will admit, upfront, this post will probably be a bit longer than five minutes.
2 – I have no ability to be a nurse – or even to render first aid. Actually, you would not want me to help out in any emergency of a medical nature. It’s not just blood (which is bad) – but also stitches (oh my!) or even the evidence of pain, as in a broken bone, etc. In people or in pets. It doesn’t matter. In all of these situations, I am not the one you want to call for help. You would be doomed. I have tried, on more than one occasion, to “man-up” and to “be there” for someone who needed help. Every time, I become a second person in need of medical attention. Sad, but true.
3 – I need my personal space. As in, more than the average bear! Everyone has a comfortable personal boundary before they feel that others are “in their space.” For some reason, my space feels intruded, sometimes even violated, way before others. I have been known to panic in prolonged overly-crowded places. And, my body language often expresses protection of my space. I have no explanation for this but I know it – and I try hard to be aware of it. Do you know how many women express friendship, hellos, and even simple kindness with a hug? You would if you were hyper-sensitive about your space:)
4 – I am a college drop-out. Not a flunk-out. But, between my sophomore and junior year of college (way back in the day), I got a job making more than money than I needed, bought my first car and then met my husband. And I didn’t go back to school. Regrets – yes or no? Those answers are many (and maybe a whole post of their own) but I am sorry that I was a quitter. I actually I heard this statement in our sermon on Sunday. “We Independent Baptists (of which I am one) are very good at starting things, but we often do not finish well.” Hmm, very sobering, if not convicting.
5 – I am forever marked by grief. My husband and I have two adult children. We also have two children in Heaven. Our youngest son died at 13. Without a doubt, navigating through grief and the years of missing Tyler have been the hardest thing we have ever done. But grief has also been deepened our faith, molded and refined us, and yes – even with all the pain – has been some of our sweetest times as we have seen God’s promises proven true and learned for ourselves what a faithful Heavenly Father we have. Our last pregnancy (which was years before Tyler’s death) ended in a miscarriage and, in contrast, the months that followed were some of the darkest days of my life as I refused His grace, failed to trust and was almost destroyed by despair afterward. My heart breaks for those who face the trials, heartaches and challenges of this life alone – without a savior. My prayer, though, this blog, is that others can not only know Christ but know what a difference walking with Him makes. I personally know the difference. I also know the joy that life can have with the certainty of a literal Heaven and knowing that we will together for eternity.
A little more of Tyler’s story can be found above at the “Could It Be Any Worse” link.
I would love to get to know you a little better. What is one thing that makes you uniquely you??