Jerry & Margaret Stroup Enjoying Some Needed Time Off!

I spoke with Jerry and Margaret Stroup today, several times. Margaret is doing well. She is enjoying some much needed time off. They have been in Florida for the past month and are now back in Virginia.

Margaret is doing quite well. She still gets very tired quickly and has a few bad days now and then. I am still amazed at how the Lord has worked in and through this lady. She is simply amazing, or maybe not so simply! I know the Lord has had His hand on her life and He has lots more for her and Jerry to do.

There is still so much about this whole ordeal that I don’t understand and probably never will. However I know that God is a great big God. He has promised He won’t allow us to go through more than we can handle. He has certainly allowed this family and so many others to go through soooooo much.

It is so easy for me to think I am having such a bad day when I go through some of the small things I go through in my life. When I look at the “larger” picture of life I often repent and ask God to forgive me for whining!!!! I think self-pity is a great big pit many of us get caught in. We must be on our guard all the time against this enemy.

I don’t think any of us deliberately want to be selfish. It is a natural, carnal part of our nature that raises its ugly head all too often. We must be constantly aware of this  part of our humanity. God will lead us and provide strength for us in every situation. It is up to us to follow Him with the light or knowledge we have from God’s Word today.

Not one of us at Central Peninsula Hospital would have ever thought such a tragedy would have or even could have taken place in our little town! However as we all know too well it did! It is up to us today, as we all are still working through our “stuff”, to remember that God is still there and He still loves us. In spite of the selfish acts of others God will give us the strength to keep getting up and making our own little contribution to the world we are in.

I have a little philosophy I live by that has been a real encouragement for me over the years. “If I will do what I can with what I have where I am, then and only then will what I have be increased”. That little thought has helped me keep on keeping on so many times.

Remember things may never get back to “normal”. However please don’t stop giving what you have to the rest of us. I for one can’t do it all by myself. I really need your help. I know I’m not alone in this. We all really do need each other. So get up, smile and put one foot in front of the other and “DO IT”. I know you can, God will help! Together we really are making a difference.

Thanks for being you,

Pastor Alan