I really need prayers right now. My grandfather (whom I am very close to) passed away yesterday, my brother was sent rejection letters from both West Point and Annapolis (his dream schools) and he isn't receiving scholarships despite having a 4.0 GPA and finishing 3rd in his class! and being a thousand times smarter than I am. (He knows math and science and has a math class consisting of he and two Asian exchange students) and I am struggling with faith and doubt. I also have finals coming up and I will be missing classes for the funeral.

Thank you for everything and anything, it might be a blessing, an exaggeration, or royally pathetic on my part, but you guys are like a second group of friends for me.

God Bless.

(04-18-2015 10:58 AM)HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine Wrote:  I really need prayers right now. My grandfather (whom I am very close to) passed away yesterday, my brother was sent rejection letters from both West Point and Annapolis (his dream schools) and he isn't receiving scholarships despite having a 4.0 GPA and finishing 3rd in his class! and being a thousand times smarter than I am. (He knows math and science and has a math class consisting of he and two Asian exchange students) and I am struggling with faith and doubt. I also have finals coming up and I will be missing classes for the funeral.

Thank you for everything and anything, it might be a blessing, an exaggeration, or royally pathetic on my part, but you guys are like a second group of friends for me.

God Bless.

Tell your brother to sanitize, then delete/close all of his social media entities. Then reapply.

As for you, relax and focus on the memories. There will be good and bad ones for a while but, slowly you'll only recall the good ones. By starting now, you'll be able to recall more of them in the future.

As for faith, I'm the wrong person to ask. I'll not divulge my personal issues/demons on any social media platform. That's simply send up red flags and a bulls-eye on yourself. Don't look for a meaning while you're hurting. Focus on your school and when that's done, then you can reflect and look for some meaning. Whether it's good or bad, it will come into greater clarity with time.

You hang in there. Life is a lot of times, about loss and how we deal with. Keep your faith always try to see the good in all things as difficult as it maybe to do so sometimes, that's the conscience decision I've made on how to conduct and persevere in my life. Keep your head up and look to the Most High for your strength and wisdom.

Hang in there... Don't give up... All eventually will work itself out, bud.

Keep the faith.

hang in there
prayers sent

You certainly will be in my prayers, my good friend.

Just don't give up, you and your brother.

I feel for your loss. It seems to hurt a lot more on we, young ones. I lost my grandfather 2 years ago but I wasn't close to him...

(04-18-2015 10:58 AM)HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine Wrote:  I really need prayers right now. My grandfather (whom I am very close to) passed away yesterday, my brother was sent rejection letters from both West Point and Annapolis (his dream schools) and he isn't receiving scholarships despite having a 4.0 GPA and finishing 3rd in his class! and being a thousand times smarter than I am. (He knows math and science and has a math class consisting of he and two Asian exchange students) and I am struggling with faith and doubt. I also have finals coming up and I will be missing classes for the funeral.

Thank you for everything and anything, it might be a blessing, an exaggeration, or royally pathetic on my part, but you guys are like a second group of friends for me.

God Bless.

HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine, I just saw this now.

please check you PMs my brother.

(04-18-2015 10:58 AM)HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine Wrote:  I really need prayers right now. My grandfather (whom I am very close to) passed away yesterday, my brother was sent rejection letters from both West Point and Annapolis (his dream schools) and he isn't receiving scholarships despite having a 4.0 GPA and finishing 3rd in his class! and being a thousand times smarter than I am. (He knows math and science and has a math class consisting of he and two Asian exchange students) and I am struggling with faith and doubt. I also have finals coming up and I will be missing classes for the funeral.

Thank you for everything and anything, it might be a blessing, an exaggeration, or royally pathetic on my part, but you guys are like a second group of friends for me.

God Bless.

May God bless you and yours abundantly, I'm just coming off a via de cristo weekend, I'm dripping in the Holy Spirit as I come down from the mountaintop.

My prayers go out to you and your family. God is with you always.

4.0 and 3rd in his class should allow him to received a scholarship for a whole raft of quality institutions. He'll be fine. If he REALLY wants to be an officer he should just get a degree elsewhere and go do an OCS program.

My apologizes for the late update.

I vastly appreciate all the prayers and wishes sent my way. Grief is a strange emotion, some days it is absent, other days it drives a train over my heart.

God Bless!

Life challenges are exactly what they are...........challenges. They are opportunities to reach out for help and not take it on all by yourself. You are doing that and you and your brother will persevere my friend.

You asked for prayers and mine is coming your way.

(04-18-2015 10:58 AM)HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine Wrote:  I really need prayers right now. My grandfather (whom I am very close to) passed away yesterday, my brother was sent rejection letters from both West Point and Annapolis (his dream schools) and he isn't receiving scholarships despite having a 4.0 GPA and finishing 3rd in his class! and being a thousand times smarter than I am. (He knows math and science and has a math class consisting of he and two Asian exchange students) and I am struggling with faith and doubt. I also have finals coming up and I will be missing classes for the funeral.

Thank you for everything and anything, it might be a blessing, an exaggeration, or royally pathetic on my part, but you guys are like a second group of friends for me.

God Bless.

I lost a wonderful grandfather many years ago. I would say that I had severe grief for about a year.

Looking back I can tell you one good thing about grief... it holds the person you lost close to you. When you grieve your thoughts are always about the person you lost...it is like they are there with you wherever you go.

Once the grief dissipates you will lose that close feeling, so don't wish it away too soon.

Just let yourself remember your grandpa, cry when you need to... don't hold back. Time will heal you. I will say a prayer for your grandpa, may he RIP.


My grandpa died of lung cancer. I sat by his deathbed and held his hand in the last hours of his life. If I think about it even to this day I can still feel his hand in mind.


This old indian poem was always a comfort to me.



A Pueblo Indian Prayer

Hold on to what is good,
even if it's a handful of earth.

Hold on to what you believe,
even if it's a tree that stands by itself.

Hold on to what you must do,
even if it's a long way from here.

Hold on to your life,
even if it's easier to let go.

Hold on to my hand,
even if I've gone away from you.

I'm late on this, but hang on man, I feel your pain but things WILL end up fine. If you have talent, drive, and class... and obviously your family does... there is no other possible outcome. Part of life is enduring the periodic upheavals.

(05-12-2015 08:26 AM)No Bull Wrote:  

(04-18-2015 10:58 AM)HarmonOliphantOberlanderDevine Wrote:  I really need prayers right now. My grandfather (whom I am very close to) passed away yesterday, my brother was sent rejection letters from both West Point and Annapolis (his dream schools) and he isn't receiving scholarships despite having a 4.0 GPA and finishing 3rd in his class! and being a thousand times smarter than I am. (He knows math and science and has a math class consisting of he and two Asian exchange students) and I am struggling with faith and doubt. I also have finals coming up and I will be missing classes for the funeral.

Thank you for everything and anything, it might be a blessing, an exaggeration, or royally pathetic on my part, but you guys are like a second group of friends for me.

God Bless.

I lost a wonderful grandfather many years ago. I would say that I had severe grief for about a year.

Looking back I can tell you one good thing about grief... it holds the person you lost close to you. When you grieve your thoughts are always about the person you lost...it is like they are there with you wherever you go.

Once the grief dissipates you will lose that close feeling, so don't wish it away too soon.

Just let yourself remember your grandpa, cry when you need to... don't hold back. Time will heal you. I will say a prayer for your grandpa, may he RIP.


My grandpa died of lung cancer. I sat by his deathbed and held his hand in the last hours of his life. If I think about it even to this day I can still feel his hand in mind.


This old indian poem was always a comfort to me.



A Pueblo Indian Prayer

Hold on to what is good,
even if it's a handful of earth.

Hold on to what you believe,
even if it's a tree that stands by itself.

Hold on to what you must do,
even if it's a long way from here.

Hold on to your life,
even if it's easier to let go.

Hold on to my hand,
even if I've gone away from you.

That's beautiful man, and I couldn't agree more. I recently lost my dad, who was also my best friend. I have countless mementos, photos, and videos, and I'm very determined to keep him around so my kids will know him. No need to let go too soon... nor is it necessary.

May you and your family find grace and comfort from God in your time of need.

You're in my prayers. Remember that it always gets better, these tests will build character.

Prayers with you and yours. Very sorry for your loss, but I am so happy that you and your grandfather did have a close relationship while he lived. That is beautiful and will never be taken away. It will provide you with good memories and a foundation for other relationships in your life.

As far as losing your faith - our faith does challenge us especially when life gets tough. We are afterall, sinners and imperfect.

But see these difficulties as the Lord giving you an opportunity to learn. HE is teaching you now. What does HE want you to learn? How will you incorporate HIS lessons into your life?

Its been my experience that you are being prepared by the LORD for a greater need. He wants to use you in some way. As hard as it may be to see it, the LORD is showing you love now. Don't reject that love. Embrace HIS love humbly and learn from HIM the lesson HE is teaching.

1 Chronicles 16:11 (HCSB)
Search for the LORD and for His strength; seek His face always.

1 Peter 5:6 (HCSB)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,

Matthew 21:18–22 (HCSB) - The Story of the Barren Fig Tree
Early in the morning, as He was returning to the city, He was hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He went up to it and found nothing on it except leaves. And He said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” At once the fig tree withered. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed and said, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” Jesus answered them, “I assure you: If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you tell this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ it will be done.  And if you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”



Love you my brother. You WILL get through this. HE loves you and is with you.