Superman??

Jaque - the student? Yep. She is studying hard. Funny how it seems that although the work is hard, she seems to be ....well.....Jaque again. It has been a while, but it is great to see her regaining the strength that was dramatically stripped from her. Praise God.

Last week we were in Texarkana. As we pulled in to get her a vanilla milkshake, she said, look mom, that is sad. I said what hun? She told me to wait until we made the loop by the drive thru. When we got back around, I saw a man putting his child in a wheelchair. He was very small. Jaque told me that it sure did not seem right. She said, me-well I had a full 16 years of running and playing and softball. That kid hasn't had any of that. True, but we do not know what God has in store for us.

She said, and me, I am good....til God is ready for me to walk again. And you know, she means it. She is such a great inspiration to me. She told me she is so ready to see what life has to offer her. That she was working hard to get her part done.

So in thinking about this...and cleaning my purse out, (weird combo, but stick with me) I found the graduation speech that Rachel did in 2008. I hope that she doesn't mind, but thought I would share it with you all. Rachel played basketball with Jaque. She was a freshman when Jaque was injured.

----from Rachel Dollarhide:

"Today I would like to talk about heroes and lessons learned. So often people describe heroes as being those who wear capes and fly though the sky at lightning speed or as those people whose major accomplishment is being able to throw a football or hit a home run. I, however, have been a witness to what constitutes a real hero. The tragic events that occurred on the evening of January 3 changed my life forever teaching me valuable lessons and redefining my views of what makes up a hero.

I learned that a hero is not defined by what they look like or what they can do but rather by how they behave in the face of extreme duress. It is by witnessing the awesome power of prayer, kinship, spirituality, and coming togetherness of this community that I learned heroes can be many and their strength indeed mighty.

My fellow athletes and coaches taught me that when a teammate has fallen the game becomes secondary to life - that the need to win a ballgame is overshadowed by the need to gather our strength and will power we gained thorough hours of practice to pull us through the darkest hours.

My fellow classmates taught me that even our disagreements and petty squabbles will be forgotten and laid aside when we need each other to lean on. I have learned that i have many more friends than i ever knew before - they needed only to be needed.

My community taught me that while only modern medicine can take us so far the unity and heart of a small southern town can take us farther still - take us to a place where life is possible and healing will happen.

My family taught me that they are in fact my soft place to fall when I needed so desperately a loving hug or comforting word. My family's support and love that surrounded me during the most painful times helped to carry me through the toughest of days and for this I want to say thank you.

Of course, my biggest thank you has to go to my newly defined hero - Jaque Hall. My first question when i heard the news was "Why?" as in "why did this happen at all" and then "why did this happen to Jaque" - my friend, classmate, teammate. However, now, I know that it is not for me to ask such questions or to be able to change the past - we all wish it would never have happened. however, since it did happen I have learned so much since that fateful night - so much about myself and others. My childhood innocence and views are no more - in their place is a clearer view of the world with all its unfairness and tragedies. I am indeed a different person, a better, stronger, wiser person and I have my hero, Jaque, to thank for that. Because you see, my hero is not in comic books or out on the field - but right here in this very school. She is not fictional but very real - capable of tears, pain, and suffering but also capable of amazing determination and a spirit that refuses to be broken. My hero does not wear a cape but in my mind she's soaring above us all! Love Always, Rachel.

Ok, now wipe your eyes. Thank the Lord for Rachel and pray for her as she is graduating from Haworth in 2011. And most of all...make a difference in someones life today, don't put it off any longer. Much love. Carol