Seven years ago was a pretty big day for me. I got up early, drank a lot of coffee, had a nice long quiet time and put on my running clothes before heading down to the treadmill in the basement for what turned out to be my last run for a very long time. A few miles in, I had a massive stroke and life changed completely.
Seven years later, life is not what I ever planned, but it's very good. I am drinking coffee in the living room of the house we are renting in the Phoenix area for the next few months. The grass is green and the sun is shining. The water in the pool beyond the patio is blue and still. My dog is snoring. I'm meeting a friend for lunch in a couple of hours and am excited to catch up since we've not seen each other in about 25 years or so.
Seven years later, life is good and I am grateful. A lot of hard work has gone into recovery these past years. I have worked hard almost every day. That's true. But the greater truth is that it's all God. I've been reminded this week several times and in several places that I am not able or enough, but that God in me is more than enough and more than able. And that's the good news of life with Jesus. No matter how big whatever we are facing may be, it is too big for us and our feeling unable and inadequate is natural and even true and right. But there is more than what we see, more than our own small resources and abilities. My friends, we have our part to play. We do the work we have to do. We show up and do the hard thing, but the victory and recovery and results are all God!
And so, when people praise us and compliment our hard work and the results we enjoy, the greatest response we can give is to be grateful and to tell the truth that it's all God.
Thank you for your love and prayers and support and encouragement these past seven years. You have helped greatly. Please join me though in declaring that while we have played our part in obedience and trust, IT'S ALL GOD!!
With great love and gratitude,
Joanne
Hello Joanne,
My name is Tobin and my wife is Joanne. I simply thought we would be the only ones until I came across your page today. I am glad to know that you and your husband are believers in Jesus as we are too. Just thought it was too much of a coincidence and decided to post a comment.
Posted by: TOBIN | January 11, 2018 at 09:41 AM
Joanne, what a fabulous testimony to God's enabling grace and glory. You inspire me every time! Thank you!
Posted by: Kathy Collard Miller | January 11, 2018 at 10:51 AM
I am so very proud of you and I love hearing about your journey and all of your travels! You have encouraged me to persevere through trials and to look for the beauty of our Savior in each and every situation. Blessings to you!
Posted by: Keisha Goodman | January 11, 2018 at 08:08 PM
Amen! Anything good in our life comes from GOD. And sometimes the not so good could be HIM allowing it to happen for a reason. That is hard for we humans to understand.
GOD BLESS!!
Posted by: Charlotte Moore | January 12, 2018 at 05:48 AM
I was reading your blog before your stroke. God was surely the center of your life dealing with so many challenges before and after your stroke. It is crazy feeling like I know you personally and would like to pour a cup of coffee and visit and fill in all the blanks. You should write another book. Thanks for sharing your life.
Posted by: Cindy Smith | January 12, 2018 at 06:51 AM
Needed this right here, right now. Thank you!
Posted by: Karen Booker Schelhaas | January 14, 2018 at 05:03 AM
Been reading your blog for about seven years - Awesome to have such a strong belief in your faith, and for it to help you find the strength and courage to do the hard work you have done throughout your recovery process.
I want to give YOU some credit here - amazing, amazing courage and strength and effort YOU have continuously put forth, regardless of pain and disability, to come back to a hard-earned life well lived. With every one of your accomplishments, you have reclaimed it with your positive attitude, as is evident in this post above. Truly you are an inspiration. While you are comfortable giving all the credit to God.. you did the hard work with every relearned step you've taken.
Posted by: Karen Milano | January 15, 2018 at 04:32 AM
Sweet Friend, I celebrate you and all you've accomplished by His grace and for His glory. May God bring healing in all areas of your life and the lives of your loved ones. Life is fragile and fleeting. Each moment a gift. Love and continued prayers.
Posted by: Marsha Harwood | January 15, 2018 at 08:50 AM
I institually know that God is good, all of the time. However, I wrestle with the current situation - marital turmoil, growing pains in the parenting relationship as my children become young adults, gaps with others, complicated attachments, and serious terminal cancer diagnoses for several close friends. This was a good reminder to look at the bigger picture and see that all is not lost. Thank you.
Posted by: laura | February 12, 2018 at 06:19 AM