Making the Most of Now...

Just before Thanksgiving, I completed the latest rounds of ongoing cancer treatments.There were some rough days, but soon afterwards, things got better again. 

The best way to describe my health is to say it feels like an unpredictable wild animal lives inside me. On the worst of days, it's attacking; debilitating. On better days, it's simply crouched nearby, growling. At best...it's lying in the corner....quietly making its presence known...it's there...it's always there...ready to pounce...

I've learned to listen to its cues. I've learned to modify my life. I've learned what's important and what's not.

And I've got a dream. As crazy as it sounds, my book, My Emmaus Walk; True Stories of Faith, Hope and Inspiration, is calling me back into life. 

Recently, (with exceptions) I've been able to make a simple plan and that simple plan has been to speak to groups about the book's message...the glorious reality of the presence and the love of God in our everyday lives...because He's here, you know. .the good Lord is with us...here and now. ..always and everywhere...

Isn't that something worth shouting about? 

It's my passion. It's my life. It's my reason for being.

So, dear Larann Wilson, Steward for Children and Family Ministries at St. Mary Magdalen parish - a heartfelt "thank you" for the opportunity to speak to parents of the religious education classes earlier this month! What amazing work you're doing! What an engaging group they are! What a joy it was!

And to Oakmonte Village Assisted Living Facility in Lake Mary, for allowing me the privilege of reading excerpts from my book to a group of residents who gathered for the stories...thank you! thank you! How wonderful was that?!

And to the woman who bought a book for her daughter who was having a 'hard time' and she thought the book would encourage her. Aren't you thoughtful? 

And to the nurses in the infusion lab at the Cancer Institute who wanted copies of my book...what a blessing! Thank you! You are instruments in the hands of God in more ways than one. I pray the words in those pages bless all who read it.

I'm thankful for so much...for this stage of life, and for all it took to get me here. I'm thankful for my dear husband, Joe, and his unshakable support. I'm thankful for my daughters and my sons-in-law. I'm thankful for my grandchildren. I'm thankful for the blessing of my extended family. I'm thankful for my faith. I'm thankful for my friends. I'm thankful for my coworkers (yes, I still consider you that!) I'm thankful for the good times and even the struggles. 

And today, as I inch forward, I'm thankful for the dreams planted deep within. So, Josie, I look forward to speaking to your group next week. 

May God bless us all, as we fix our gaze on him.


And the God of all grace...after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.   1 Peter 5:10

More cancer treatments and an unexpected remedy (not the crackers)

Sandra, my cleaning lady, is richer than me. 

And I don't mean monetarily.

As these latest rounds of cancer treatments take their toll, I am debilitated once again. Except this time, I'm frustrated. I expected to be feeling better than this.

Sandra could see it in my countenance. Her advice? 

"Read your bible," Sandra said. She leaned on her mop.

"Your spirit will lead the body...

Body, mind, spirit...Live in the spirit."

So, frustrated with my aching body, I took her advice. Lying on the sofa, I randomly flipped open my Bible...My gaze fell onto a page, and I began reading:

• For we know that when this tent we live in now is taken down, when we die and leave these bodies,  we will have wonderful new bodies in heaven, homes that will be ours forevermore..(In my suffering, this was actually a freeing thought!)

• How weary we grow of our present bodies. (Yep, I felt weary!) That is why we look eagerly to the day when we shall have heavenly bodies which we shall put on like new clothes. ..(Please, can I do that now?)

• These earthly bodies make us groan and sigh (no kidding - was the Gospel writer living in my home? Could he hear?) but we wouldn't want to think of dying and having no bodies at all.  

• We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will, as it were, be swallowed up by everlasting life. (In my agony, this actually was a hopeful thought!) 

• This is what God has prepared for us, and, as a guarantee, he has given us his Holy Spirit.  (Is that what made me open my bible to this particular passage?)  (Cor 5:1-5)

Sandra was right. Reading my bible sent my spirit soaring above my aching body. 

Frustration departs. Hope prevails.

The picture above is my view in the infusion lab. Cheez Its are my favorite snack to ward off nausea. And there's always a little light reading.

This song is my gift to you today.  Click here for I Will Follow by Chris Tomlin. It says it all.