Fellowship Fridays: There is a Reason for Everything
May 22, 2009
Chuang Tse’s story, The Horse, has been around for generations, illustrating the idea that there is no event that is either good or bad, lucky or unlucky, fortunate or unfortunate. Everything in life just happens, and we don’t always get to know why. I love the story. I’ve shared it and retold it countless times. But it never really hit home for me until this week. Maybe that’s because the original is a parable about a fictional farmer and his son. This week I read a new version of the story, a true life rendition that brought me to tears. All of a sudden I finally got it.
Ordinarily, on Fellowship Fridays I share five posts from five different bloggers with you as a way to introduce you to new resources that might assist you in your quest. Today is different. Today is dedicated to one blogger, Chris, and his three-part post. I encourage you… I beseech you to read all three parts. I did… it opened my eyes and my heart to a whole new reality. Here is a link to get you started:
“Momma’s Littlest Angel: How A Baby Girl Saved Her Mother’s Life.“
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I’d love to hear your thoughts about this story.
Thanks!!
** PS: A few people emailed me that they are having trouble accessing the article, even directly from his blog Numb Nuggets. If you don’t get in today, try it again tomorrow… it’s well worth it. The site is acting up periodically, but I guess everything happens for a reason, right? Maybe some of you are meant to read this on the weekend, instead. 
Related posts:
- Fellowship Fridays: Cultivating Confidence
- Fellowship Fridays: Dealing with Special Needs
- Fellowship Fridays: Be True to Yourself, and to Others
- Fellowship Fridays: Lance’s Jungle of Life
- Fellowship Fridays: Dealing with Frustration
Posted in Fellowship Fridays, Overcoming Challenges, family, love
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Ahh what a perfect choice, Lisis! I think all of us who have read Chris’ story have been touched very deeply. It was so, so, so…perfect. I think you’re right. Everyone should definitely read it. In fact, I think I’m gonna go re-read it now.
Jay Schryer’s latest post… Under Pressure
Jay, I still can’t read the third page without tearing up. Which means I get about halfway and can’t see a thing after that! I thought about just including it in the Fellowship Fridays list of five… but what could I possibly pair with it? There’s nothing like a truly touching, personal story that teaches us about love… and love on so many different levels!
Chris, in case it wasn’t obvious yet… I LOVE THIS STORY!!!! (What a beautiful Mother’s Day present for your wife!)
BTW, Chris informed me that she has been cancer-free now for 7 years!!!!!!!!!! =-)
Oh, this true story has torn me up. What a beautiful way to tell of such a brave and touching moment in a life of a wonderful family. Baby “Dani” was a blessing.
Tammy-Cricket’s latest post… I Ponder
I know it, Tammy! And Chris got major brownie points in my book for his left-handed letter. Simply Beautiful!
Thanks for reading it, and for stopping in to say Hi! I just love Fridays ’cause I get to see some familiar faces and meet some new ones. I’m off to “ponder” with you on your blog!
Chris mentioned this story on a comment on my blog and it really hit home with me, especially because my name is Dani. It is such a moving story and it was so beautifully done. Thanks for sharing this here.
Positively Present’s latest post… 5 things happy people do
Dani, I actually thought about you as I was reading this… thinking about how magical that name has become for me. How much it represents, both in this story and in your story, about becoming more open to the world. Little life lessons everywhere I look.
Lisis,
It has taken me all morning to write something here because I have been at a loss for words to describe what this means to me. You are a jewel and thank you for so selflessly (and with no small amount of work) putting together these Fellowship Fridays. I am honored, privileged, humbled that you would choose my nutty little blog for today.
The context in which you placed the experience I wrote about has me reflecting deeply. Like I said on my “Purpose of this Blog” page, I leave the explaining and teaching up to folks that are smarter than I am. You taught me something very precious today. Thank you. …and the import of what you said is going to take some time to settle. I will relax into the process
Jay, Dani, Tammy,
Thank you for your kind words, your affirmations. You all are such good folks and I feel blessed to have crossed paths in cyberspace with each one of you. I am touched that our story touched you all. So many people suffer so much worse sometimes; and that makes me even more unbelievably grateful for our little miracle, Dani.
Blessings to you all!
Chris’s latest post… Benny the Race Car
Chris… you left me no other choice, really. I can’t read a touching story like that and just go on about my day and my life in a business as usual fashion. Everything about your story touched me deeply, and I’m certain it will do the same for many of my readers. When you write something from the bottom of your heart, we all end up the better for it.
Thank YOU for sharing it, both on your blog and here.
This is such a beautiful story, it made me cry (hadn`t cried while reading in a long time
) It inspires me to always remember that everything happens for a reason, and we can`t control everything that happens to us, we just gotta be positive and try to find the good side of all.
yay!
@Chris, you are a super lucky guy, thank you so much for writing about your experience, i`m sure you have an amazing family
LISIS!! *GROUP HUG* TGIF
Rosa’s latest post… Celebra la Vida! – Celebrate Life!
Hi, Rosa! I’m so glad you were able to get to it. Same thing happened to me… I hadn’t cried like that (about a story) in a long time… maybe never. I just knew this one had to be shared.
GROUP HUG, INDEED!!!!
Lisis,
I cried…this brought up lots of memories for me. I left a comment for Chris saying that reading the post was like taking a trip down scary rapids…I wanted to get to the end because it was so difficult to read…then he let me land in calm waters. Not that everything was perfectly fine, but that he had found hope, even in the heartbreak.
My mom used to say…when God closes a door; he/she always opens a window.
Sara’s latest post… In Switzerland: Extreme Sports
That’s a beautiful way to describe it, Sara. I felt the same way as I was reading… like I just had to get to the end because I couldn’t take any more difficult news; I was looking for the happy ending. And at the end, it really was difficult and sad, but also beautiful and, like you said, hopeful. I know Chris is checking comments here, but I’m glad you left him one over at his site too.
Thanks!