tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383352581981905188.post4874234714580434211..comments2023-09-30T07:18:50.819-05:00Comments on Brokaw Tidbits: Birthday ResolutionAmberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15763785324526989935noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383352581981905188.post-8763906161762494112012-02-04T00:32:25.713-06:002012-02-04T00:32:25.713-06:00Thanks for sharing this, Amber. It struck a chord...Thanks for sharing this, Amber. It struck a chord with me in so many ways. One of my favorite sermons (heard roughly 15 years ago) was on that passage of Daniel with the same point being made. It is a beautiful statement of faith that is far stronger than that other saying.<br />I also relate to the deep connections between Church and the people we have loved. When my Grandfather died this summer, I spent much of the following Sunday service downstairs in the kitchen crying my eyes out. In some ways it was worse than the funeral. I'm not sure if I'll ever again manage to get through "When all of God's singers get home" without choking up. I guess God meant us to be one body and it just really hurts to lose a part of it. <br /> And last, for reasons very different from yours, these last couple of years have been a time of serious spiritual drought. I'm trying to dig up the courage to face my issues head on, but it isn't easy. Thank you for sharing your struggles and resolution so openly. I should have heeded your warning and grabbed a box of tissues before I started reading. I try to remember that even some of God's greatest servants went through black periods of grief, fatigue, and spiritual numbness. He made us, so He understands our weaknesses.<br /> I'm glad you had your Dad in your life. I didn't know him directly, but he helped raise up a wonderful daughter who has been a blessing to me. May God grant you peace and strength and courage.Laranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383352581981905188.post-69950830386446884762012-02-02T08:36:16.242-06:002012-02-02T08:36:16.242-06:00It is so hard and, if nothing else, I hope you kno...It is so hard and, if nothing else, I hope you know that others have gone through this, feel this, and I think the devil uses these times or it's just a test of our faith when we have to handle our grief. Like you, I was mourning my dad's decline, but he was 88. I still wasn't ready to be without him. God took him and though I know he lived a long life, it doesn't make losing your dad any easier. I have to believe, though, that he's pain-free and in God's loving arms. I'm thankful for your dad and thankful for mine. And I'm thankful he created a daughter in you that wants to carry on his spiritual legacy. Hang in there and know you're not alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383352581981905188.post-83912307973861443462012-02-01T22:24:53.565-06:002012-02-01T22:24:53.565-06:00Thank you for sharing. I have had a lot of the sam...Thank you for sharing. I have had a lot of the same experiences since losing my parents. Church can be very emotional and I always hope those around me don't notice. <br /><br />MLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383352581981905188.post-438533330942011442012-02-01T13:36:20.949-06:002012-02-01T13:36:20.949-06:00Amber you are so much stronger than you think! Yo...Amber you are so much stronger than you think! You have gone through so much in the past 3 years (and not all Dad stuff!) Thank you for your heartfelt post and for having the strength to recommit yourself to your Faith. ALthough I didn't have quite the same experience with my mom's death as you did with your dad's, I see a lot of similarities in the way we both have processed our grief. I can't believe my mom will have been gone 8 years this summer, but from that perspective, I can offer you the hope that things will get better! It was around year 5 I noticed a lot of things that would trigger grief started triggering happy thoughts instead- my mom's Bible, songs we sing... Not that I still don't get choked up on occasion with a certain verse or song- but it's no longer an absolute! I think Doreen is right in that knowing 'God will' doesn't mean He will do what we want, but rather He will do what is His will and we need to know that His will is what's best, even if we don't understand it right away- or ever for that mater. To me, that's faith. I love you!!Shellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383352581981905188.post-61229513489265161142012-02-01T13:17:44.969-06:002012-02-01T13:17:44.969-06:00Amber, your reflections on your Dad and your willi...Amber, your reflections on your Dad and your willingness to share your feelings brought a tear to my eye. <br />Learning to trust that "all things work together for good" even when we don't understand how all these things could possibly be construed as anything but evil is the essence of faith in a Good God.<br />May God bless you on your journey to a greater faith. And be assured that your Dad would be extremely proud of you.Alan Taylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383352581981905188.post-3704254576016195432012-02-01T10:32:35.102-06:002012-02-01T10:32:35.102-06:00That scripture from Daniel is one of my absolute f...That scripture from Daniel is one of my absolute favorites. So often we expect God to answer our prayers THE WAY WE WANT HIM TO not the way that is best for us. <br />We need to understand that even when God says No, He still loves us and is doing the best for us.Ogday in Montanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07497348381896523044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383352581981905188.post-17907990414262224352012-02-01T10:15:16.016-06:002012-02-01T10:15:16.016-06:00Amber, I really appreciate your honesty in this po...Amber, I really appreciate your honesty in this post, and I really appreciated your prayer in class last Sunday. Jeremy and I agreed afterward that it was such a loving and heartfelt prayer for so many people who are hurting, and I loved hearing you speak those words. I'm so glad that you're part of my community of faith.Kelly Elliotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10440569484529415687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383352581981905188.post-79736426908840361482012-02-01T09:52:19.824-06:002012-02-01T09:52:19.824-06:00I think you and I have been in the same place for ...I think you and I have been in the same place for different reasons. I haven't been grieving my dad, but I've been grieving the life I had always wanted, I think. I heard my own voice through your words and even through wanting to be renewed. Thank you for being so open and honest. You are an encouragement and a kindred spiritual spirit. I hope you see a little peace and comfort today on this hard day.Jordanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06728752951347441758noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5383352581981905188.post-39589352431099955582012-02-01T09:38:47.540-06:002012-02-01T09:38:47.540-06:00Thank you for your sweet, sincere words! I am pra...Thank you for your sweet, sincere words! I am praying for you!Aprilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07902234189002197699noreply@blogger.com