My Thoughts: 25 Years of Memories

My Thoughts: 25 Years of Memories

25 Years of Memories

Just recently I created a Facebook account. I was told it was Myspace for grown-ups and I have to say I agree. It turns out this was probably one of the best things I could have done at this time in my life. In the last two weeks I have found old friends and met new friends that normal circumstances would not have created. It has been awesome to talk to friends from almost 25 years ago.

Sometimes you look back at your childhood and it almost seems like a distant dream. Like it might not ever have happened. After contacting and being contacted by so many old fiends you start to think back on your past and actually work at it by getting out school annuals or old pictures by reading notes from friends and trying to remember a certain comment and why it was made. For example when I lived in Arkansas my nickname was "Teddy". This is another long story for a later time but back then that was my name. Even my teachers had me on the roll as Teddy. Since I moved away after my junior year I have not once been called Teddy. How weird is that? For four years you're Teddy Lewis and a week later you're Mark Lewis again?
I thought about telling my new classmates in Alabama my nickname but then they would ask why? Honestly I was not up to telling each and every one of them the whole story. Especially after being the new kid on campus.

Ironically at the same time I started my Facebook I was also in the process of looking through my families old pictures for a presentation I was creating for my parents 50th Anniversary party. This process also made me work to think back to my childhood and all the experiences that came with it. Some were still fresh in my mind just like some high school memories and some I had to really work hard to remember.

Some of you might be thinking where is Mark "Teddy" going with this? God has put each of us where we are for a reason. Sometimes getting there does make since or it might seem unfair what we had to go through to get there but the fact is he has a plain. God knew I needed to be thinking about the past whether back in high school or growing up with my family. He knew that this would help build me up and make my hope and faith stronger. He knew it would bring me joy, laughter and some sadness.

For those of you who do not know my wife Cindy is an ovarian cancer survivor and is currently going through chemo treatments for another tumor that was recently removed. I'm not telling this for pity but to let you know how God has worked in my life. God has put each of you in my life at this time because he knew I needed you. NO PRESSURE..... God has always seen my family through the toughest times. Sometimes he uses perfect strangers and in this case past friendships to motivate each of us to persevere and carry on with our journey of life. He uses others that surround us to help keep us focused and maintain the hope of another day. Believe me when I say hope is very powerful. Hope is what increases our faith.

To all my family, friends and newly found friends I want to say thank you. Remember we all can affect those we come in contact with each and every day. We can all change the world with just one kind word, one memory, one friendship or one relationship at a time.

In Christ
Mark

Gods inspiration comes from many places

As some of you know or don't know 2008 was pretty rough for my family. Cindy my wife of over 16 years was in the middle of chemo treatments for ovarian cancer. She finished her treatments in April and has truly been an inspiration to me and many others she has been in contact with. She received a clean bill of health six months later and has been dealing with all the side effects of the chemo. She is an amazing woman.
Three weeks ago Cindy had another checkup and we received news that some of her blood tests numbers were elevated. Cindy had a PET scan and they found a small mass near a lymph node in her abdomen. This Thursday she will have surgery to remove the lymph node and do a biopsy. She will be out from work 4-6 weeks. As you can imagine we are anxious and scared about what lays ahead. Let me assure you that from our last experience we know that God will provide and take care of us. He has never left our side and has always given us what we need for each situation.

For example this last Sunday while worshiping God he gave us a renewed spirit when we were partaking of the Lord's Supper. One of our fairly new members was presiding over the table for the first time. He was well spoken, humble and genuinely emotional about this new experience. Most men this day and time do all that they can to hold back any public signs of emotion which I myself have tried to do on occasion. This man touched my heart and many others with his passion and sincerity. He helped convey to each of us what a privilege Christ had given us by telling us to "do this in remembrance of me". He commented on how many times he had sat in the audience and casually partaken of the table but not really experienced what it meant to him. I was overtaken by his thoughtfulness and insight on what it means to reflect on what Christ gave to us with his ultimate sacrifice.

Now what does this have to do with what my family is currently going through? Just as Christ asked me to remember him I also have to take each day, each moment with my family and reflect on what they have given me and what God has given to me. I'm sure we all can remember our first love the intensity the longing for that one person that we wanted more than anything in the world. How often do we now feel that way? If not very often than we need to do just as my brother in Christ did last Sunday and change our prospective. We need to look at each other and each situation from a different perspective and realize the gift God has for us. We need to cherish and praise God daily for that gift.

Always remember God gives us the answers through his word and if we open our eyes he also shows us daily what we need. During this trying time in my families life I want to thank Brian for keeping my eyes open.

How quickly things can change

If you don't already now this about me I am a big, BIG Crimson Tide fan. I live in Tennessee... go figure. Alabama has had a stellar 12-1 season and the upcoming Sugar Bowl against Utah on 1/2/09. Now I am the first to say that I have done some very dumb and regretful things in my life especially when I was younger but I can't imagine what Andre Smith is now thinking? If you don't know or even don't care here is the lowdown. Andre Smith is without question one of the most talented offensive linemen to ever come out of Alabama or most collages for that matter. He is a currently a junior and talk has circulated that he might go pro early this next year.
This is very understandable seeing that he looks like he is ready to go to the next level with his talent. But as so many times in life one needs to look at the whole picture. Andre has had a great run at Alabama and has been highly revered by his fans and by winning such prestige’s awards as the Outland Trophy this year. Andre was about to play in his last collage game in the Sugar Bowl and would have probably went down in Alabama history as the best lineman ever. How quickly things can change. Yesterday it was announced by Coach Nick Saban that Andre was suspended and would not play in his final collage game. Why? It seems that Andre and his family who would certainly be moving up in the 2009 tax brackets after his NFL career started had also started talking to agents about that career. This is a big NO NO and Alabama could least afford that type of NO NO. Especially after already coming off the resent NCAA probation. Everyone is looking at Alabama with a microscope especially now that they have rebounded so quickly under Saban's leadership. So Saban did what he had to do and suspended Smith for the Sugar Bowl and subsequently any chance that Smith would be returning next year. Thank you Coach Saban for doing the right thing. Now in the small picture this is not a big deal. Alabama will make it through the bowl game probably with no problems. Even if it is a game changing decision Alabama will have no worse than a 12-2 season. Go BAMA! But in the big picture how will this change Andre Smith's life. He probably will not go down as Alabama’s best lineman now. He probably want be revered by fans for decades to come. He will be remembered for not being able to wait 5 days before taking that next step to the NFL. Will it be worth it? I'm sure the ridicules money he will be receiving in the NFL will help him get over it but what do each of us really want to leave behind? Money or a legacy?

What a difference a year makes...

First of all I'm not much of a blogger so forgive the bad English and lost train of thought.

Wow, where do I start? Compared to last year this years Christmas was much more relaxing. Last year at this time my wife was in the middle of chemo treatments for ovarian cancer. I was a ball of nerves covered with psoriasis. And my thoughts and actions were all in a state of panic, shock or all the above. I'm not sure if everyone could tell at the time but my life was very tense. Cindy (my wife) is doing great. Her beautiful hair is growing in curly. God's free perm as some have stated. It is true that the possibility of the cancer coming back is always in the back of your mind and it probably will always be that way but we now know that whatever happens we will be in it together. We are both stronger for it and we both can now help others deal with it better than ever before.

So much has happened since last year. First history has been made with the election of our first black American president. Let me first say I am very proud to be an American. I did not vote for our newly elected president but I do hope he does a good job. I also will pray for him as I have for all the presidents that have served in my lifetime. I do not agree with most of his stances but still hold out hope that he will make good decisions for our country.

Since last year our economy has taken a down turn that some like to characterize as the next great depression. Let me first say that I did not live through the great depression but know many people that have and this is not a depression... but what if it was? Is that the end of the world? In some ways I think it might actually be a good thing if it happens. Don't get me wrong I don't want to see people starving or homeless but I think a good kick in the pants might help this country set its priorities back to where they need to be. America has an unreal expectation of what we really need to be happy. I know that the people I have talked to who went through the great depression were poor sometimes hungry but also happy. Yes happy because they still had family, God and hope for a better day. Our kids.. my kids and myself included don't know what wanting really is. We have never really needed anything in our whole lives accept family, God and hope but look at what we have. Where does it stop? My parents can sell their house and move in with me if needed. Hey the Walton’s made it work! I love my family and would never want to see them in need for anything but I can say that after last years struggles my family can make it through anything that comes our way.