Friday, May 09, 2003
God Must Have Big Plans...
I'd like to think I'm a brave soul. I've survived a lot of crap in my life -- mostly emotional. I'd like to think Michael is the bravest man in the world. Michael, you know I love you, but this guy wins.
You've all heard the story. Aron Ralston was hiking in the Utah desert when a boulder fell on him, pinning his arm. He was stuck for five days. In the meantime, he ran out of food and water. Seeing no other alternative, he broke the bones of his arm, beginning just above his wrist and ending somewhere near his elbow. Ouch. That's just the beginning. He only did that because his dull pocket knife couldn't cut through his arm. Breaking it was the only option before he began his now famous self-amputation. Jim Rome called him "The Baddest Dude on the Planet." Ok... I have to post what Romey said... it's just hysterical.
This is the point where one would say, "God must have BIG plans for him." People always say that when there's a near-death experience. You were saved for some great cosmic reason.
I look back to 1987 when baby Jessica was stuck in the well. I remember the night she was rescued like it was yesterday. We all prayed for two solid days. Then, it happened -- she was rescued. I cried. We all cried. Everyone said, "that little girl is destined for greatness!" and "God has big plans for that baby!" Is that true? Does God have plans for all of us, or just for the ones who make it through a tragic experience?
I made it through personal tragedy that never made the cover of Newsweek. I wasn't on Oprah because of it. I'm shocked. Where was the media when my marriage broke up? Where were the TV cameras when my 12-year-old daughter was on suicide watch at Laurel Ridge Hospital? And when she said "I hate you"?? How about when my 15-year-old son asked me why I left him? And then when I couldn't tell him the real answers?
Baby Jessica is now 16-year-old Jessica. She has juvenile rheumatoid arhritis. She is in constant pain. Her parents are divorced. The paramedic who was made famous by her rescue is dead. He committed suicide. I wonder what's going to happen to Aron Ralston with the big plans God MUST have for his life, or if he even believes in God. I pray that, although they mean well, nobody gives him the "big plans" line. I pray that Aron does what the rest of us are forced to do. Get well -- then live. What the rest of us don't have is the camera in our faces watching to see what's next. I hope he can avoid that and get on with his life and not end up in the "Where Are They NOW?" videos.
Quietly, and without fanfare, I've had my tragedies and my life goes on. If there was a "Where Are They NOW?" video, you'd see my daughter graduating with honors from college. She doesn't hate me. She's even told me that she's proud of me. At 21, she still calls me "mommy" sometimes. My son is a successful art student who still comes to mom when things get rough. He tells me he loves me every time he talks to me. My youngest is graduating from high school ranked #10 in her class. She, too, tells me she loves me when we say goodbye. My wonderful husband, who has also survived private tragedy and pain, is a constant reminder of God's unfailing love for me.
We are not heroes. Nobody will remember us. But God has a plan. God has had big plans for us all along.
I'd like to think I'm a brave soul. I've survived a lot of crap in my life -- mostly emotional. I'd like to think Michael is the bravest man in the world. Michael, you know I love you, but this guy wins.
You've all heard the story. Aron Ralston was hiking in the Utah desert when a boulder fell on him, pinning his arm. He was stuck for five days. In the meantime, he ran out of food and water. Seeing no other alternative, he broke the bones of his arm, beginning just above his wrist and ending somewhere near his elbow. Ouch. That's just the beginning. He only did that because his dull pocket knife couldn't cut through his arm. Breaking it was the only option before he began his now famous self-amputation. Jim Rome called him "The Baddest Dude on the Planet." Ok... I have to post what Romey said... it's just hysterical.
"So he did what I think we all would have done in a similar situation. He went into his backpack and busted out the good ol' pocket knife and hacked off his arm. What, you wouldn't have done that? What are you, a girl? You wouldn't have cut off your own arm?"Now, I've had mini fantasies about giving myself my own tummy tuck or boob job. Man, that would be great. But, of course, the thought of the pain and blood and sutures and the mere fact that it's CRAZY always stop me before I make that first cut. But cutting off your own arm?
This is the point where one would say, "God must have BIG plans for him." People always say that when there's a near-death experience. You were saved for some great cosmic reason.
I look back to 1987 when baby Jessica was stuck in the well. I remember the night she was rescued like it was yesterday. We all prayed for two solid days. Then, it happened -- she was rescued. I cried. We all cried. Everyone said, "that little girl is destined for greatness!" and "God has big plans for that baby!" Is that true? Does God have plans for all of us, or just for the ones who make it through a tragic experience?
I made it through personal tragedy that never made the cover of Newsweek. I wasn't on Oprah because of it. I'm shocked. Where was the media when my marriage broke up? Where were the TV cameras when my 12-year-old daughter was on suicide watch at Laurel Ridge Hospital? And when she said "I hate you"?? How about when my 15-year-old son asked me why I left him? And then when I couldn't tell him the real answers?
Baby Jessica is now 16-year-old Jessica. She has juvenile rheumatoid arhritis. She is in constant pain. Her parents are divorced. The paramedic who was made famous by her rescue is dead. He committed suicide. I wonder what's going to happen to Aron Ralston with the big plans God MUST have for his life, or if he even believes in God. I pray that, although they mean well, nobody gives him the "big plans" line. I pray that Aron does what the rest of us are forced to do. Get well -- then live. What the rest of us don't have is the camera in our faces watching to see what's next. I hope he can avoid that and get on with his life and not end up in the "Where Are They NOW?" videos.
Quietly, and without fanfare, I've had my tragedies and my life goes on. If there was a "Where Are They NOW?" video, you'd see my daughter graduating with honors from college. She doesn't hate me. She's even told me that she's proud of me. At 21, she still calls me "mommy" sometimes. My son is a successful art student who still comes to mom when things get rough. He tells me he loves me every time he talks to me. My youngest is graduating from high school ranked #10 in her class. She, too, tells me she loves me when we say goodbye. My wonderful husband, who has also survived private tragedy and pain, is a constant reminder of God's unfailing love for me.
We are not heroes. Nobody will remember us. But God has a plan. God has had big plans for us all along.
