![\"\"](\"http:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/naz.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI remember<\/em>\u2026 at the funeral, a large number of people from our school showed up in support. Then all of the sudden, something very unexpected happened. I was surrounded by these people that I didn\u2019t know very well because they knew I had grown up with him. I remember <\/em>all of the outpouring of community definitely surprised me and allowed me to cope much better. I still wasn\u2019t sure how I\u2019d keep going\u2026 but I did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I remember<\/em>\u2026 developing a friendship with a guy soon after My childhood friend\u2019s death who had just moved here from Indiana. We were instant best friends. Stayed close all through high school and after school. He married and moved to Arkansas. We were on the phone one Saturday talking about his plans to move back to Tennessee. We talked about how we both had small children who hadn\u2019t met each other yet and we were going to raise them like cousins. He was starting a business and wanted me to work for him. The following Tuesday, all of those plans ended on interstate 40 in Arkansas. Again, I wasn\u2019t sure how I\u2019d keep going\u2026 but I did. I remember<\/em> all of the calls I received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now I\u2019ve survived various flu pandemics, Y2k, being a sports\nreferee and being a girl dad. Pretty tough things. And now I\u2019m staring at, yet\nagain, another obstacle that scares the masses. But one thing I\u2019ve learned\nabout obstacles, no matter the situation\u2026 every. Single. Time. God uses it to\nbring people closer to Him, to each other and we are all stronger on the other\nside. Every Time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This situation is no different. When the dust settles on the mass threat of the corona virus, people will be closer to each other. Already, people are publicly praying that wouldn\u2019t normally be praying. People are turning to God in a very similar fashion as that of 9-11-01. But what if you\u2019ve done all you can and something else hits? I feel like I\u2019d be prepared. But I\u2019m really not sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve managed to miss being hit by the tornadoes in Tennessee. Then comes the corona virus. You take precautions and manage to miss being hit by that too. Chances are, you\u2019ve also missed catching the various flu pandemics throughout our nation\u2019s history. You\u2019re in the shape of your life\u2026 only to find out you have Lymphoma cancer. How do you fight? I don\u2019t know, but my close friend will<\/em><\/strong> fight\u2026 and I\u2019m going to learn from him. I\u2019m going to learn how to face all of these seemingly insurmountable odds and overcome. I\u2019m going to learn about the \u201cquality of life\u201d many have spoken about. I\u2019m also going to learn more about community. About how your community wraps its arms around you and gives you hope and a reason to push through. And one day, I\u2019m going to look back and remember<\/em> these moments and see what he came through\u2026 and subsequently, what I\u2019m capable of. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the thing, with each trial, there\u2019s always a new\nnormal. A new normal that brings a stronger community unit. A new normal that\nbrings a new sense of hope. Every time there\u2019s a trial, God shows up. In each\nof my difficult times in life, He showed up in some way, every single time. It\nwasn\u2019t some angel flying down from a cloud playing a harp in a toga outfit. It\nwas JESUS IN PEOPLE. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I can\u2019t convince you to not worry about this. But I can remind you that you\u2019ve faced tougher things before and you\u2019re still here. I can remind you that on 9-12-01, there were no republicans or democrats. There were no black or white people, just Americans. People were quick to extend a hand to a fellow American. We are in similar times. Remember<\/em> what you\u2019ve come through. Remember<\/em> how you were stronger afterwards. Remember what you\u2019ve accomplished. REMEMBER<\/strong>, you have overcome before\u2026don\u2019t stop now. Don\u2019t lose sight of community. Don\u2019t let fear own you. Don\u2019t let what you see dictate what you do. But let who<\/em><\/strong> you know dictate what you do\u2026 and REMEMBER<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay Classy GP!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Grainger<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The country is at a stand still over the corona virus. We all see it. It\u2019s not hard not to be worried or anxious. Some in the middle Tennessee area have been ransacked by the tornadoes and are still in the middle of finding a new normal. How do we move forward? By looking back. … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/leffel.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/tidbitsofaudacity.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/cancer.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n