Turning it Around

It was a party to celebrate his graduation from college; a veritable accomplishment for this young man. Though, true to his style, Joe turned it around by celebrating his guests. Now a college graduate, and ready to make his mark in the world, he took the time to gratefully recognize help he had gotten along the way. He thanked and paid tribute to them, each one, for contributions they had made that had brought him to this milestone in his life. His “Ma”, the dear lady that had treated him like he was ‘her boy’; “Kim” who was the sister he never had and whose advice had kept him from going the wrong way on many occasions; and his best friend’s mom who had kept the home fires burning brightly during their year in the Iraq war. He acknowledged teachers, friends and neighbors alike. It brought a smile to my face when Joe turned to my husband, Phil, and thanked him for teaching him what hard work really is and for demonstrating to him, like no one else, his love for family and his love for Christ.
You see, Joe has been “turning it around” all his life. A disadvantaged home life didn’t keep him down. He turned it around! Though Joe struggled in school and found learning harder than some, he turned it around, and got his diploma. Joe’s dream was to become a United Stated Marine. When it looked like an injury would prevent him from fulfilling that dream, he fought back and turned it around. A tour of duty in Iraq brought him up close and personal with the horror and hell of war, and again, Joe turned it around. From facing death he turned to face a life-giving God. …and that is what turned Joe around.