Tuesday

...of What's on Your Mind '09 - Bad Things/Good People Edition

Karen at Surviving Motherhood is participating in the What's on Your Mind '09? blog carnival started by Shane at Heart Reflections. This carnival challenges writers and encourages conversation. You do not need to have a blog to participate.

This week's topic is, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

Anyone reading this blog who has known me for the past six years will automatically know that I will answer this question with the scripture, James 1:2-4. I would type it out, but I want you all to read it for yourself, marinate in it, and then read it again.

Now, read Romans 5:3-6, and here's my story...

October 2005, "The pathology report says the tumor is cancerous; well-differentiated follicular cancer," the Ear, Nose & Throat specialist informed Anton and I of this concerning the removal of a tumor from my thyroid. The greatest rhetorical question flooded my confused mind, "Why me?".

God said that I needed a lesson in humility.

Why do I say it's a humility lesson? I had the, "Oh, it can't happen to me" attitude whenever I was told of someone else's "bad" things. Also, there is not a family history of cancer, and the tumor, when biopsied, was benign. So we elected to have it removed only because of its' location. At another time I can go into specific details about this but right now I want to stick to the point.

Lastly, my faith, as stated in James 1:2-4, needed confirmation. But, I didn't know any of this until later; a couple two or three, or more, humility lessons later! :)

So the point is, "bad" things happen to "good" people for God to teach us, mature us and develop characteristics that glorify God! I am not stamping myself as a good person, NO WAY! I want to be good, I'm working at being good and I have a bunches of bunches of ways to go.

However, based on the reactions of others during this time, I assume that they think I am good so I shared this part of my life with you all in hopes of helping to answer, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

5 comments:

  1. Clearly, God uses the hard times for our good.
    Now, I want to hear the rest of your story!

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  2. Thanks for sharing! Veeeery encouraging!

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  3. Wow Larie, that had to have been a very frightening time for your and your family. God's ways are not our ways. I am so glad it turned out to be benign. We do have a wonderful God who wants to lavish His love on us.

    Now, like Irritable Mother, I'm interested in the whole story. :)

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  4. Such truth in this. I LOVE the appropriation of His Grace in your words as you apply scripture to your life!!! Great stuff! I found you through irritable mother and I LOVE LOVE LOVER what you have written in your "about me" section. I could have written that exactly as you did. I'm trackin' with ya!
    Nice to (meet) you <><

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Y'all's comments are overwhelmingly encouraging. I appreciate them very much. They motivate me to continue being myself. Smooches!