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Posted on 06/30/2011 10:09:07 PM PDT by JustAmy
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Best Friends: Don’t Forget the Tartar Sauce
An inspirational story of friendship, cancer and hope.
By Joel Huffer, Hagerstown, Maryland
As appeared in
My childhood friend Bill Hockensmith is stationed with the Coast Guard in Hawaii. I’m a newspaper editor in Maryland, where we grew up. We have a saying: “When facing a difficult task, act as though it is impossible to fail. If you are going after Moby Dick, take along the tartar sauce.”
Every time Bill took a test to advance in rank, I’d e-mail a reminder about tartar sauce. He did the same for me when I applied for jobs, and when I trained for the JFK 50 Mile, a local ultramarathon, in 2007.
Two weeks before the race I got a different kind of e-mail. Bill had cancer. I kept him in my prayers. A few days later I saw tartar sauce packets at a food court. I grabbed two—one for race day, the other to send Bill.
Bill came home for treatment at Johns Hopkins. He said he’d be there on race day, and showed up at the starting line. I pulled my tartar sauce from my shorts pocket. Grinning, Bill unzipped his coat pocket, pulling his out.
I crossed the finish line in 9 hours and 26 minutes, more than 30 minutes faster than my goal. Bill was waiting. I asked for his tartar sauce. “Take mine instead,” I said. “We know it works.” It did. Three years later Bill is cancer free.
My life has taken many falls And tumbles ‘long the way.
The many trials have left me In a sure state of dismay.
For with each trial, I tried alone To tend, and soothe, and mend, Instead of giving them to God.And on Him just depend.
It seems I was determined To carry all the load.
I longed for smoother pathways. Yet, I walked a rocky road.
Little did I understand, God waited patiently
To pave a new beginning With a better life for me.
It took a real disaster To bring me to my knees;
To finally call upon the Lord And say, “God help me, please.”
He came with no delaying, With strong arms that could hold -
The weight of all my burdens; He gladly took the load.
What a needless cross I carried, All because I could not see. What a friend I have in Jesus. And the love He has for me.
Peace I find when troubles hover. Though’ the outcome is unknown. For if yet the road is rocky. I won’t walk it all alone.
God bless all of you. Back Later Dub & Eve
Lovely poem, Dubya. Thank you for all the smiles you shared with us this morning. (((HUGS)))
Thank you Yorkie!
Thank you Amy.. Thank you for the thread where I can post the Daily Bread!
Inevitably, trouble will invade our lives: A bad report from a medical test, the betrayal of a trusted friend, a child who rejects us, or a spouse who leaves us. The list of possibilities is long, but there are only two options: forge ahead on our own, or turn to God.
Flying solo into the face of trouble is not a good idea. It can lead to bad behavior patterns, blaming God, and retreating into defeat. Like the Israelites, we may spin out of control and into despair (Num. 14:1-4).
When the majority of the spies brought a report of intimidating giants and dangers ahead, they used the pronoun “we” seven times with no reference to the Lord (13:31-33). The Israelites were on the cusp of the ultimate blessing that God promised to them. They were eyewitnesses to the miracles in Egypt and their feet had walked the dry bottom of the Red Sea in jaw-dropping victory. God’s faithfulness had been amazingly evident. What short memories! What disappointing faithlessness! Sadly, they turned their backs on God and left the blessing behind.
Caleb and Joshua, on the other hand, opted to turn to the Lord with this confidence: “The Lord is with us” (14:9). When your giants show up, what will you do?
Read: Numbers 13:25–14:9
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Thank you Meg! Off to Church now.
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Good Sunday morning, Meg! Thank you very much for the lovely graphic and morning prayer! Will be keeping your daughter in my thoughts and prayers!
How beautiful, yorkie.
They could see the fire near the clubhouse from their house ..There were firefighters left there during the night just to keep watch...4 helicopters involved earlier..I don’t know yet if the clubhouse was damaged..I am sure they did not sleep well as they knew hotspots could erupt and they might have to leave again.
Praying for rain!
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And thank you for the lovely blessings.
Always Remember...
Have a Wonderful Day
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Thank you M, and the same to you!
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