Perfectly Flawed

Whoever really fits in, if their honest with everyone around them 100% of the time?  Each individual has idiosyncrasies, it is just some are more obvious than others. And yet, so many form who they   What happens to those who feel flawed inside, willing to admit it and yet are unaccepted because of it?  What damage is done to these individuals in society? Are they embraced or belittled?

choose to associate with and accept in their inner circle as those who have a clone set of norms that are deemed “popular” or “acceptable”.

Dan was adopted at the age of 10 days old to a military family stationed in Texas. It was a working couple unable to have children excited to have a child. He was a cute Hispanic boy with no health problems.  He lived a normal childhood, attending private elementary school, raised in a Christian family, an avid basketball player and known for being more of an introvert.  Friday nights were known as Pizza night at the Bronold’s house.

Dan, in some ways, is no different than so many other young men’s stories of today. Constant pressure to fit in, doubts about being loved based on knowing a mother gave him up as a baby and then being belittled for other attributes others saw as short comings. 

Within his family, he was given love, support and direction. What he chose was to listen to the doubts he had and the wrong crowd labeling him with negative connotations verses how his family was trying to bring him up. He became misguided as he was pulled towards the wrong crowd encouraging him as they were more accepting of him and he was sensitive to wanting acceptance.  Thus began a spiral of ups with more downs.

Dan’s life of 33 years touched many.  At a Celebration of Life, in a room overflowing, people were there of all walks of life, all ages to celebrate the goodness of a man, his contribution, his hardships and his laughter. He had a father who spoke of all the memories of a child and a man that brought goodness in the world and not of a hateful person or one that was worthy of being outcast because people didn’t understand Dan’s differences.

The sadness in the large ballroom that day was over what was lost, all that Dan could have been.  There were memories everyone there could have shared and were never going to experience. Expressed by some in small circles were the persecution he suffered for far too many years. There was also disappointment felt that day that he had given up on himself, feeling his value was so low that he made the decision to make poor choices when his value was so high. Everyone was committed to making his life continue to have far greater purpose and let Dan know putting others down will never win in the end.

Flawed human beings are all of us, they are you, me, they are the ones you will never meet. The lessons of Dan’s life is continuing to impact countless human beings, most of all those that knew him, loved him and spent time with him or heard his story. His memorial fund, The Dan Bronold Memorial Fund helps teens at risk every year change directions and families know acceptance matters. Everyone who hears his story recognizes bad choices can be corrected if caught early and if left alone, have dire consequences. Time putting others down is wrong on every level; it does not make the world a better place. It ruins lives and destroys futures. It is not something seen or heard or felt on the outside but deeps impacts the inside of an individual. It erodes emotionally a person’s self-worth.  It has a far reaching destruction; ugly words can be catastrophic yet are so callously thrown around these days in schools, work places and yes even by adults in social settings and neighborhoods. In the meantime, thousands of adults sit around blaming youth for hate and meanness in society.

Acceptance of the flaws of others is mandatory for a civilization to prosper well and have kindness and authenticity. Dan now knows his flaws were designed by God. Don't wait till it is too late to learn this lesson. When you find yourself the butt of gossip by others for being less than perfect, remember you are perfectly flawed and not hopeless. Know they are flawed also, simply unwilling to share it or admit it, just feel perhaps more arrogant to put down yours.  Know that there is an angel in heaven named Dan with a smirk on his face 😂.  Those of us that knew Dan  well remember it clearly; he is looking down on you that are slightly out of step with encouragement to move forward with your life with unbridled passion!

• If you would like to donate to the Dan Bronold Memorial Fund, please send to:

Midcourse Correction Camp

Attn: Dan Bronold Memorial Fund

833 E. Grand River Ave

Howell, MI  48843
 E. Grand River Ave. Howell, Michigan 43833 E. Grand River Ave. Howell, Michigan 48843

https://www.midcoursecorrection.org/

Memorial Service for Linda Shultz

We were greeted by a vase that simply held a few exquisite yellow roses. They were lying on a table as you entered the church, no fan fare, no collection of flower arrangements for everyone to stand around gazing at and critiquing. There was a cross about the size of an 8 x 10 picture frame, laying flat down on the table. Someone had made it from hand, with tons of colorful earrings, each one having different colored rocks and they were somehow strung together with a beautiful silver filigree broach in the center - where Jesus would have laid. Thus began the memorial for Linda Shultz, a woman that died a few short days ago of cancer.


One by one, a diverse group of folks walked up to the mike to talk about a woman that had touched their lives. Each one's testimonial tribute was more beautifully worded and heartfelt than the last!Linda had breathed life into their souls in a way that made them know, from their very core, she was sent from God and was destined to teach us all what it means to live in the likeness of our Savior. She gave, she laughed, she cared and she prayed…oh, how she prayed. She put herself in the hands of doctors who knew not what they could do to keep her cancer growth at bay. Linda did it anyways to help others that might follow her footsteps, so that they might be able to live one day longer than she was able. That is what a true disciple of Christ does, gives to others with very little forethought to themselves.

The music began to play, at one point, and it was as if the angels in heaven were singing in chorus too. Out rang words of streets bathed in gold in heaven and feet barely touching the ground, dancing as they realized they were close to meeting the Almighty Father and having life everlasting. What a perfect song choice for a woman who loved dance, was full of motion and loved to smile. The song made the entire crowd smile with joy…..

As speaker after speaker got up this morning, in the front of a Baptist Chuch in Middle Tennessee, I tried hard to soak up all of the stories I was hearing. I listened and cried as I heard voices choking back sobs, saw tissues being passed down rows, total strangers embracing each other in mutual respect and love for this life. I watched in wonder, knowing full well that God was rejoicing everyone there really understood Linda’s wish, we knew Jesus was our savior and that He died for a reason. Where He went after he died on that cross was where our dear friend Linda was hanging out now. She had done all that was asked of her and more and there was not much more to say.

Close to the end of the memorial service a video screen came down. Music floated through the air as images of Linda flashed before our eyes. Black and white portraits of her as a child, her growing up, her doing somersaults, the blushing bride, the gushing mother holding her baby, and all the wonderful moments captured on film in her later days…..as the music lifted our souls the pictures captured hers.

Yes, it was a touching memorial, one that was filled with scripture, as Linda would have wished. Mrs. Shultz was a true testimony of what God meant when He called us to love one another. At this event, Linda indeed had the best seat in the house. While we walked out the doors of that church at noon, with the sun glaring in our eyes, it was as if God was rejoicing in His beloved daughter being brought home. We all knew, as we left, we would never forget this day, nor this life, Linda will stay alive in us all.