Originally posted on our website March 15, 2011
On September 15, 1999 I lost my dear friend Kim Jones in a tragic event. The weeks that followed were mostly a blur of tears, questions and prayers except for a few key events that made a huge impression on me. One of those came in the form on an e-mail from Kim's dad Stan. When he returned to the family home after the funeral he went into Kim's room and found some profound words written on the back of her bedroom door. After finding these precious words, he e-mailed me to share about it. Over the years, I lost that email and was very sad about it! The words spoke about being content but I had often thought about that email: what were those exact words??
On September 15, 1999 I lost my dear friend Kim Jones in a tragic event. The weeks that followed were mostly a blur of tears, questions and prayers except for a few key events that made a huge impression on me. One of those came in the form on an e-mail from Kim's dad Stan. When he returned to the family home after the funeral he went into Kim's room and found some profound words written on the back of her bedroom door. After finding these precious words, he e-mailed me to share about it. Over the years, I lost that email and was very sad about it! The words spoke about being content but I had often thought about that email: what were those exact words??
This last week in Houston afforded me a special privilege of visiting Kim's parents once again. Stan, Stephanie and Kim's brother Tim are extremely special people and have been such an encouragement to me through these years. I absolutely adore them and every time I see them, I feel loved, encouraged and thankful to know them.
On this particular visit Stephanie gave me a book (among other words of wisdom) called Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. She told me Kim had read this book and really loved it. It had encouraged her through the years and everyone she shared it with. She also told me that Kim herself said "Mom, this book is very powerful and would change our world if the people that read it would really live it out in their day-to-day lives."
Well, today I cracked this book for myself and was absolutely floored to discover the following words:
A Prescription for Contentment
- Never allow yourself to complain about anything- not even the weather.
- Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
- Never compare your lot with another's.
- Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
- Never dwell on tomorrow- remember that (tomorrow) is God's, not ours.
Unbelievably, these were the words Stan had sent me from Kim's bedroom door over 10 years ago. I have been challenged today and and sincerely pray that I can (once again) embrace these truths and move forward with a spirit of contentment.
If you are interested in reading this book with me, email me! If you are interested in learning more about my dear friend Kim Jones, please go to her website!
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