Random Journal Day - September 4, 2015

One of my favorite blogs to follow is Dawn, who blogs at enthusiasticallydawn.com.  On the first Friday of each month, I link up with Dawn for Random Journal Day, when we share an entry from one of our journals...

Whether we share an entry from yesterday, or last month, or even one from several years ago...we just share what's on our hearts or in our journals!

September 16, 1998 was not a very good day for me!  The newspaper carried this article a few days later under the Florida Times-Union's Law & Disorder section, that pretty much sums up what happened to me:


Secretary beaten at church job
Author:    Mary MacDonald, Times-Union staff writer
Date: September 18, 1998
Publication: The Florida Times-Union Page: B-5

A church secretary was bound, beaten and robbed in the office of a church on Jacksonville's Westside after she opened the door for a man who asked for a glass of water.

The man, armed with a small handgun, forced his way into Edgewood Avenue Christian Church about 3 p.m. Wednesday, a police report says.

The gunman struck her with the weapon, knocking her to the floor, then demanded money. When she said she had none, he dragged her into the church auditorium and bound her hands with the cord from the venetian blinds, the report says.  He covered her mouth with a tablecloth...

That's enough of that article!  On to some more positive thoughts from Eleanor Roosevelt:

Well, the purpose of today's Random Journal entry is not to re-visit "what happened" on that day; but to focus on "the aftermath"...

To focus on the "where am I today?".

In the days, months, even years that followed Wednesday, September 16, 1998, I used writing - journaling - as a form of therapy.  At one point a few days (maybe even weeks) later, I wrote:

Writing, journalizing {not sure that is even a word}, this is very therapeutic.  I've never been very good at keeping up with a daily journal, but feel there are times when journalizing is a good idea.  As I work through the events...the trauma and experience, and the "after effects", the use of writing will be helpful.

And I did!  Many pages fill a notebook, a scrapbook, and files on my computer...

So, "where am I today?"  Well, actually I have come a very long way from that day almost 17 years ago!  Each year, that date is ingrained in my brain and I remember; yet, some years I am so involved in LIFE that I completely forget the date.

Yes, I am aware of it now because I had thought (only briefly) about sharing my journaling for the "write31days" challenge during October; but feel it would be too depressing, and I'm not sure I'd have enough content for the entire month.  Anyway, I have already done the writing, and felt the "therapeutic" value of that writing!  Still pondering the possibility though!

What I will share - and leave you with today - is journaling from September 16, 2008, the "anniversary", if you will, of that date!


10 YEARS...MY, HOW TIME FLIES!

Has it really been that long - 10 years?  Since 1998 so much has happened in just a short time, if 10 years can be considered a "short time"...

In that 10 years my life has continued, with ups and downs, family additions and changes, church changes, even work changes.  But during that 10 year period my life has continued, and that is the whole point - my life did not end after that unfortunate "accident" 10 years ago.

My life has continued; I have continued to be the person - the wife, mother, daughter, friend, employee - that I was back then, but with some changes to how I view life and others.

I am slowly forgetting - what happened is not consuming me as it did right after it happened.  Of course, I can still remember what happened; I can still remember the date; I can still remember the approximate time, 3:00 p.m.; I can still remember who found me; I can still remember the many people who came to the emergency room; I can still remember the many people who sent cards, called, brought food or other gifts...

But that's not the important part of remembering.  What is most important to remember from the whole incident is this:

GOD LOVES ME and so do a whole lot of other people!

And, God is not finished with me yet; He apparently has plans for me and I must stay in contact with Him in order to follow His will.  How do I stay in contact with Him?  Through prayer and Bible study, of course!
{Written September 16, 2008}


So, today - almost 17 years later, after the attack; and 7 years from writing this entry...

What I can say about "where am I today?" is this...

I am where God wants me to be in order to fulfill the plans that He has for me and my life - whatever that is and wherever that takes me!

I put my life in His hands almost 17 years ago; I leave my life in His hands for the rest of what life there may be!

No, my story is not over yet...there is so much more life to live and so much more of my story to share!

And that, my friends, is today's Random Journal Day!  Join me the first Friday of October for more thoughts from my journals!