Citizens Dedicated To Preserving Our Constitutional Republic

LIVING WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Last night I was able to sit in on the Celebrate Recovery service at CedarPoint Church in Claremore, Oklahoma, THE BEST PLACE TO BE ON A MONDAY EVENING. I am usually at the front door all evening. The leadership prefers a presence at the door as somewhat of a safety measure during service and I volunteered to be that presence. I am old, partially disabled and not much of a deterrence but if a threat presented itself I could at least be a bit of a hindrance to anyone with ill intent. Pastor Rick Burke gave the lesson on gratitude. He asked us to write down things and people we are grateful for. Writing is difficult for me but I was able to jot down some very brief notes along the way. He pointed out how important it is to be grateful for even the smallest of blessings and I agree completely. First on my list is gratitude to Jesus for being willing to suffer so much for me so I can spend eternity with Him merely for accepting His willing sacrifice. Next I am thankful for the progress I have seen since the severe stroke I suffered on August 19, 2014. The first prognosis was that I wouldn't live through the night and the "good news", received a few days later, was that I would likely live but would be paralyzed, bedridden, and a mental vegetable as long as I did live. Thankfully God has a plan that said otherwise and 4 years 5 months later I am still improving slowly and one day I will be fully restored. I can't see progress day to day but when I look back a year, 2, 3, or 4 years I can see marked improvement in every aspect. I still walk with a pronounced limp, my left arm is still paralyzed, and I still have balance and movement issues but God is bringing me along according to His time plan for my life. I am also grateful for my wife of 29 years, Marsha. She also has many physical problems, suffering from Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, AFIB, and Graves Disease yet she works full time and takes care of me in her off time. She is wonderful, loving, patient, and selfless. Another person I am very thankful for is a man named Eddy Greer. We worked together at Southwestern Bell Telephone, him as a central office worker amid me as an outside person. Eddy led me to Jesus, being a friend who was always patient, kind, and friendly when many Christians avoided me due to my foul mouth and alcohol and drug use. I was a mess back in the middle and late 1970's into the early 1980s but Eddy took me under his wing so to speak and without ever condemning me or preaching at me drew me into a better lifestyle by setting an example to follow. There are many other people I am thankful for but Marsha and Eddy are the ones who have been the most impactful.

If I listed everything and everyone I am grateful for this might never end. My most recent gratitudes go out for hot water. We were without hot water for 16 days due to our water heater going out. It was only 18 months old but the seller wouldn't warranty the tank because it was an electrical issue so we needed $900 to replace it and wouldn't have the money until we get our tax return in another 2 months or so. The plumber who put it in is a friend from CedarPoint Church, Tracy Morgan, but he couldn't do anything when the place he got the tank from refused to honor a warranty and he can't afford to take the hit due to medical bills he owes. I was telling another friend, Tony Rickman, about it and he got with Pastor Rick Burke and between them raised most of the money we needed from people of the church. I am SO thankful for Tracy, Tony, Rick, and my wonderful church family at CedarPoint. Tracy told use Rick and Tony had raised $625 of the cost so we only had to come up with $275. That was a stretch but doable so Tracy came by Monday January 21, replaced the tank, and fixed a leak that was costing us about $100 per month. The fine people at CedarPoint chipped in money wanting nothing in return, asking to remain anonymous. I can't begin to express how grateful I am for those people, people who just want to help with no thanks or reward for their kindness. I belong to 3 churches, the other 2 being Lifechanger in Claremore and Vision in ?Broken Arrow. The people at Lifechanger and Vision are of the same type as those at CedarPoint but I have been at CedarPoint much longer and am more active there. I have such wonderful church families and am very grateful for all of them.` Thank You, Jesus, for all You have done for me and the people You have put in my path to help me through!!!!!

I submit this in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, in faith, with the responsibility given to me by Almighty God to honor His work and not let it die from neglect.

Bob Russell

Claremore, Oklahoma

January 22, 2019

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