Answered Prayers
Like many other parents, I began praying for my children when they were very young. I would pray that God would give me wisdom in raising them, that he would protect them and keep them healthy, and that they would be saved, among other things. When Katie began to drive, that prayer changed somewhat. I would ask for her protection while driving and that she would not do anything to harm anyone else with her vehicle. These prayers would go up daily, because the Bible tells us that if we pray with diligence, our prayers would be answered.
On July 20th, my Katie was killed in an automobile accident. The very thing that I had prayed to not happen, did. I had a very hard time dealing with this. Silently, I would think this to myself and never brought it up to anyone or even to God. Was I second guessing God and his will? Did God forsake me and allow the very thing that I dreaded happen to my baby in spite of my prayers? How was it that the words of the Bible had misled me. For a time, I had no answers. Then one night I was liying in bed when the realization came to me that My Heavenly Father knew what I was thinking and feeling whether I wanted to admit it or not. I bowed my head and closed my eyes and began explaining my feelings and asking God why. God let me finish my prayer and then began explaining to me what I should have known all along.
You see, over the last few years as I started walking closer to the Lord, I began praying for the things mentioned above. I always finished my prayers with the request that the Lord would use all of us (our family) for the glory of his kingdom. What greater gift could any Christian have than knowing that their life somehow Glorified God. My Father let me know that he had bestowed that priviledge upon my baby. During Katie's funeral an invitation was given. I had four people tell me at the graveside or the dinner afterwards that they received Christ that day. I have also had many people come to me and say how touched they have been by Buggs and the events around our tragedy. Our Lord and Savior has a plan and if we will just trust him, he will indeed hear our prayers.
The most amazing thing about this story is how God shows us his love for us over and over. While I was questioning in my mind why he let this happen, God in return gave me a very compassionate answer. He does not have to okay his plan with me. He does not have to give me reasons for the question, "why." He could have turned away from me for not trusting in him, but instead he rewarded me the way only our loving, compassionate father would. I believe he did this because he knows the pain of a father that has lost a child. As I have stated before he gave Jesus up at Calvary for our sins so he knows how I feel. I am going to close with this: God loves us very much and while we may not understand his plan, if we just trust in him, he will not give us any more than we can handle here on earth. He will also reward us when we leave this earth.
Mike "Buckett" Burkett
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
What do you say?
How many times have you been sitting in your living room watching TV and have the phone ring. Someone else answers it and you can tell by their face that something just isnt right. You wait very impatiently for that person to get off the phone so you can find out what is wrong. Then come the words that tell you someone you know has passed away. If you are like me, your first thought is for the person, and then the pain that you know the loved ones are now experiencing. Somewhere, after those first few thoughts, you realize you are going to have to see the family members, and, if you are like me, figure out what you are going to say.
I think of the times this has happened to me in the past. With friends that have lost a spouse. A few times with someone that has lost a child. Mostly though with former players that have lost one of their parents. It has always been something that I have not been comfortable with. It has been something that I have tried to figure out ways out of, but, something I know I must do. Guys, after July 20th, 2008, I think I have figured out the answer to this situation.
So very many of you came to us during the week of Katie's passing. I heard many different things, but most of the time I could tell that the person approaching me really had no idea what to say. The thing that helped me the most was the fact that you were here with me. There really was nothing you could say, because at the time I didnt know what I wanted to hear. Words spoken to me were not going to do anything to take away the pain. However, I have found that words have been able to ease the suffering that I have gone through.
You see, during some of the most trying times in the last few months like homecoming, Katie's birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, so very many of you have called or E-mailed to say that you are lifting us up in prayer. Times like these that I had been dreading were made easier because my Heavenly Father has covered me in his grace and, at times, given me signs that my baby is alive and doing very well. God gave me the thought that I talked about in my last blog about Christmas in Heaven and how wonderful that must have been for Buggs. Guys, that is a direct answer to so very many of my Christian brotherhood fighting the battle for me. Some may say that I have become a crazy holy roller or something and thats ok. Can you see the results of your prayers, no. I cant see the wind either, but I can definately see the results of it. In this same way, I can see and feel the results of your prayers.
With all this being said, I guess the best thing you can say to someone is " I will be praying for you". Thats the thing that has helped me the most. To be honest I remember very little of the words that were spoken, but I remember how many of you came that hurt for us and loved Katie. Just you being here said enough. Please continue to pray for my family and I. You guys are making an incredible difference in the life of a daddy that misses his little girl terribly. I cannot carry this burden without Gods grace and your prayers are being heard on our behalf. I will do all I can to stay in Gods grace. I know that their are many other burdens that need to be lifted up, but if you can keep me on the list guys I will appreciate it very much. God Bless you guys and if I can be of assistance in any way feel free to call
Mike "Buckett" Burkett
P.S. My computer crashed and I have lost all e-mail addresses so anyone that can please give me your e-mail address again. My E-mail is mburkett@charter.net
I think of the times this has happened to me in the past. With friends that have lost a spouse. A few times with someone that has lost a child. Mostly though with former players that have lost one of their parents. It has always been something that I have not been comfortable with. It has been something that I have tried to figure out ways out of, but, something I know I must do. Guys, after July 20th, 2008, I think I have figured out the answer to this situation.
So very many of you came to us during the week of Katie's passing. I heard many different things, but most of the time I could tell that the person approaching me really had no idea what to say. The thing that helped me the most was the fact that you were here with me. There really was nothing you could say, because at the time I didnt know what I wanted to hear. Words spoken to me were not going to do anything to take away the pain. However, I have found that words have been able to ease the suffering that I have gone through.
You see, during some of the most trying times in the last few months like homecoming, Katie's birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, so very many of you have called or E-mailed to say that you are lifting us up in prayer. Times like these that I had been dreading were made easier because my Heavenly Father has covered me in his grace and, at times, given me signs that my baby is alive and doing very well. God gave me the thought that I talked about in my last blog about Christmas in Heaven and how wonderful that must have been for Buggs. Guys, that is a direct answer to so very many of my Christian brotherhood fighting the battle for me. Some may say that I have become a crazy holy roller or something and thats ok. Can you see the results of your prayers, no. I cant see the wind either, but I can definately see the results of it. In this same way, I can see and feel the results of your prayers.
With all this being said, I guess the best thing you can say to someone is " I will be praying for you". Thats the thing that has helped me the most. To be honest I remember very little of the words that were spoken, but I remember how many of you came that hurt for us and loved Katie. Just you being here said enough. Please continue to pray for my family and I. You guys are making an incredible difference in the life of a daddy that misses his little girl terribly. I cannot carry this burden without Gods grace and your prayers are being heard on our behalf. I will do all I can to stay in Gods grace. I know that their are many other burdens that need to be lifted up, but if you can keep me on the list guys I will appreciate it very much. God Bless you guys and if I can be of assistance in any way feel free to call
Mike "Buckett" Burkett
P.S. My computer crashed and I have lost all e-mail addresses so anyone that can please give me your e-mail address again. My E-mail is mburkett@charter.net
Thursday, January 8, 2009
One Nation Under God
From time to time, as I am sure you have noticed, I will put something other than what I write on my blog. I realize you guys get tired of reading my thoughts and I hear or see something that is an influence on my life. I find this next article to be so very true for our country now. I encourage each one of you to join me in prayer for the state of our country and its leaders, for our childrens sake, if for no other reason.
'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!'
Commentator
Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God.'
'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!'
Commentator
Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God.'
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