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3-2-03
STOP KICKING YOUR BUTT
A year ago at this time I
was going through a major health crisis. I didn't know for sure what was
wrong and what would need to be done to correct it. Three wonderful
things came out of that "close call" experience.
First was the unfailing devotion of my sister, Junebug. She went with me
for every test, kept my spirits up. My son, Jeff, came in from Dallas to
be with me and my daughter, Gaye, was steady in her caring.
Second was the way my personal physician of many years, Dr. Bill
Findley, "just happened to be in the neighborhood" over and
over and dropped by to check on me. I knew he seldom just happens to be
in my neighborhood. I knew it was his wonderful friendship that made him
drop by.
I'm sure that most doctors try to keep a little emotional distance
between them and their patients. But Doc and I have been through too
many all-night talkings to act like there is distance between us. We
have been through too many jugs of Grand Marnier, George Dickel and
Mateus wine. We are brothers joined at the soul. So when I needed him,
he just happened to be in my neighborhood.
Third was deciding not to kick my butt until my nose bled over the
mistakes and sins of my life. Some has said, "Death has a way of
focusing the mind." I discovered that just the possibility of death
would focus my mind. And one day I got to whipping myself over my
divorces. Here I was facing a big health crisis without a helpmate.
I wrote in my journal, "Yes, it would be great to have a helpmate.
But I did the best I could in all my marriages with the light I had on
my pathway at the time. . I refuse to kick my butt until my nose
bleeds."
It's tragic when people cannot take responsibility for their sins and
failures. But the sad truth is that some of us tend to take complete
responsibility for the whole mess when we may only be half-responsible
or less. We just have this weird tendency toward self-flogging.
All you can do with the mistakes, errors and sins of you life is admit
them, ask forgiveness, make amends as best you can and unload them. You
cannot carry them. That's God's part. It is an insult to God for you to
turn them over to Him and them drag them back in your sack and go
stooping down road trying to do God's job.
There is such a thing as grace. It's so unexpected we call it amazing
grace.
~~~~~
For back issues of My Sunday Journal and other features, go to DaltonRoberts.com
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