|
One in a Million
Click the above picture of Ken to read "One Foot Out of the Grave" by Holly Lake of the Ottawa Sun, originally published June 8, 2004.
Click the text below to link to our July 2008 follow-up newsletter about the reversal of Ken's diagnosis.
Learn More
|
|
"What a wonderful life I've had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner." - Sidonie Gabrielle Colette
"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude."
- G.K. Chesterton
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. - Philippians 4:8
|
|
 |
"When I hear somebody sigh that 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?'"
- Sidney J. Harris
My friend Bryan has a brother named Ken. Ken Godmere is living with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a rare and fatal degenerative brain disease. Notice that I said he is living with CJD, because Ken chooses to focus on living rather than dying. How can a forty-year-old successful entrepreneur with a wife and two young children keep such a positive outlook when he knows that he only has a short time left?
In Ken's words, "It's like you're at a theme park, and you've been there all day...the kids have been on rides, and you've pigged out, and you've had all this fun. And then they announce the park will be closing in 30 minutes. It doesn't take your day away. It doesn't negate the thing. Hey, we still have 30 minutes left. It's not a lot, but what do you want to do with it?"
Looking at his life, Ken has said, "I am the luckiest man in the world, with diagnosis, with everything, the whole package. I'll take the whole package." Ken sees and appreciates his life for the gift that it truly is.
Yes, whether we like it or not, life is a "package deal". It is never easy or fair, and there are many rough spots along the way. Still, Ken's story reminds me of one important thing - all that I am and all that I have of value in this world is a gift from God. When any of those gifts come to an end, I am left with a choice - to grow angry and bitter about my loss, or to sincerely thank Him for the blessing He has given me, for however short a time it may have been.
Ask yourself...
- What are some of the truly great gifts I have received in my life?
- What are some of the gifts that have been taken away?
- How often do I thank God for the gifts that I have received, and continue to receive?
Keep running for your prize,
Larry Hehn
PrizeFighter subscribers live in Albania, Argentina, Australia,
Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland,
Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Nigeria,
Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, South Korea, Sweden, Thailand,
United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States!
|
Register for the FREE PrizeFighter Newsletter |
|
|
|
