A Time to Cry, A Time to Laugh
by Sharon Betters
TODAY’S TREASURE
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
2 Corinthians 4:7
Dear Friends,
In her book, A Joy I’d Never Known, Jan Dravecky shares “...valuable lessons I could not have learned by staying on the high road where the sun shines.” I’m grateful Jan joins us for a second week of sharing some of those life lessons through her posts from Endurance.org. In case you are new to Daily Treasure, Jan is our guest writer this week. Jan and her husband Dave summarize their story on Endurance.org:
“Shortly after realizing his lifelong dream of being a major league baseball pitcher—a “southpaw” for the San Francisco Giants—Dave Dravecky was diagnosed with a soft tissue cancer in the deltoid muscle of his pitching arm. After surgeons cut and removed a section of his deltoid muscle, Dave was told that outside of a miracle, he would never pitch again. Unwilling to give up his dream, he fought back—and fought back hard. Just nine months after surgery, Dave once again stepped onto the mound to pitch a winning game for the Giants. Our excitement of his comeback ended just five days later when Dave’s arm broke in mid-pitch. The next years were a whirlwind of surgery, radiation, pain, depression, and eventually amputation—all in the glaring light of the media. It was a lonely, agonizing journey—more difficult than we ever could have imagined. We experienced the heights and depths of joy and despair, faith and doubt, intimacy and loneliness. But our journey of suffering was not hopeless. Through it we discovered the power of endurance—not in our own ability, but in the comfort, encouragement and hope that God provides.” (Endurance.org)
Jan’s writing style makes readers feel as though they are sharing a conversation at a street side café or coffee shop. Please invite friends to join you as Jan opens her life in a way that will encourage and equip us to walk the pathway God has designed for each of us.
Treasured by Him,
Sharon
LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Learn more about Jan and Dave when you listen to their Help & Hope interview.
Listen to Jan’s Interview!
Listen to Dave’s interview!
For more Help & Hope interviews, subscribe to our Help & Hope podcast.
For more from the Dravecky’s, visit Endurance.org.
Sharon W. Betters is author of Treasures of Encouragement, Treasures in Darkness and co-author of Treasures of Faith. She is Director of Resource Development and co-founder of MARKINC.org, a non profit organization that offers help and hope to hurting people. Sharon enjoys quality time with her husband, children and fourteen grandchildren.
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Contact Sharon with comments or questions at dailytreasure@markinc.org.