(My Friday Show and Tell post is just below this one)

To Know Him hosts Know and Tell Friday and asks this week:

1. Do you read or study best in silence or in a place with background noise? Why?

In silence — I just concentrate better that way. But silence isn’t always easy to come by, so sometimes I have to adapt.

2. If you were to write a book about your life, what would it be called?

Oh, my — I have no idea. Something terribly creative like “My Life.” 🙂

3. (This question is a deep one…I know it should be a bonus, but I already have a few bonus questions chosen for this week) Why do you think divorce is so prevalent?

Basic selfish human nature. I do wonder if the “self-esteem movement” with its focus on self and the increasing laxness in discipline over the last several years have affected it also.

4. What’s the best way to resist peer pressure?

Keeping one’s focus on God and asking Him to stir up in us a greater love for Him and desire to please Him more than anyone else. Plus, I think, the training to just walk away from it rather than rationalizing it.

5. What is the most serious illness or injury you ever faced?

Transverse myelitis, in which a virus attacks the spine. I couldn’t walk on my own for a few months and had a laundry list of other quirky symptoms. I wrote more about it here.

6. When was the last time you felt like you had a laugh with God?

I don’t know that I would have put it quite that way, but I do believe God has a sense of humor. The times I feel most like what I think you’re talking about are when I am getting after my children about something, and it’s almost like I sense God tapping me on the shoulder and asking, “Do you hear yourself?” And I realize I need the same instruction I am giving them. The other times are when I am thinking of myself more highly than I ought to and then do something really stupid — God’s gentle reminder that I need to be more humble.

7. This question was inspired by a friend. My friend went through a very tragic experience, and I so wanted to comfort her, but did not have the words to. I had a conversation with her at a later date and asked her what do you say to someone when they are going through a tragedy, because I know that people say the wrong things even when there intentions were good. So, here is my question…. What do you say to someone who is going through a tragic or hard time?

I think it just depends on the person, the situation, and how you feel the Lord is leading at the time. For me most often I would just give them a hug and let them know I am praying for them, and let them indicate if they want to talk any further. I know even for the same person, sometimes they might feel like talking and sometimes not.

Once when I was working at a department store,  the husband of one of the ladies there passed away. She was off work for several days, and when she came back one of the other older ladies was telling some of us that the day she went back to work after her husband died was almost as hard as the funeral. So when I saw the first lady, I just told her I was glad to see her back, but didn’t go any further. Later in the break room, though, she began talking to me about the situation. She wanted to talk about it. I remember when one co-worker had a miscarriage, she didn’t want anyone at work to say anything about it at all. But one lady went to her and made it a point to express her sympathies, and that upset her.

So — I don’t think there is a pat formula. I know for various things I have gone through in my life, sometimes the Lord sent just the right person with just what I needed to hear — “a word in due season.” But some people seemed to want to pry or force the issue or couldn’t seem to take the hint that now was now a good time. It just all goes back to asking the Lord to lead you and being an instrument in His hands.