The Tears We Cannot Predict

As silly as this post may start out, buried somewhere within is a message for just about everyone. I hope so anyway. Today was a rough day for me on many different levels. Spiritually, I wonder sometimes why God strikes down His true warriors? If this Earth needs nothing else, it is people who live for Him. I struggle with my walk, I will admit. I believe all humans do a lot during their lives. When I say humans, I don't mean that dogs are not sinless. My dog is full of sin. If crapping in the house is a sin, that dog is going straight to hell.

I play just about every game on Facebook, as a lot of you may know since every major accomplishment in these games prompts a "brag" to all my friends. I will try to keep that to a minimum in the future. Farmville is one of those games. It passes the time for me and gives me a good break from frying my brain with Anatomy and Physiology. In this game you can send farm gifts out to people. You can send fruit trees, white fences, animals, etc. I get a lot from people and send a lot out in return. Tonight I got one and stared at the gift request. I started to cry.

It was from Joe Petty.

I just saw Joe in the hospital today. It was incredibly difficult to see him in the state he was in. I remember Joe. That was not Joe. I can't and won't go into detail about his condition because it is not my place to do so. Not in this medium. Not ever. But he was in no condition to be on the computer. I started crying thinking about him and what his family is going through. I thought about how I could have been in the same boat a few months ago when I was in the hospital. I thought about my kids. I thought about how much I missed my 12-year old in Boise growing up away from me. I thought about the times where I was so mad at my kids I wanted to scream forgetting how blessed I was to have 3 healthy, well-rounded kids. I mostly thought about Joe's kids and what they are going through, not knowing entirely what is wrong with their Dad. His oldest son is in the 7th grade, just like my oldest. He was on the computer in the waiting room when I was there, playing Farmville. I am sure he was the one sending me the gift, playing on his Dad's account, keeping it active for when his Dad gets better.

So I cried.

I went into my kid's bedroom and covered them up and kissed them. I prayed for Savannah, my oldest daughter, and thanked God for bringing her into my life and prayed that she will always be safe even though I cannot always protect her. I prayed for Joe and his family that they are lifted up and kept strong through God's love. I prayed that if God needed a warrior in Heaven, that he spare his family and his kids and take him now. But mostly I cried for the little boy that sent me a blind gift. I didn't know him, but like his Dad, he figured someone could use a gift. So he gave. He gave freely. Little did he know, nor did I, that giving a gift would bring tears.

God bless you Joe.