When I was going through my divorce, the Quisenberry family lived around the corner. While I was dealing with a wayward husband, Quiz and Janie and their family were dealing with Dan’s brain tumor. One day after Dan’s body had died (his spirit is still living and celebrating!), Janie said to me, “If you ever need to just get away some place, come over here. I have an extra room, if you need someplace to just come and cry.” She went on to say that often she was trying hard to be strong for everyone, and occasionally needed to get away and yell or simply have a good sob session. I never took her up on that, but it was a comfort knowing I could if I needed to. Janie (and Dan) were an inspiration to me through their challenging ordeal. Today, on the first day of this month of December, I just want to share one of Dan’s poems. Read it. Think about it. Try it. I read it every so often just to get my priorities back in order and to calm my heart.

“What If” ~  by Dan Quisenberry, One of America’s favorite pitchers, husband, father, friend, poet, believer (From his book, On Days Like This)


What If

what if you decided not to worry
for one whole day
just one?

what if you decided
you could feel good
and do things
you really liked
and gave yourself freedom
to make a mistake or two
and said out loud
God really really loves me
a whole lot?

What if you gave yourself
permission to have fun
that today was a great dance
and you could make up
the steps to it, the beat, even?

what if you let yourself
be patient
feel peace
cause there was nothing
to worry about this day?
what would it be like
for you and what would
you do?

what if you told God
you were scared, lonely
afraid of the future and
didn’t know what to do
about the present?
do you think He would
understand?

what if you could trust
God for this one day?
try this
one time
and see what happens.”

“For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death cant, and life can’t. The angels won’t and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are — high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean–nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.”
Romans 8:38-39 (The Living Bible)