One Thing … you’ve got one – that one thing in life for which you’d sacrifice everything for just to keep or protect. Threaten it and its intrinsic value becomes known. Lose it and its gut-wrenching absence leaves a void that’s very difficult to fill.

My “one-thing” is my family and I was reminded of it’s critical importance a few weeks back when I learned, after the fact, that my youngest daughter had put herself in a position where harm could have easily come to her and I would not have been able to protect her. Now understand, she was safe, in my sight sitting with me at our breakfast table confessing to a bad decision she’d made the week before (now imagine that – a teenager who made a bad decision). Filled with disappointment, I immediately started in on my Father knows best speech about making wise choices – then it hit me.  She probably shouldn’t be there at all, her choice was that bad.  Were it not for the grace of God and a protection ongoing of which I wasn’t even aware, I would be sitting at that very table alone, struggling for breath trying to understand how I’d just lost one of the loves of my life. My stomach turned to liquid, my heart raced and I had to get up and pace. I went nowhere – just continued talking to her, walking through every room in the house, raising my voice as needed so she could continue to hear my fatherly lecture. It was the adrenaline – the very same adrenaline that would have been released weeks earlier had I known the precarious position my daughter was in. My one-thing had been endangered, and I didn’t even know it.

I’ve written a book called Healing Waters (probably why you’re at this site). Fairly early in the story Billie Goodwin asks the main character what his “one-thing” is. Here’s an excerpt from the book:

“I can’t tell you why he loves to swim so fast, but I can tell you he does it everyday he can.  Anna thinks he likes the sound of the water rushing past his ears.  I just think he believes he’s flying free like a bird up in the sky.”  Billie mimicked a bird darting through the air. “For whatever reason, it’s what he lives for.”  Billie looked down and refocused her attention directly on Jeff.  “Let me ask you a question.”  Jeff was still smiling at Billie’s bird impersonation. 

“Ask away,” he said casually. 

“What is it that you live for?” 

The question hit Jeff cold as he quickly searched for an answer, but found none.  He used to know, or at least he thought he did, but his life hadn’t turned out how he thought.

“I guess I’m not sure. I really don’t think about it much anymore.”  Billie looked straight into Jeff’s eyes and paused as if looking for something inside, causing him to feel a bit uncomfortable.

“Well you should think about it sweetie.  A person needs that one thing in their life that keeps ‘em going through hard times.  You need to find out what it is that you’d sacrifice everything else for, just to hold on to it,” Billie said in a tender motherly fashion. There seemed nothing left from his former life that he could hold on to, and certainly nothing in his new life worth sacrificing anything for. 

“Do you know what your ‘one thing’ is Billie?” Jeff asked innocently.  Billie sat back and smiled sweetly. 

“Oh yes honey, I certainly do.”

It’s a theme that runs through the novel as Jeff struggles to discover for himself  his ‘one-thing.’   What’s yours?   This blog is intended to become an interactive community. Share with us your one-thing that keeps you going through hard times. Blogging is a new art form for me, so hopefully you can post your comments below. If you can’t, email me at the address in the Contact tab above.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you’ll get a copy of Healing Waters at Amazon.com and make sure you post a review there once you’ve read the book (glowing ones preferred)!  Also, please help us build up the Healing Waters Community by recommending this site and book to your friends and social media contacts.  If you haven’t done so already, submit your email address at the top of the page and we’ll send you the Healing Waters newsletter!

All is Good,

Rob ~