Proud

Written by cycleguy on August 23rd, 2011

Not Pride as in egotistical or arrogant.  Been there. Done that. Had that said about me. (It was true).  🙁

NO.  Proud as in “I. AM. PROUD. OF. SOMEONE.”

Indulge me for this one post to do some bragging…okay some talking about how proud I am of some people I know.

FIRST UP!  MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER,  JANNA!

Today is Janna’s (and I know I will get shot because you are never supposed to mention a woman’s number of years) 32nd birthday.  If you are counting, I was 26 when she was born.  🙂   Janna has turned into a beautiful young woman (I am, of course, prejudiced when I say I always thought both of my girls were); a good wife; and a fantastic mother to my only grandson, Braden.  She is also an Assistant Director at a Daycare in Columbus, OH.  Not bad for a girl who said she would never work with children and didn’t want any herself.  Never say never!  😛  I am not sure if Janna reads my blog, but if you do honey, I am sooooooooo proud of you, and what God has brought about in and through your life.

SECOND UP!  THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE

If you guessed my grandson, Braden, you would be wrong.  While he definitely lights up my life (and makes me tired), I am speaking of my bride of over 38 years.  But there is a story here, and I hope you will take the time to read on.  It is not the typical “I-love-her-because-of” tribute.  I know it is overused but it is a “God-thing.”  One month ago I wrote this post.  I also issued a challenge to anyone reading this blog to join me.  I had several others take up the challenge, and I can promise you that I prayed for you and your wives.   Now to my our story:

As the day loomed closer (a review), I was wondering what in the world I was going to say.  Nothing earth-shattering happened over the past month, except maybe a little more trials came our way.  As per normal, I was looking for “something big.”  Nothing. Nada. Zip…until this past Thursday.  I received a call at the office from a lady whose son was to start at a local business but had no place to stay.  The man he was going to rent from backed out without telling them.  She began by calling me.  Don’t know her from Eve.  “Do you know someone who could house him for four months?”  I checked around and couldn’t find anyone…UNTIL…Friday morning my bride says, “If you want to call Patrick’s mom and tell her he can live here with us for the four months, or until he finds something else, then you can.”  She was then off to a Women of Faith weekend in Indy.  In all frankness and honesty: this is not Jo.  This is waaaaay out of her comfort zone.  Like off the radar.  I saw vividly #3 and #8 take shape right before my very eyes.  As a result, my respect for her sky-rocketed (#10).  Patrick moved in on Saturday and began work yesterday.  He is a 20 year old college senior at the University of Louisville, and his family lives in Corbin, KY.   If somebody had told me we would be doing this, I would have had trouble not laughing in their face.  Like fall-over laughing.  But God continues reminding me WHO is in charge and I love it!

SO YEAH…I AM PROUD OF MY BRIDE FOR GOING OUT OF HER COMFORT ZONE AND HELPING BOTH OF US TO FULFILL THE BIBLICAL WORDS: “I was hungry and you fed me; I was a stranger and you took me in.”   Thanks honey, for taking a leap of faith.

How about you?  Do you have a story to tell of how God has stretched you, your mate, or someone you love? 

 

41 Comments so far ↓

  1. Mercy says:

    God is still stretching me. I used to be selfish, I did not care about what other people needed or wanted, I only cared about myself. I prayed to God to help me care for people like He does and He answered me. Though I get tempted sometimes to go back to my old ways when I’m treated by someone in a selfish way, I try to overcome it with His love.

  2. Seth Caddell says:

    I’m been the college student in need of a place to live, and thats awesome that you guys were willing to open your home. I too was blessed with an awesome couple outside Joplin, MIssouri when I was needing a place to live there. Great story, and on behalf of wandering homeless college students everywhere “Thank you.”

  3. Michael says:

    I’m proud of April for leading worship. She’s not comfortable doing it, but loves to worship. She is doing what she believes has to be done until God sends someone.

  4. Craig says:

    God is working through my relationship with Juli on a daily basis. We are still dating – praying for wisdom on when to unite our families – and doing our best to walk in obedience when God shines light on our path.

    Years ago I would have been a ball of stress if I didn’t know how things were going to turn out with something in my life. I still fight the urge to get anxious…don’t get me wrong. But God has shown Juli and I that He is faithful – that He will lead – that we have to be obedient. So our faith is being stretched and instead of being anxious – we are both very excited!

    The ripple effect you and your wife will have on this 20 year will be amazing…thanks for sharing Bill.

    • cycleguy says:

      Glad you are growing in your faith Craig. Keep praying about the uniting factor. He will be glorified when it happens. Hoping the ripple effect continues long past our time. Thanks Craig.

  5. Tom says:

    Bill, I think you and Joanne just did stretch me. I just read in 1 John this morning about giving to our brothers. My radar (Godar?-ha)is up. Thanks!

    • cycleguy says:

      Glad we could stretch you tom. Your posts do that for me. Godar. Now that is a new one. 🙂 And please don’t tell Jo about Joanne. She might wonder. lol Thanks Tom. Good to hear from you.

  6. Jo says:

    I am not anyone special for doing this. Hundreds of people have stepped up way before me. Just could not ignore God putting it in my mind and heart for Patrick to stay with us for this little while. Out of my comfort zone? Most definitely but trusting that all will be a blessing for us both.

    • cycleguy says:

      To me you are and you have to allow me the opportunity to brag about you. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂 I am sure it will be a blessing for all of us. Love you much.

  7. Zee says:

    1. Happy birthday, Janna! 🙂 Here’s a bunch of choiciest blessings all the way from Kyiv, Ukraine! 🙂

    2. For both mom and I, the stretching was in a form of public speaking. Both of us are pretty introverted, yet mom has been a pastor for over 13 years now and I have been a speaker at camps / VBS / elsewhere… Don’t know about mom, but I still get sort of scared every time I am about to get up and speak, yet every time I find myself listening to myself (instead of thinking what to say next). It’s fun.

    • cycleguy says:

      Thanks Zee. You will win the award for the farthest to send greetings to janna! 🙂 For some public speaking is easy. For others, it is a chore. Jo would fit the latter. So proud of you and your willingness to speak to others and share your heart. Thanks for the comment.

  8. Moe says:

    That’s awesome. So proud of you for being proud of her. uhh, you get the idea.

    This may sound silly, but I’m proud that I got a chance to say “no” to somebody today. I find it hard to say no and sometimes I stretch myself thin and end up overstressed.

  9. lindaM says:

    Hi Bill,
    It is interesting and amazing about how God gets us into these places to bring about growth in our lives. These experiences do stretch us, but this is good. We want to increase not decrease in our capacity.

    I think my stretching occured in my involvement in the legal case with my former husband. God knew that I tend to be a quitter, so he put me in a situation where I could not quit without some serious financial consequences and fallout.
    Around January I could barely pick up a pen without wanting to throw up my food but I had to keep going. And I did, with God helping me. I also did 5 days of trial in June. Looking back now I am certain that God had to have been helping me. I just know that I could’t have completed the legal case and trial by myself.

    I also feel that God spoke for me at times during the final closing argument at Trial. For a short period I know that I was speaking and talking, but I have no idea what I said.
    When I came around I heard myself say ‘let me do this’! I’m not sure what it was that I was asking for, but I guess God the Holy Spirit
    knows what he was asking for!

    I have another testimony this month of God intervening and saving me at least 250 dollars in car repairs. In July a trespassing ticket for 287 dollars that was filed by my former husband’s wife was quashed in the court.

    We need to set our steps aright and make our decisions based on God’s councel in his Word. In this kind of covenant relationship with God, my belief and experience has been that God shows up more often in our lives and trials. We see and experience Him more. What an encouragement and a blessing in our lives!

    • cycleguy says:

      i have to believe two things Linda. i) God did stretch you. I could “hear” the stress in your pen as you wrote but could the hear the peace also. 2) I have no doubt whatsoever that God can “speak” for you or anyone. That is really cool about the saving money thing also. Thanks for sharing these God-events.

      • lindaM says:

        thank you for your encouragement Bill. It’s great when someone confirms a person’s experiences. God’s Blessings.

        • cycleguy says:

          you’re welcome. 🙂

        • Tim,cycle guys friend says:

          you can do all things thru Christ who strengthens you ,all of you, he wants all that garbage that has been dumped into ur lives, all of it…that is what freedom really is thru Christ, not just ur sins, but all the “stuff” that gets dumped into our lives, He wants it all,…then u are free to show someone else for Him…that is the shaping, making more room for Him and less of the darkness that has been left inside….i have seen God take a hardened 20 year old first degree murderer , and he is now a pastor of a congregation here of over 3000 a new man 40 years later….he gave everything up…..to be free and serve, because we have the Christ of second chances…hope that helps someone……

    • Tim,cycle guys friend says:

      the reason for the pain ,i have felt and been forced into, by our current laws , is God hates all divorce, it is a tearing of the flesh between two people….the unbeliever ,whether they attend church or not, But God divorced His own people, thus the pain to the believer, when one’s heart and soul harden they fell very little and live often two lives…Jesus sees this….but God said i have counted your tears and put them in a bottle he feels your Pain and is the healing of your heart…

      • cycleguy says:

        I know none of you know Tim but he and i were college buddies. He was 2 years ahead of me, I think, but was a whole lot smarter than me. 🙂 He played on the basketball team with me and some other friends of ours. I lost track of him for almost 40 years (since ’72 or ’73) until just a few months ago when he made contact with Doug, my college friend. We have been corresponding ever since. Tim has an interesting story and I would love to share it with you all some day. Thanks tim for the comment.

  10. lindaM says:

    Happy Birthday Janna!
    Way to go Jo!

  11. jeff says:

    Hope the arrangement with Patrick is working out.I have 2 empty bedrooms on the outskirts of Spencer if you or he wants another option. I’m only here about 1/2 the time and wouldn’t mind the company.

  12. dustin says:

    Happy Birthday, Janna!

    Over the last 2 months God has stretched my wife and I in a good way. We didn’t see eye to eye in an area and had a lot of discussions, disagreements and such… But then, God provided a way to restore the way we were dealing with it. It was cool to see.

    • cycleguy says:

      It is always interesting when people don’t see eye to eye Dustin and have to work through things. Glad you & Jen are doing that. Thanks.

  13. Stepping back into eldership after a few year “sabbatical”…it’s going to be a stretch for me and my family. However, I’m expecting God to do great things!

  14. Awesome thing you all are doing, brother. Being a blessing is part of what we are called to do.

    God is stretching my wife and I through my resignation. Trusting God to guide step by step is exhilirating at times and nerve-wracking at other times.

    • cycleguy says:

      Thanks Matt. You two took a step of faith (known only to you all and God). I believe He will reveal His will in some way. Thanks for the comment.

  15. jenn says:

    I find it funny that you said Janna always said that she didn’t want kids and now she is a good mom and also works with children. I have something in common with her because I also swore I would never have kids (and if I had any I would only have boys – as if I had a choice – because girls were boring). Now I have a daughter and I’m going to school to be a teacher. Crazy! Happy birthday Janna!

    I think it is wonderful that you and your wife are allowing a college student to stay with you. I can understand how it could be out of your wife’s comfort zone, but it is a good thing. When I was still married, we had twin 15 year old boys stay with us for a summer while their parents were going through a nasty divorce. It was WAY out of my comfort zone, but it ended up being a blessing to me as well as them.

    • cycleguy says:

      It is sort of funny how God turns our world around and does what we have no idea He will. I admire the fact that you took in not one, but two, teenage boys! I can only imagine your food bill!! 😛 thanks Jenn.

  16. Cameyg says:

    Way to make me get all teary-eyed… So thankful for Jo.

    And I had already told Janna “Happy Birthday” on fb. You know? Facebook. That thing in which I will not encourage you to get one of. Not now at least.

    Love Jo. Love Janna. Love you… Oh, and Tami & Braden too.

  17. Ed Damas says:

    you’re keeping me busy today Bill..lol

    yeah, I can relate…well at least my sister in Christ can anyways. She’s seen nothing but trials ever since God drew her near. I guess in a way God turned her over out of the frying pan and into the fire.

    • cycleguy says:

      God has so many different ways of dealing with His children Ed. Your sister in Christ will have a tremendous ministry if she allows God to use the fire to mold her. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Sorry I am late getting to this one.