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I'm going to re-share a post from April 6, 2016...God has been good to me.

I was sitting in Knoxville, outside of the Knoxville Dance Academy, waiting for my girls to finish up with their dance classes when I had just a little bit of time to reflect on the last 7+ years since me stroke and all that has happened in my life. My stroke has taken my ability to play basketball as well as I used to (which was not very good...) My stroke has taken my ability to play football as well as I used to (see the above statement...) My stroke has taken much of my energy to be able continue as full time Senior pastor, My stroke has made me take medicine to control eye movements, My stroke has made me start taking medicine at night to help me sleep, My stroke has made me much more of an emotional wreck than I ever was before, My stroke has made it so I laugh, nearly uncontrollably, at the wrong moments, My stroke has made me lose the ability to answer people appropriately at time, My stroke has made me nearly choke on water or tea because of swallowing problems, My stroke has made me drool at times because I sometimes lack control of my facial muscles, My stroke has made mt left side get weak at times, and in fact I have fallen several times, My stroke has made me call my daughter to help me get up the stairs, My stroke has made me bitter...GUESS AGAIN My stroke has made me a better pastor because I know what it is like to have weakness, My stroke has made me a better husband because I know what it is like to have problems and no one seems to listen. My stroke has made me a better father because I nearly never want my kids to think I don't treasure every moment with them. My stroke has made me a better Chaplain because I know what it is like to be on "that side" of the bed, to lose complete independence. My stroke has made me a better friend because I want to be the friend I needed when I was at the lowest point in my life. My stroke has made me better in so many ways that I cannot begin to count...would I ever want to have another stroke? Of course not. Do I regret what it has made me? OF COURSE NOT

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