This just seems to be the day of huge news. It's made me very aware that I have a lot of praying to do. I feel like all around me things are happening to my friends that is causing stress and there's not a damn thing I can do for them. I'm a helper by nature. I just wish I could help them.
I'm going to explain the situations bc I think they could all use more prayers than just mine but i'm not going to name anyone by name for their privacy.
First, a good friend of mine's cousin has been battling brain cancer for years. I thought things were going well and then we got word that she'd taken a turn for the worst. Hospice was brought in on Monday. Her cancer is too aggressive and there's nothing left to do for her but make her comfortable until the Lord calls her home. This girl has been the center of so much for so long. Last year my friend started a team in for the St. Jude Give Thanks walk in her name. We spent a lot of time and energy planning a fundraiser that, while was executed beautifully, didn't put the attendance we needed. It was a learning experience for sure. This year we're walking again but unfortunately it looks like we'll be walking in her memory instead. She is only 16. I can't imagine what her mother and other family members are feeling. It breaks my heart for my friend that she is probably feeling really helpless too. We have all invested so much time and energy into raising money for her and I feel like i've gotten to know her a little through that even though I have never met her. Maybe it's the empath in me but my heart breaks for this family. Please join me in praying that the Lord take her quickly and with little pain as possible and that He give the family the strength to go on and enjoy the beautiful life they have left. Pray for healing for the family as well. All my love to the family!
Another thing going on with another friend is she has become another victim of debit/credit card theft. Someone has gotten ahold of 2 of her card numbers and has totally wiped her clean. They have taken over $4,000. Now she's stuck fighting with the bank to get reimbursed as well as making sure her work doesn't direct deposit her check on Friday otherwise it will automatically go to the fees and she will have nothing. On top of this her boyfriend broke up with her, work is stressful for her, she isn't sleeping well, and i know she's been struggling with depression for a while now. It just seems like one thing after another for her and to be honest i've done a shit job of being there for her. She's been nothig but a great friend for over 20 years and I haven't even made an effort to check on her recently. Today I messaged her bc it's her birthday. It shouldn't take a birthday or a special occassion for me to reach out to her.
Speaking of, this is just a little side rant, this is the reason I dont have many close friends. I dont take the time to reach out to them. I'm not one that enjoys just sitting and talking on the phone most of the time since i do it for a living but I mean what's stopping me from texting them and just seeing how my friends are doing? I see everyone being super close to other people and can't help feel like there's maybe something wrong with me that I've lost the closeness I once had with certain ppl. Of course there's something wrong, for too long I didn't try and now bc of that i've put myself in this situation. I've lived in my own selfish world for so long I've lost a lot of good friendships I once had. There are only 3 people that I would say I actually feel close to and 2 of them dont even live in the state. I've got to work on being a better friend!
Anyway, enough of my self pity party, please pray for my friend that she find peace within herself and that she get reimbursed this money that was stolen from her. Money doesn't bring happiness, we all know that, but it is a necessity for life and right now she needs it back. While you're at it, pray for me that I pray more diligently and ask the Lord to help make me a better friend to those i love.
And another thing I found out today, another friend of mine has pretty much been forced into a huge life changing decision and is scared and stressed. Due to the nature of the change and privacy for the family, i'm not going to give the details of this situation. I'm just going to ask that you join me in praying that everything they have to get done before this change takes place be done, pray that the Lord gives them both strength and guidance as they begin this new chapter of their lives. Pray for their children.
And finally... I know you're probably thinking how much bad news does a person get told in one day... i've thought that too today. Finally, this next one is for someone that's not a friend but a woman that I have had a difficult relationship with but because of God's gift to me, my husband, I will be tied to for the rest of my life. While I often get frustrated with her, her well being is very important to me. She is my mother in law and I love and respect her more than I show. Last week a woman in Carrollton was followed home and shot in the eye. You all may have seen this story on the news if you are local, if not just google Nancy Howard and you'll see articles. Anyway, my mother in law knew this the Howards through Church and this has really seemed to rattle her cage a bit. It has taken a toll on her emotionally and she's in need of prayer. I found out today that Mrs. Howard was not followed home by a stranger but by a man that her husband hired for $85,000 to kill his wife. Fortunately, Mrs. Howard did not die but is alive and recovering and Mr. Howard is being held in the county jail. I know my Mother in law is relieved that theres not a psychopath on the lose just following older women home and shooting them in the face but it's still never easy knowing something like this happened to one of your friends, especially when it could be turned into CSI episode! Please pray that my MIL find peace with this. I know she has been and will continue to pray for Mrs. Howard and her adult children but she needs prayer as well. And while Mr. Howard is the bad man, he needs prayer as well and i know my MIL is struggling to be able to pray for him. Please pray that she finds the words to pray for that man. The love and faith my MIL has for her savior is so admirable to me and now she needs the prayers.
I know this was really long and if you actually read it all thank you!
