Today is the fourth anniversary of my being diagnosed with breast cancer - Oct. 18, 2006. It was a Wednesday...a Wednesday that changed my life. So much has happened in the past four years. Looking back I can see now that God redeemed the sickness, but the year that it happened I could not have said that. Now I can see so many things that I learned and ways I've changed since going through cancer. God is a Redeemer...bringing beauty from ashes.
There are four things I want to do on this day. One, I want to praise Him and thank Him for His mercy and love. I don't want to live without Him, not even for one day. I am grateful for this day, one more day that I have been given to use for His glory. Thank You, God, for this day.
Second, I want to say THANK YOU to all the precious family and friends who went along beside me and encouraged and prayed for me during that time of my life. All of you were God's messengers of love and encouragement. I was so blessed. I am still blessed. There are many who still encourage and pray for me even now. Thank you dear family and friends!
Third, I am mindful of a huge group of people who are still fighting this fight. They are truly brave and mighty warriors! Some people may not like my military terms...war, fighting, battles, etc. but it is a great metaphor. It IS a war that we fight against this disease. I want to be an encourager and a prayer warrior for those still going through this valley. I continue to pray for them and love them deeply.
And fourth, today I will remember by name those who have lost the battle but won the war. They are not fighting anymore. They are home. Home with God and resting sweetly. Thank you, O God, for their lives and for the way they bravely went through this valley of the shadow of death, trusting in You the whole way, even to death. They are missed by us all.
Okay...that's it for my pink anniversary.
Thank You, God, for these four years. I truly do not know what the future holds...none of us do. I just say thank You for all my yesterdays and thank You for today. I consider each new day a gift from You...one gift at a time. To You be all glory and praise! In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tribute to my Friend
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13,14,18
Well...another dear friend and sister in the Lord died yesterday. She was 80 years old and was diagnosed with breast cancer about 18 years ago. The cancer came back about one year ago, first in her lung, then other various places in her body. She was such a strong warrior...living life to the fullest until she had to slow down physically. The last couple of months were difficult, but she was amazing and brave. What an incredible woman of God. She's home...with Him.
I loved her. (You know, I just realized that after someone dies it is very hard to change your words to the past tense. We want to keep speaking in present tense, but they are not here anymore. One of the adjustments to losing our loved ones.) She was so full of energy and enthusiasm for the Lord. She worked at various ministries around town and was a loving wife and helper to her husband in his ministry. She found joy in serving the Lord will all her heart. I will miss her so much. I really don't like saying goodbye this way.
Some of you may be thinking..."she was 80 years old, she's had a good, full life". True. Eighty is certainly a great number to reach. BUT...my heart is sad that she had to leave in such a difficult way. This is something that I wrestle with theologically...you know, the "Why?" question. Why, Lord? Why this loved one or that friend? Why the suffering? Why tragic deaths and sickness?
These are very old questions. And there are many, many answers. Lots of people have written books with their conclusions and their answers. I, too, have an answer that I hang on to when the questions start to pile up.
Here it is... I don't know. I don't know why. I really don't know all the answers to this sickness and suffering question. There are so many things I don't understand and yet... I have come to the conclusion that I do not have to have all the answers. I just don't. I can look to God and say "I don't get it, but I trust You and I love You. I give these unanswered questions to You, Lord. I will love You, even when I don't understand. I choose You."
"Where,O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?...But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 15:55,57
1 Thessalonians 4:13,14,18
Well...another dear friend and sister in the Lord died yesterday. She was 80 years old and was diagnosed with breast cancer about 18 years ago. The cancer came back about one year ago, first in her lung, then other various places in her body. She was such a strong warrior...living life to the fullest until she had to slow down physically. The last couple of months were difficult, but she was amazing and brave. What an incredible woman of God. She's home...with Him.
I loved her. (You know, I just realized that after someone dies it is very hard to change your words to the past tense. We want to keep speaking in present tense, but they are not here anymore. One of the adjustments to losing our loved ones.) She was so full of energy and enthusiasm for the Lord. She worked at various ministries around town and was a loving wife and helper to her husband in his ministry. She found joy in serving the Lord will all her heart. I will miss her so much. I really don't like saying goodbye this way.
Some of you may be thinking..."she was 80 years old, she's had a good, full life". True. Eighty is certainly a great number to reach. BUT...my heart is sad that she had to leave in such a difficult way. This is something that I wrestle with theologically...you know, the "Why?" question. Why, Lord? Why this loved one or that friend? Why the suffering? Why tragic deaths and sickness?
These are very old questions. And there are many, many answers. Lots of people have written books with their conclusions and their answers. I, too, have an answer that I hang on to when the questions start to pile up.
Here it is... I don't know. I don't know why. I really don't know all the answers to this sickness and suffering question. There are so many things I don't understand and yet... I have come to the conclusion that I do not have to have all the answers. I just don't. I can look to God and say "I don't get it, but I trust You and I love You. I give these unanswered questions to You, Lord. I will love You, even when I don't understand. I choose You."
"Where,O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?...But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 15:55,57
Friday, October 1, 2010
The Month of Pink
It's been awhile since I've written anything on here...but as a way of giving some honor to the month of October, which is breast cancer awareness month, I decided to step back into sharing my heart on this blog all through the month. So...here I go.
October is the month when everywhere we turn we see pink ribbons. They are really, really everywhere. I recently saw a pink ribbon on large bags of horse feed at a farm supply store. :-) Yes...they are everywhere. Breast cancer is the disease that seems to get the most attention and public support. Why is that? Quite honestly, I'm not really sure.
As a breast cancer survivor myself, I have mixed feelings about The Month of Pink. I am grateful for all the support and fund raising that goes on for the cause of stopping breast cancer. But...I have to say, I wonder about my fellow survivors who have fought leukemia, lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, bone cancer, brain cancer, uterine and on and on and on. SO many other cancers are out there that don't get a special month where the world stops and encourages them.
Yes...I sound a little grumbly. Sorry.
I am in a club. We call it "the club no one ever wanted to join". We are Cancer Survivors. I felt like I needed to say something about remembering all the other non-pink survivors and their battle. They don't get the attention, but their fight is just as hard and just as real.
So...during this Month of Pink...I thank you deeply for your support to fight breast cancer, but I ask you to be mindful of so many others that are fighting or have fought this battle. Please, remember ALL of them in your hearts and in your prayers.
Thanks.
October is the month when everywhere we turn we see pink ribbons. They are really, really everywhere. I recently saw a pink ribbon on large bags of horse feed at a farm supply store. :-) Yes...they are everywhere. Breast cancer is the disease that seems to get the most attention and public support. Why is that? Quite honestly, I'm not really sure.
As a breast cancer survivor myself, I have mixed feelings about The Month of Pink. I am grateful for all the support and fund raising that goes on for the cause of stopping breast cancer. But...I have to say, I wonder about my fellow survivors who have fought leukemia, lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, bone cancer, brain cancer, uterine and on and on and on. SO many other cancers are out there that don't get a special month where the world stops and encourages them.
Yes...I sound a little grumbly. Sorry.
I am in a club. We call it "the club no one ever wanted to join". We are Cancer Survivors. I felt like I needed to say something about remembering all the other non-pink survivors and their battle. They don't get the attention, but their fight is just as hard and just as real.
So...during this Month of Pink...I thank you deeply for your support to fight breast cancer, but I ask you to be mindful of so many others that are fighting or have fought this battle. Please, remember ALL of them in your hearts and in your prayers.
Thanks.
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