Month: February 2024

Two days down, two days to go. That’s what I use to think on a Wednesday morning as I headed into the public school system building. How many of you can relate? My former life as a public school teacher seems like a lifetime ago. So much has changed since I retired in 2015 due to a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Like many people, I did not realize how much I would miss “normal” until “normal” was no longer my life.

For each stage that we walk through, God has a plan. It may not feel like it at the time. Our lives can change in a heartbeat as many of you know. Suddenly the mundane that we experienced before we wish we had back. However do not fear. In all things you walk through and each experience God has a plan. He can use you regardless of your circumstances. Embrace those changes whether it is aging related and you cannot do what you use to do or health issues or changes in your personal life due to divorce. God can use your circumstances and you are the same valuable person who has much to offer.

Be encouraged this day. Whatever you are experiencing you are not alone. His rod and His staff they comfort you. Your life has a purpose. You have meaning. You are valuable to the kingdom of God. Choose to love Him and serve Him. It is the most important decision you will ever make.

Yesterday was very busy for me. I was out doing yard work which involved mowing and weed eating. After the storm from this past Saturday, there were tree limbs of various sizes on the ground. I had to dispose of those as well. Once I was in the house for the later afternoon, I decided to clean carpets in two bedrooms. I did have several grandchildren this past weekend:)

The above may seem like menial tasks but let me tell you this. There was a time when I could not do these things. After my cancer diagnosis, I was placed on two very hard chemo drugs. One was called doxirubicin which is nicknamed the red devil. I had to have a heart protection drug before I received it through IV. The other chemo drug required a brain protection medication before I received it. My hemoglobin dropped, my platelets dropped and my white cell count is still to this day not in the normal range. To be abnormal is my new normal. When ones hemoglobin drops, dizziness and tiredness becomes reality. This made it challenging to do normal routines. And yet here I am today able to do all of these things. I am still alive despite what statistics showed for this disease and I am able to do all the physical things I did prior to my treatment.

As you can imagine I am grateful for the menial tasks because of the experience of not being able to do them for a season. God is merciful and kind and He has restored me. I am grateful for that. If you are facing cancer treatments and have similar symptoms to what I experienced, hang on. Face them with courage. Know that it is for a season and restoration may be on the horizon. Trust in God in His timing and give Him the glory for each moment and each day. Remember that in this life we are called to trust God and be courageous!

Such a beautiful classic hymn. How many of you know the story behind that hymn? The author wrote the words while traveling on a ship from the US to Europe to join his wife. She had traveled previously with their four daughters. There was a tragic shipwreck and all four of their daughters perished with one being dragged from her mother’s hands as they went into the sea. In all of my pain and grief over letting go of Zach, I could not imagine what these two parents experienced with one horrific event. Later they would go on to have three more children, one son and two daughters. Their son would die as a toddler and the two remaining daughters would live to adulthood.

Many of us would question where was God during all that happened in their lives. I would argue He was right there. From that tragedy came this beautiful hymn that was written on the deck of a ship at the approximate place where the previous event took place. If you are not familiar with this hymn, look it up on YouTube and listen to it or google the words and think of the history behind those words. What a beautiful testimony of what our lives should be. We are to be reminded always of the life that is still to come where there is no death or sorrow. Every tear will be wiped away. Remember those are God’s promises not man and remember that unlike all of us, God is not capable of lying.

This real life experience is also an example of how we are to be courageous. Nothing is guaranteed except that our Lord is with us to strengthen us and restore our joy. Be courageous today.

If you have battled cancer or know someone who has, you are familiar with the desire for a good report. To me, battling cancer is like being on a rollercoaster. You have many ups and downs. If you have received a bad report, hold on. A good report is right around the corner.

A former student of mine has been battling advanced cancer for several years now. She has been told that her cancer is not curable. She will continue to battle it with different medications to control it. A month or so ago she had received a bad report that the cancer was no longer responding to the chemo treatment. MDA placed her on radiation treatment and tested her again. I am beyond thrilled to report the primary tumor has shrunk and doctors fully expect it to continue to shrink. That is a great report!!

Life is uncertain. In a lot of ways life is like a battle with cancer. It is a rollercoaster. There are many ups and downs, highs and lows. If you are currently in the valley in some aspect of your life, you can be sure that the mountain top is not that far away. This life was not meant for those with a weak stomach. We have been blessed with much and we also have to live with life in a sin filled world and the fallout from that. The one true source of strength is God. This I know to be true. This young woman that I wrote on in the beginning of this blog knows this to be true as well. God has sustained her and carried her. She would very much witness this to you if you ever have the pleasure of meeting her. Go out and be courageous today. Trust in God. Allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen you and give you courage. You are an overcomer.