STACE – Episode 2004
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Welcome to the STACE show! You know the drill: LIKE, SHARE, and FOLLOW! Hit the LIKE button, SHARE this to your social media, and FOLLOW our Rumble Channel at Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. For all links, blogs, transcripts and more, just go to our website – TheGCMedia.com, that’s TheGCMedia.com.
And now, I take you to…
The TOP of the STACK:
You who follow the show regularly know that there’s been no podcast upload for the past couple of weeks. As you may also know, the reason for the absence was that my oldest sister, Sherry, passed away a couple of weeks ago. It was sudden and unexpected, so the whole family has been in shock.
At the memorial service last week, I spoke with a certain family member who had had reservations about attending. She was concerned after a certain event had transpired in our family’s past that she and her husband might not be fully welcomed. Often times there are rifts that occur due to arguments or divorce or whatever that make it feel like there’s this great chasm between us. She had called me in advance to make sure it was okay for them to be there.
I honestly felt like I could speak for the whole family when I told her, “Of course, we want you both there!” When speaking to them again in person, I assured them that there are no divisions at all to separate us, only strong connections that make us family. After the devastation of losing a sister, there was one thing I was certain of: Love, and ONLY LOVE, is important.
My sister, Sherry, had exemplified that with her life. Whatever differences we ever had in opinion, beliefs, or whatever, it was love that proved to be the only thing that truly mattered. The same is true of all my family members, and friends as well, as far as I’m concerned. We don’t have to agree on every single detail of life, politics, religion, or anything else. Love trumps all of that.
I have tons of memories that I’ll always cherish of my sister. Her reading books to me when I was little, growing up together and entering adulthood, our mutual interest in sci-fi and certain movies and TV shows, holidays spent together over the years, and more. But what occurred to me during this time of grief was that the whole reason why I miss her so much is because of the bond of love.
Think about this. We’ve all gotten separated from friends and family for one reason or another. Whether it was death, divorce or a falling out, or that we just moved or drifted apart, the feeling of absence and loss is because of more than simply being accustomed to having one another around. It’s love. We were designed for it by God. He created us with His most amazing character trait – the propensity to love one another.
So naturally, when I told that concerned family member, “Yes, please come to the service, we’d love to see you,” it was sincere. In that moment, after Sherry’s passing, my heart was raw and torn wide open. A broken heart isn’t strictly a bad thing. It enables us to feel everything and draws our attention back to what really matters. More than that, loving others and feeling that love reciprocated is like a healing salve that repairs all wounds. It helps us deal with grief more efficiently and reminds us why we’re here.
If there is a rift between you and a friend or family member, if you feel that they somehow did you wrong, or if you just wanna reconnect, love is the way to do it. Pray that God would help you to forgive and make amends. Remind yourself of the love that once bound you together and allow that love to be restored. As a result, YOU and your heart will also be restored, refreshed, and renewed. That’s the miracle-working power of LOVE!
Remember that love is a Godly characteristic. True agape love is unconditional and keeps no record of wrongs. Just as 1 Corinthians 13 tells us, love isn’t boastful or haughty. It’s patient and kind, not envious. It doesn’t insist on its own way. Love rejoices in truth, bears and endures all things. And it never, ever ends. Like God, it’s eternal. So in the end, there’s just love. Let that be your guiding principle…everyday.
LIVE READ:
Meet Aylin. When she was just 12 years old, she was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer. Aylin faced a journey filled with challenges — chemotherapy, a liver transplant and a second cancer diagnosis. But through it all, she held onto her dream of celebrating her 15th birthday surrounded by loved ones.
Fortunately, Saint Jude was there to help. Thanks to the support of her family, friends and the care she received at St. Jude, Aylin’s dream came true. Her sea-themed quinceañera was a joyful tribute to her strength and her dream of becoming a marine biologist.
As she danced with her parents and read a prayer of gratitude, Aylin embodied the power of hope and the importance of celebrating life’s precious moments. You can help fuel success stories like hers just by donating now to St. Jude. Because of people like you, no child is ever turned away due to the family’s inability to pay.
So make some time, and visit stjude.org. That’s stjude.org. Click on their DONATE button and give today. When you give to St. Jude, you’re not just donating to a worthy cause, you’re actually helping make dreams come true! So don’t wait. Do it today. Donate generously to Saint Jude at stjude.org, that’s stjude.org. And hey, thanks for giving!
GCMedia Flashback:
Indeed, we are headed into the season of giving. So here’s a GCMedia Flashback to a very poignant message from 2011. Check it out…
Remember to LIKE, SHARE, and FOLLOW! Hit that LIKE button, SHARE this to your social media, and FOLLOW our Rumble Channel at Rumble.com/GCM, that’s Rumble.com/GCM. All links, blogs, transcripts and more can be found on our website – TheGCMedia.com, that’s TheGCMedia.com.
Until next time, God bless.
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