{Straight From the Heart} *Incredible Kindness* 8/22/00
 
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Incredible Kindness
 
By:  Becky Holloway
 
Stop just a moment and think about your breathing. Most of us seldom give any thought to the next breath we'll take. Such was not the case for my oldest brother, Dick. Because of a rare lung disease, he was constantly struggling for each breath he took. The struggle went on for many years. He was finally left unable to walk even a short distance without pausing to gasp for air. It had been years since he'd drawn a breath through his nose, instead having to draw in through his mouth in an attempt to get enough air. You'd think that such suffering would bring him down, but he was seldom seen without a smile on his face.
 
After years of searching and trying different things for relief, it was evident that his only hope for any quality of life and ultimately for survival was to have a new lung. The decision to proceed with such a plan was not an easy one. My brother and sister-in-law owned their own business, a restaurant, and the only way to even be put on the waiting list for a lung transplant was to live within thirty minutes of the hospital. Since their home is eight hours from the hospital, it meant they would have to close their business and set up residence in New Orleans, where the hospital is. A couple from their church volunteered their eighteen-foot camper for them to live in so they wouldn't have to rent an apartment. They were extremely grateful, and the couple even took the camper down and set it up for them?what great friends! It was not the best of situations since they had no idea how long they'd have to live that way while waiting for a lung to become available. Concerned for their comfort, I told my sister-in-law that I'd asked my Sunday school class to pray for their comfort as well as for the upcoming transplant. She was quick to chastise me, saying that they were doing fine and we shouldn't worry about the living conditions.
 
About a week later, a couple that Dick and Judith had become acquainted with because they lived in the same campground invited them over for coffee one afternoon. This couple lived in a large camper (a fifth wheel) permanently because the man's work required them to move about. As they visited, Judith complimented the woman on their lovely home and mentioned how nice and spacious it was. The woman's response was amazing. She turned to her husband and said that they had something important they needed to tell Dick and Judith. The man proceeded to tell them that they'd recently ordered a new even larger camper. He said that they knew they wouldn't get much on a trade-in so they'd prayed and felt that God wanted them to GIVE their present home to Dick and Judith for as long as they needed even though they knew that it could be months until a lung was available and that Dick had to stay near the hospital for months after the surgery too. They explained that whenever Dick was able to return home, they'd sell the camper. At first, Dick and Judith tried to refuse?saying that it was just too much, but the couple wouldn't take no for an answer. Soon the new camper arrived and Dick and Judith were able to move into their new home, courtesy of precious friends they'd known just a very short time.
 
That was September 1999. On December 2nd the call Dick and Judith had awaited came?a lung was available. They hurried to the hospital, and the surgery and recuperation time were remarkably successful. Dick continues to do well and the friendship with the sweet couple continues to grow through visits back and forth.
 
Becky Holloway
jdh@ipa.net
 
Send Becky an email and let her know what you thought of her story!
 
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A little bit about Becky:
 
I live in a small town in south Arkansas, where I teach middle school. I am married to the love of my life for 24 years.  Our oldest son is in his 3rd year of college, middle son is a high school senior, and our only daughter is a sophomore.  They bring us immense joy and keep us very busy following them to ball games and other activities. We are also active members of First Baptist Church of Smackover. 
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Thought For The Day:
 
"I will study and prepare myself and then someday my chance will come."
(Abraham Lincoln)
 
Verse for the Day:
 
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Kid's Thought For The Day:
 
"If you don't run you won't trip, but you may never get there."
 

Parent's Thought For The Day
 
"Do you know why you want your children to do well in their studies? Because you have no clue what is going on when you try and help them with their homework!"

Coach's Thought For The Day:
 
"It's easy to be a smart player.  Just think of something stupid and do just the opposite."
 
Deep Thought For The Day:
 
" For centuries, people thought the moon was made of green cheese. Then
 the astronauts found that the moon is really a big hard rock. That's
 what happens to cheese when you leave it out."
  _
/_/\/\    MICHAEL T. POWERS
\_\  /    THUNDER27@aol.com  
/_/  \    "For I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
\_\/\ \   Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body I live for the Son
   \_\/   of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  Galatians 2:20 

Video Imagery (Michael's Video Production Business.)
"I thought of you first after my family sat down to watch the video we gave them. They loved it, to say the least!  Within thirty seconds my mom was crying and my dad did too.  They said it was the best Christmas gift we could have given them!!  You did such a beautiful job!  They were so surprised and so touched---they really, really, really loved it.  Thanks for helping to make it so special to us all.  My mom mentioned how the songs were perfect for the video too!  Thanks again!"
        
Kelli  (RKaGe@aol.com)    College Station, TX
Let me make you a video from your pictures or home movies!
Check out the web page for Michael's video production business!
 Video Imagery
http://members.aol.com/Videoimg/index.html

Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you?
 The Four Spiritual Laws
http://www.ccci.org/laws/index.html