So, can you guess what these four have to do with each other? Keep reading! Swirling in my mind these days, I (Joan) am dwelling on these four!
Football – not exactly my forte! But Matthew’s ‘Tim Tebow devotional got me going’. He is an ex-football player for those who don’t know. 🙂 And I had to pray for Jalen Hurts (injured Eagles player) yesterday in the Shepherd’s class I helped in. That is about my extent of football. But back to Mr. Tebow. He wanted Matthew and I to know something about II Cor 1: 3-4 (‘Blessed be the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all affliction….)
Fortitude – not a word I would insert in above verse. But here is what Mr. Football taught me. The word, comfort’ in Latin, is fortis. It means brave, strong, courageous. Not comfort like I have always thought: ‘ease, relaxation, gentle, relief.’ Whoa! This is Mrs. Softee here being thrown for a loop!! So just in case Mr. Football was mistaken, I looked up that word on AI, of course. Definition: ‘mental strength, courage, resilience that allows a person to face danger, pain or adversity, without giving up!”
Ugh! How can I have gotten this so wrong for so long?? I got pain, grief, daily grind that I am ALWAYS looking for comfort (in my definition). But this true Latin word- Wow! Talk about realigning my flimsy girl thoughts to God’s- takes some mental gymnastics and the grace of God! So, the back diagnosis isn’t going so well. Three things going on that are all too complicated to explain and nothing that I have gotten a neurosurgeon to want to touch. So, pain and limitations continue to be my constant companions. And the ripping away of my daughter to eternity continues to plague my broken heart. So having the ‘mental strength and courage to keep fighting on without giving up” new thinking for me. Confidence that I can face the unknown, and say, “God’s got this!” Yes, that can only be done with His strength.
Fun – That is my boy! Turns 14 this week. He threw a party last night and invited 32 people. He allowed me to supply food and gifts. Nice job, Matthew. But the entertainment was all him! Now he wants to open his own studio when he turns 15 or 16. What a guy. He follows that Tebow guy to the hilt! Resilience could be his middle name. I know Matthew faces challenges every day. Probably only Ron and I know the full extent. But he does NOT give up! My family doesn’t know this yet, so don’t tell them. But I am starting a new tradition this year. Has to do with feathers, turkeys, and words that describe that person. Things to hang on to for the rest of the year when life kicks you in the head and mental strength goes weak. But all that to say, even before AI taught me what fortitude meant, I had given Matthew a resilient word for his fat turkey!
Funeral – Yes, we buried our precious Kari next to her brother Ryan a year ago. Halloween was her graduation day. I miss her like crazy! I live with three men now without the sweet atmosphere of her love. It is an adjustment. Things always seem, loud, sloppy and a little rough. And when ‘comfort girl’ is always looking for quiet, ease, relief and cuddles, I got to keep that true fortis word in the forefront! God’s got this!!
