Has TV and abortions made us calloused to the value of life? Today is extra special as one lady had decided not to end her life today after saying she would earlier on news. Perhaps I do not understand what she is going through ( or did anything to chage her mind); or know what you are going through- but Life is precious and God has a plan for your life. I hope I get to meet Jack Rushton Someday in Heaven- he is an inspiration to me. For 23 years he was paralyzed from a surfing accident until He passed away peacefully in his sleep on Christmas Eve 2012. Take time to listen to his video that was made several years ago. I posted a news article below of two women dealing with tough issues thrown at them. Don't Give Up. It is good to be alive.
BRISTOL, Conn. – A Connecticut woman has a message for Brittany Maynard, the 29-year-old Oregon woman whose decision to end her own life has gone viral: “Please don’t leave us yet.”
Maggie Karner released a video on Wednesday in which she reads a letter she wrote to Brittany.
Maynard had been married a year when she discovered she had an aggressive brain cancer. Last April, doctors told her she had six months to live.
“Honestly, I really do get it,” Karner writes. “Brain cancer sucks in a really big way. It’s a beast that lurks and prowls… but you know what? Death sucks, too. It rips us from the people and the passions that we love the most.”
Maynard posted YouTube videos in which she and family members talked about her decision and supported an expansion of assisted suicide laws. She started an organization, Compassion and Choices, to promote that idea.
Karner has also been diagnosed with stage IV glioblastoma multiforme, but she says she is choosing life.
“When Robin Williams took his own life, the world lost some of its beauty and joy that day. Brittany, if you take your own life, the world will lose some of its beauty again.”
Karner talks about the millions of people who are following Maynard’s story from across the country.
“No one is judging but people are watching.”
On the same day Karner released her video, Maynard announced she was giving herself more time.
“I still feel good enough and I still have enough joy and I still laugh and smile with my family and friends enough that it doesn’t seem like the right time right now,” Maynard says in a video released to CNN on Wednesday. “But it will come, because I feel myself getting sicker. It’s happening each week.”
For now, it appears Maynard has heard Karner’s message.
“Please don’t leave us yet. Lets choose life for as long as we’ve got.”
Too Kind to do anything Cruel,
Too Wise to Make A mistake,
Too Deep to Explain Himself.
Romans 11:33
You cannot be thankful and unhappy at the same time
The best way for a person to have happy thoughts is to count his blessings not his cash
Rushton Jr., Jack Louis, broke free from the confinement of his paralyzed body at 12:15 AM, Christmas day, 2012 at his home in Tustin, where he lived for 38 years. He was 74. Almost 24 years ago, Jack severed his spinal cord while body surfing, leaving him ventilator-dependent and paralyzed from the neck down. Through his positive and determined life, he has inspired thousands. Though paralyzed, Jack took great joy from his daily productivity. From the seat of his wheelchair, he authored two books and wrote hundreds of inspirational essays that he called Observations. Links to his books and Observations can be found at jackrushton.com. He regularly appeared as the keynote speaker in religious and secular settings. He loved speaking to young people. He taught the same adult Sunday school class for more than 22 years and simultaneously served as the Patriarch for the Orange Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His disability did not define him. Jack was born September 26, 1938 in a humble home in the mining town of Ruth, Nevada. He was the third of four sons born to Jack Louis Rushton and Vera Bertell Young. Although Jack loved baseball and basketball, he excelled at the piano and clarinet, earning a music scholarship to Brigham Young University. While there, he earned both his bachelors and masters degrees. Later, he also earned a doctorate of education from USC. In 1958, Jack left BYU to serve for 30 months in the LDS Central American Mission. His missionary service changed the focus of his life and left him determined to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a religious educator. For 25 years Jack taught religion classes to high school and college students. He loved his work. At the time of his injury, he was also training and recruiting teachers throughout Southern California for the Church Educational System. During this same time Jack served in many church leadership positions, including seven years as a bishop. He was serving as the Irvine Stake President at the time of his injury. Jack certainly would not have thrived these last 24 years were it not for the meticulous care and unwavering devotion of his wife, Jo Anne. She tirelessly provided for his every care. For 48 years, she honored their vow: in sickness and in health. Jo Anne survives Jack, along with their six children, Michael, Richard, John, JoLene Stratford, Rachel Riley and Jaclyn Brown. He is also survived by his 20 grandchildren and his brothers, Darrel and Kim. Poignantly, at this time, as Jack's family and friends contemplate his legendary life, we are reminded of his motto and catch phrase: "it's good to be alive." Because of his example we are motivated to try harder and reach higher.
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