Sentimental me. Good and bad today all in one. Yesterday was my brother's birthday. Today is mine. He is struggling still. Life is so hard for him. I struggle to hear about it. Hard not to just break down. And he has good days too. But it's still hard to hear about the bad ones . . .
Growing up in Kentucky, every summer my family would go to New Martinsville, WV, where my Dad would preach a gospel meeting. We would stay with the family of the preacher. His wife was my Mom's roommate in college. Their 3 kids were about the same age as me, Joel and Hilary so us kids would play by the "crik" (creek) and the parents would catch up. . . .
And at night they would pick. The preacher also played the guitar. Him and my Dad would play and they would sing bluegrass songs all night. I always loved the way that preacher sang "The Good Things Outweigh the Bad", a "hit" song for Flatt & Scruggs. There was such a melancholy way that he sang it - a voice that carried struggle and heartache with an edge of hope that really was only conveyed by the lyrics. The song just always sounded so sad to me. But I loved to hear it.
The new CD is called "Lucky". Not because I have all of these great, amazing things going on in my life. But because life is filled with good luck and bad luck and the reality is that it all somehow comes out even. Or maybe it is just that our humanity is able to look past the bad and see the good. Or maybe it's just a combination of those 2 perspectives.
But I really do think the good things outweigh the bad. A fan wrote to me today saying they were sorry for all the heartache I had experienced and told me how much the songs had touched him and how wonderful he thinks they are. . . . I guess he didn't understand that he just gave me a huge reason to be thankful for that heartache. That brought those songs. And those songs touched his heart. And now he has touched mine.
I am sorry for struggle. But I am glad that it brings us to the point of thankfulness and strength. We are all lucky. We just have to see it.
The good things DO outweigh the bad, but I think it's due, at least in part, to the fact that God can take the bad and make it work for good, if we let go and allow Him to work. It's the old Silver Lining Syndrome. :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Leslie. And please remind Joel that he's got a whole HOST of prayer warriors interceding on his behalf!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, girl...and I'll see you on THURSDAY!!!! Yea!!!
Posted by: Linda B | July 15, 2013 at 12:02 PM
Warm words of a childhood memory...Best of luck to you and your brother!
Posted by: Wayne Head | July 15, 2013 at 03:55 PM