CNJ+ January 2024

WHEN LIFE BRINGS CHANGES By Richard Mabey Jr.

Life is not always fair, by any means. At times, plainly written, life seems unfair. Recently I was diagnosed with having both, Atrial Valve Stenosis and Tricuspid Valve Ste nosis. Not good news to say the least. In the latter part of September and then into Octo ber, I’ve had six cardiac medical tests and pro cedures. I still have a few more to go, before my Cardiologist makes her final decision what to do. Deep inside my inner self, I have this intuitive knowingness that I’m going to need to have these heart valves replaced. For the past seven or eight years, I have had a little business of caring for and walking dogs and cats in my neighborhood. Some of my best friends are dogs and cats. It’s kind of a funny thing. The other day, I was walking one of my ad opted pups, when I got these sharp pains in my chest. My Cardiologist told me that it was to be expected. She told me that when I get these chest pains to rest for a while and they should subside in a few minutes. Thank the good Lord, that I was walking Rosie in the little park behind the mailbox cen ter. I sat down beneath a tall Live Oak and rest ed. I think Rosie sensed that I was having chest pains, because she calmly lied down beside me and licked the back of my hand. I’ve become more and more aware, in the past few days that I need to give up my little business of walking dogs and caring for cats, while their owners go out for the day or leave for a week or so, to visit their kids.

Yours truly with my beloved friend, Rosie.

time to pray to God to bring comfort to your heart. For God loves you more than you will ever know. I am not talking about any given religion here. I am not waving a flag for any specific religious or spiritual path. What I am saying though, is that this universe was created by intelligent design. You are not here by accident. There are no coincidences. Everything that happens to you, has a purpose. Even if it is in the face of bad news, from your plight you can grow as a per son. None of us has a guarantee that we will see tomorrow’s morning sun. It’s just a sad fact of life. Hold dear to a strong foundation in God. Love one an other. Rise above the draw to feel sorry for yourself, when you’re facing hard times. Forgive those who have done wrong to you. Pray, pray and pray more and more. Ask God to bring comfort to your heart when you’re walking a rocky road in life. For truly, God loves you more than you will ever know. Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He hosts a YouTube Channel titled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard most recently published a book of po etry and short stories. He can be reached at richardmabeyjr@hotmail.com.

At first, I was very sad to come to this realization. But in the past few days, I’ve come to accept my fate and destiny. For truly, a change is coming into my life. No doubt, I will probably go in for heart surgery soon. Life doesn’t always deal you four aces. Yesterday, I called all my clients and told them of my health plight and that I would be no longer be able to walk their dogs when they went away to visit relatives. I have eight clients at this time. I cried after I called my last client. I then took a walk to one of my favorite little nooks in my neighborhood. It is a park bench that is on a knoll that overlooks a golf course. I watched four golfers tee off at the starting point, just a few yards down from the sloping hill. And then, in the shade of a towering Live Oak, I inwardly prayed. I felt a certain comfort, an acceptance of my fate, a feeling of assurance that all was going to be okay. I know, deep in my heart, without a shadow of a doubt, that the inward comfort and assurance that I felt in my heart, came from God. If you’ve been given a bad health report. If you find yourself faced with a serious illness. If you’re feeling hopeless and just want to give up, take the

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