{"id":1062,"date":"2010-10-26T08:42:00","date_gmt":"2010-10-26T12:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/?p=1062"},"modified":"2010-10-26T08:42:00","modified_gmt":"2010-10-26T12:42:00","slug":"peace-and-understanding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/?p=1062","title":{"rendered":"Peace and Understanding"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<div class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/_ESvCH9ghcAI\/TMbausg8GNI\/AAAAAAAADuI\/64Zn9a7JR1c\/s1600\/DSC_8207.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: black;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" border=\"0\" height=\"265\" src=\"http:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/_ESvCH9ghcAI\/TMbausg8GNI\/AAAAAAAADuI\/64Zn9a7JR1c\/s400\/DSC_8207.JPG\" width=\"400\" \/><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Britt Merrick..<\/span>. <i>&#8220;<\/i><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><i>God doesn\u2019t promise us understanding. He promises us peace beyond understanding. Trust more, question less.&#8221;<\/i> <\/span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">&nbsp;I saw this on his tweet&#8230; I have been following him on and off for a while. &nbsp;he is a pastor in California&#8230; (Goggle him to check out his info). &nbsp;His daughter has cancer&#8230; had it, was in remission and its back again.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">God doesn&#8217;t promise us understanding&#8230; &nbsp;He promised PEACE BEYOND UNDERSTANDING! &nbsp;I love this. &nbsp;This is where I am with my family. &nbsp;I suppose for &nbsp;years, I waited and wanted that family that everyone else seemed to have. &nbsp;Then I had my own family&#8230; and for lack of a better word, was distracted by raising a family. &nbsp;In that time, I was trying to figure it all out. &nbsp;Did my dad love me? &nbsp;If so, how could he hurt us so badly? &nbsp;What about my mom&#8230; why did she stay with him? &nbsp;Why didn&#8217;t she leave him in order to protect us? &nbsp;How do you become normal? &nbsp;Is it possible? &nbsp;Is this craziness genetic? &nbsp;How will I be as a parent? &nbsp;Why did God allow my dad to awake from the dead? &nbsp;WHY? &nbsp; What was the point? &nbsp;Why am I only having my questions rather than finding answers? &nbsp; I could continue&#8230; but you get the point. &nbsp;The questions never stopped. &nbsp;I wanted&#8230; needed understanding. &nbsp;There is nothing more frustrating than looking, seeking and not finding.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">As I read this quote&#8230; it hit me. &nbsp;More than likely, there is not going to be understanding. &nbsp;I guess until tonight, I wasn&#8217;t sure that I could just be with out seeking the answers, without knowing answers. &nbsp;This weekend, as I spent those 24 hours with my dad in my house, I had a sense of peace. &nbsp;I didn&#8217;t even know that was what I was feeling. &nbsp;Not peace as in all is well and perfect &#8230; but rather I believe I was feeling the peace despite the not understanding. &nbsp;Peace that passeth all understanding. &nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">My dad sat in pretty much the same spot the 24 hours&#8230; in silence, unless we spoke to him. &nbsp;I didn&#8217;t know what to make of this. &nbsp;I suppose a part of my felt like this was my brother&#8217;s problem since he brought him here&#8230; yet the part of me that entertains wanted to make sure he was comfortable.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">He just sat there&#8230; watched it all. &nbsp;What was he thinking? &nbsp;I don&#8217;t know. &nbsp;Yet, there was always a part of me that wanted my dad to know that I am a success&#8230; &nbsp;as a mom (that is a funny one, isn&#8217;t it&#8230; but it is relative, I suppose). &nbsp; I am a good wife. &nbsp;I am a good citizen. &nbsp;I did wish I could tell him I was a writer, a photographer and yet I was not comfortable telling him that he has given me so much content to write about. &nbsp;I wanted him to know that my boys are great. &nbsp;They are so loveable and delightful and how much he has missed out on due to his own selfishness and actions.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">I can&#8217;t deny that these thoughts went through my mind. &nbsp;Daddy&#8230; I am someone you would be proud of if you KNEW me. &nbsp;Daddy&#8230; You have missed out so much of me. &nbsp;You have missed out. &nbsp;You have lost so much. &nbsp;Daddy&#8230;. &nbsp;DO you CARE?<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Yet at some point&#8230; as I watched him sit there&#8230; just sit there&#8230; I realized that I am blessed in spite of him. &nbsp;God has been so good to me. &nbsp;He has showered me with so much that I really can&#8217;t spend time mourning a daddy I didn&#8217;t have.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">There is no understanding. &nbsp;My dad doesn&#8217;t understand himself. &nbsp;This I am sure. &nbsp;There is sickness that only God and heaven can cure. &nbsp;It is all beyond me. &nbsp;I won&#8217;t have the answers. &nbsp;I don&#8217;t think that my dad will ever know that by his inability to be my dad in every sense of the word, he has left a hole in me. &nbsp;It will always be there.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">Yet&#8230; I do believe that peace that passed the understanding was filling me this weekend. &nbsp;It was not a instant fill&#8230; but I believe a slow one&#8230; that God is filling my soul with peace that is beyond understanding.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">I love that. &nbsp;Again, my God&#8230; is looking out for me. &nbsp;He is filling that hole&#8230; over the years He has been filling it&#8230; I was just not paying attention&#8230; I was just looking at the hole. &nbsp; Funny&#8230; isn&#8217;t it? &nbsp;God is always steps ahead of me. &nbsp;I am so glad. &nbsp;I am so glad that He is in control. &nbsp;I just wish that I could keep that faith in my head and heart all the time. &nbsp; So glad that God is so patient. &nbsp;I am such a child&#8230; when it comes to being His kid.<\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Times; font-size: medium; line-height: normal;\"><i>&#8220;<\/i><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><i>God doesn\u2019t promise us understanding. He promises us peace beyond understanding. Trust more, question less.&#8221;<\/i>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"> <\/span><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\">This is my next step&#8230; to Trust more and question less.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><br \/><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: #444444; font-size: 15px; line-height: 19px;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><span class=\"Apple-style-span\" style=\"color: black;\"><br \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Britt Merrick&#8230; &#8220;God doesn\u2019t promise us understanding. He promises us peace beyond understanding. Trust more, question less.&#8221; &nbsp;I saw this on his tweet&#8230; I have been following him on and off for a while. &nbsp;he is a pastor in California&#8230; &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/?p=1062\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1062"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1062"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1062\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1062"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1062"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/livinglovingbreathingboys.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1062"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}