| Received 8-19-06 -- This e-mail inspired me and makes me want to continue to do good works for the Lord. I hope it will inspire you to do the same. It warms my heart to see Corbin's life is still continuing to make a difference in other people's lives.... Hi Cristy, My Name Is Connie Morgan i live in Nederland. I got a phone call from a friend today that gave me your web site. I had a very bad day yesterday. I was served with papers from my ex husband of ten years suing me for custody of our 13 year old daughter. He never wanted anything to do with her until he remarried two years ago. I cried all day yesterday wandering what am i going to do. I've always had sole custody of her. My husband of 8 years is the only Daddy she's ever known. We are not rich by any means. We live in a small, but cute brick home. It stays very neat and clean. She always has what she needs(We also have a 7 year old son). Anyway, my ex, on the other hand, lives in Houston in a huge house..... looks like a doctor or lawyer lives there. They are always able to take big family trips, they get her whatever she wants..... so i thought, how can i compete? Then i called five different lawyers. They all said the same thing... you need a lawyer to represent you. I panicked. How can i afford a lawyer? My husband risks his life every day for the Jeff. Co. Sheriff's Dept. Pay is ok. I quit my job for the summer to spend time with my kids. Something i prayed a lot about. I continued to cry and worry all day. I got a phone call from the same person who gave me your web site . I told her my story. She said wait a minute.... I went to school with a girl who is a lawyer right here in town. She said, I will call her. She did, and I have an appt. on Monday. She said she would let me pay payments. Relieved but still worried about what the judge is looking for in a good parent, I prayed and went to sleep. My friend called and said, You have to go on this web site. It is really an inspiration. Boy was she ever right . You see, I've worried ALL my life, does my hair look ok? Is my house nice enough? Do my kids hang around the right kids to be popular? And knowing all along... due to being a preacher's granddaughter, I should have been asking myself, when am I going to get out there and find a church for my family? Am I teaching my kids enough about the Lord? Your story of your precious son and your words of encouragement have really touched me. I was mad at first, looking at the pictures of such a beautiful, full of life little boy, being taken away too soon. I thought how could God let this happen to this wonderful family. That is the worst thing in the world, to lose a child. But now I realized, God did not let it happen. It just happened. But because it did, you, Cristy, are helping other people, whether it is with the death of a child or another problem life throws our way. I am not going to cry anymore about my problems. You've been through so much more . And still you praise our God. That is amazing! I will continue to visit your web site daily and pray for you and your family. Again, Thank You for opening my eyes to what is really important... Our Lord who gave us life and has every right to take it when he feels it's best. I'm so sorry for your loss. Corbin was a beautiful little boy, so are your other two children. Have a blessed day. Keep helping people. Love, Connie Morgan |
| Received 8-16-06 -- This helps people who ask understand how I continue to live with my reality and how I reconcile it all...hope it helps you. Cristy, You do not know me, but I'm Marlene Moses' sister. She shared your story with me not long after Corbin's death...she was deeply saddened, as was I. Hannah is one of the lucky ones, and we are so blessed to have her with us today...though I'm still so troubled as to why such innocent children die every day from disease or accidents. Like Marlene, I am a musician and teach young students from my home each week. On Good Friday this past spring, I lost an 11 year old student who died in a car accident, one that also killed her Grandmother. I'm still not over her...nor will I be. Corbin must have been that same age. Marlene sent me a link to your web page and I saw all the photos of your lovely family. I have two young children of my own and I can't even imagine having to watch them suffer. They are high maintenance (as you mentioned was your son) LOL....but they have so much spirit and energy. We are blessed to have them in our lives. Please know that your story has touched others....ones far away like myself. I have faith, but it is not so strong. I suppose I shouldn't wait until something bad happens before I turn wholly to God. Thank you for your strength....it has made me a stronger person. Sincerely, Marian Goss, mother of Emma (4), Owen (2) and wife of Jeffrey My Response -- Hi, Marian -- it is so good to hear from you. I love and admire Marlene and Greg. Although we hardly know each other, we have a bond that will last a lifetime. My husband and I were so, so touched that they came to Corbin's funeral. We will always be grateful for that act of kindness. As far as trying to understand why bad things have to happen to good people, especially children, I have pondered this question for many years now. Actually, I've probably done more than ponder it. And I'm not sure if I have come up with the absolute truth of it; however, I have come up with what is my truth and what I hold on to in order to make sense of it all. This is my belief. I believe that long ago, when Adam and Eve made their choice in the Garden of Eden, it set the world into motion. It gave us free will and choices. Sin came into our lives, and that is also what started our suffering. I don't think that God said, "I'm going to give Corbin a brain tumor and let his parents suffer and hurt while he dies." I believe that God, as a matter of fact, I know that God hurt just as much as I did during that time. I did cry out one night during his illness and said, "God, but you just don't understand! You are asking too much." And as soon as I said it, I felt God say to me, "But I do understand. I had to watch my son suffer and die, too." It was a profound moment for me. I believe a few things. If there was no suffering on earth, which hurts us so much, why would we want to go to Heaven. We would be completely content here to live out our lives as selfishly as we wanted, one, because we don't know what is at stake. We would never have the need to reach out to our Lord. We would ignore Him. Also, the Bible tells us, and we have to have faith, about Heaven and how life on this earth is only temporary; life in Heaven is for eternity. Even though this seems like a lifetime here, the final, most awesome place is in Heaven for us. It's just hard at times for us to understand because it is the unknown. Nobody can actually come back and tell us about it. Marian, I will tell you, as much as I would give it all back to have my precious baby back in my arms for just one more day, the lessons I have learned have been invaluable. Heaven is real. Heaven is where I want to be. Corbin is happy there. He doesn't miss home. I miss him so much. I want him here to be in our lives every day and watch him grow. That's the mommy in me. And that is my worldly mind thinking like that. But I also have come to learn that as we grow as Christians, especially when you have to face the reality of death like I have had to, you also have to retrain your mind to think heavenly. Be heavenly minded and it is bearable. I hope you don't mind me sharing my heart. I could sense the turmoil you are going through. I understand that turmoil. I hope this helps you to understand how I feel. My God would never want to see me in such suffering. And without a doubt I know that he carried me through the whole time; otherwise, I would never have made it!! I look forward to hearing from you. Love, Cristy |
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