Give Me Your Eyes

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken hearted
Wasn't it far beyond my reach?
Give me Your heart for the once forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see!!!

I begin this post on July 13...one month past the single event that will forever change my life here on this earth. We have had a roller coaster ride these last 4 weeks! One week at the beach with family, one week of teaching 65 boys and girls swimming lessons, celebrated my birthday without Jon and joining Josh in Houston for a 4 game series before coming home for the All Star break. Emotions continue to flood my mind. I know this, life is just a breath, a vapor here today but we are not guaranteed a day...not one of us.

I received a note from an aunt of David's who also has lost a son. So much in the letter has given me peace but one comment she made has made me think so much about the actions I want to take daily. "Denise, take care of each other". That sounds pretty simple but do we always "take care of each other"? Do we always notice when someone is struggling or not having a good day or just need a friend? I want to! I want to be gentle with all kinds of people that come and go in my life. I think that many of life's treasures are hidden from us because we never search for them. I want to be a better steward of my opportunities!

I know this much is true. If you want to lift yourself up, try lifting up someone else. True happiness comes from serving others. The seeds of depression cannot take root in a grateful heart! I have so much to be grateful for. I see that everyday. I have always heard that every one of us is always 'in a crisis, coming out of a crisis, or headed for a crisis'. Maybe it's how we handle situations that matter. Sometimes,I think we determine our actions on how we feel others think that we should act. I want to be true to myself and to how I think that God wants me to act or react to situations in my life. I want to be a vessel. I think that only through complete and repeated commitment to God lies the key to victories that can be more easily won, less painfully achieved and more quickly gained. Only then will the valleys become less deep and less dark and more quickly passed through!

I know that God is taking care of me! Every time I am having a day that may be sadder than some He sends me an angel. A friend that brings me lunch or takes me to a "spa day" or comes by to say that she loves me and is praying for me. Someone calls or writes a note with just the right words comes in the mail or any number of things that so many of you are doing and continue to do as we so clumsily continue on this journey. Thank you, I love you and I know that God has sent you to me!

Our Gifts

I have been thinking so much lately about life, love, God and how all of this comes together. God shows himself in so many ways, usually in the stillness of his beautiful creation. Maybe in the ocean or the beauty of a flower garden maybe in a smile or the hug of a friend. I have always loved Psalms 56. Some of my favorite verses are "...even when I am afraid, I keep on trusting you. You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in a bottle and counted each of them."

Understanding the mind of God is impossible. I don't even try. He loves me, I know it. I believe it. "What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!" I Cor. 2:9

Jon had many gifts. Among them were his smile, his sence of humor, his tender heart, his hugs and his ability to make friends and be friendly to everyone. One I want to tell you about today is his gift of life and sight to several people that will forever be indebted to Jon. We received a letter this week from Alabama Eye Bank. They informed us that Jon's eye tissue had been used to restore the sight of two very fortunate individuals. This makes me happy as Jon will live on in some small way through this compasionate donation. I'm sure we will find out later about his heart and large bones in his legs that were used to help someone suffering with bone cancer.

Everyone on earth is designed to make a difference. Jon made a difference. I am learning more and more about how he did make a difference. He is still making a difference in the lives of others through his story and through his gifts.

The greatest mark we can make is to show others who God is...we do this by loving others.