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Writings of David Chadwell For while we were still helpless, at the right
time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man;
though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be
saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were
reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been
reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (Romans 5:6-10)
When frustration overwhelms you, when negative emotions consume you, force
yourself to take a moment to remember him to whom you look for salvation.
Remember the one who is your pathway to God. Remember the one who is your door
from blinding darkness to guiding light.
From the day he was born, he never slept on a pillow top mattress. He never
lived in a house with running hot and cold water. He never took a hot shower. He
never turned “on” a light switch. He never had a kitchen with a microwave oven,
a toaster oven, a mixer, or a refrigerator. He never once rode in a car, or on a
bicycle, or in or on a truck, or on a bus, or in a train or airplane. He never
spoke on a phone, or sent an e-mail, or received an e-mail, or mailed a letter,
or read a newspaper, or watched T.V.
He never saw a hall, read a typeset book, took a “course,” or examined a
library. He never shot a gun, cast a reel, put a model together, saw a movie,
read a cartoon, went to a rodeo, or played a video game.
One of our vacations might finance him for his adult lifetime. What we often
spend in “down time activities” would likely take care of his whole life needs
for months. Though he walked miles every month, he never owned a pair of boots.
His life was simple—eat what you can get when it is available; walk a lot; sleep
where you can when you can; talk to those who will listen; pray a lot as you
honor God for His blessings.
As simple as his life was, some things have never changed. Relationships are
still difficult. Injustices still hurt. Expectations still collapse. People
still hurt you. Rejection is still hard to take. Being misunderstood still
grieves you inwardly. Evil still exists. Bad things still happen to good people.
Frustration and disappointment can still destroy us. It is easier to be a
pessimist who gives up than a person of faith who makes a difference. Progress
still must be measured in persons, not nations.
The next time you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself, think of him. Doing
without him would mean losing life’s focus and meaning. Your life is changed,
not because of what he had, but because of who he is. Your life will change
others for good, not because of what you have, but because of who you are. Dare
to let his image become your image!
The fact that he died for us will never be fair, not even in the final judgment!
Link to other
Writings of David Chadwell
