In a message dated 5/7/99 6:48:30 AM Eastern
Daylight Time, I received this letter from a business associate.
<<
I am glad to hear that you are one of the lucky ones in life unfortunately for
myself I have been one of the unlucky ones. I worked hard all my life and have
had a bad deck of cards dealt my way in the last 3 yrs. My son was diagnosed
with cancer in 96 and my ex decided to bail after 15 yrs. It was not enough to
struggle with the crisis of your child being dealt a bad deck of cards a year
later I was then diagnosed with cancer. Had to live off credit cards for a year
and fight with the state for some assistance only to be denied and still
fighting. Now all I would like to do is just keep my house and am having trouble
refinancing. I guess the saying goes when it rains it pours. It is nice to hear
some people do have success. I pray every day to at least be able to make ends
meet. >>
Here is my response to this lady.
Mary, my life
has not been a bed of roses. Money does not make you happy, and while I have had
some measure of success in the business world let me tell you a few things about
me.
Four years ago, a close family member was arrested for drugs. He has
spent the last few years in prison. During that time, his wife developed a brain
tumor, got hooked on prescription drugs, had surgery, and had a tough time
recovering from that. They are divorced, and we rarely see their children.
Cocaine has ravaged his life and left him thousands of dollars in debt. I am
helping him rebuild his life.
In the space of four months about 4 years
ago, I had a ruptured bowel, with 62 stitches, a temporary colostomy, which was
a nightmare, then had knee surgery and a broken arm skiing, broke it in four
places. Could not do construction work for over a year, went horribly in debt,
$140,000 in credit card and consumer debt. Had all kinds of equity in real
estate, a couple of million bucks, but could not get it out and was forced to
sell at a real discount, a couple of properties. Took a real bad loss on that.
Several other personal and family accidents and surgeries and have
happened causing me a lot of heartache. My Mom and Dad both died a couple of
years ago, 4 months apart of cancer. They had been married almost 59 years. It
was a sad experience.
But believe it or not, I could fill up four pages
with junk happening to me. Being falsely sued for several thousand,
etc.
Nightmare on Elm Street!!
But through it all, I remain a
believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. He has sustained me, and while I have
stumbled and fallen many times, He is there to help me back up and set me on the
right path.
The most comforting verse to me during this time is James
1:2-4, from the Phillips translation.
"When all kinds of trials and
temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don't resent them as intruders,
but welcome them as friends. Realize that they come to test your faith, and to
produce in you a quality of endurance. But let the process go on, until that
endurance is fully developed, and you will find you have become men of mature
character with the right sort of independence."
Hope this has been
encouraging to you. You are in my prayers.
Jim Young
Want to help reach the world for
Christ-forward this site to a friend. Matthew
28:18-20
