Thanks for the Strength

I didn't know you too well, Craig, but I'll never forget when you shared your testimony in church. We were both in the FLSR, and you had just had the accident with the firecracker. The amazing thing is that you acted as though it was nothing. You remained happy in the face of amazing adversity, even cracking jokes about the incident. I'm sorry I didn't get to know you better, but thanks for the example of strength that you unknowingly gave me.

--Tiffany Fantasia

Perceptions of Other People

It has been incredible to get to know my brother through so many other eyes and hearts through these wonderful blogs. About a month before Craig died, we were talking about his perceptions of other people. The comment he made then has come to be one of those life changing moments for me. He said that he had found that if he assumed that everyone he met was dealing with real pain, whether emotional, mental, physical, or otherwise...he would be correct the vast majority of the time.

As I have pondered this it has made me a lot more accepting and gentle towards everyone I've come in contact with. Did the person who just cut me off on the freeway find out their brothers body had just been found, and are rushing to get there? Is the person I think is ignoring my greeting going through some heartache?

It's so amazing how far a little tenderness can go. Through everything we have been through as a family, it never ceases to astonish me how so many people have found, in quiet little ways, to comfort us. I hope that I will carry that same awareness and have the courage to reach out to others. Craig would expect no less!!!

--Joanne Decker