It seems like this journey is coming to a close! I'm stronger every day, my hair is growing, I'm going back to work this week, and I have what will hopefully be final visits with my eye surgeon and plastic surgeon. All good!
I have been trying to focus in on the "takeaways" from this journey and what God has taught me.
There has definitely been a physical cost - a double mastectomy, losing your hair and dealing with the side effects of chemo will challenge anyone's self esteem and self-image. This journey has stripped away any issues I may have had with pride. It's not easy to go out in public with the same hairstyle as your husband. The choices are to hide at home, to cry about how unfair it all is, or to choose joy and take on the day. Some days have been easier than others, but joy has been the clear winner.
If you told me a year ago what the next few months held... Well, it's just good that we can't see the future! The last seven months have been much different than I anticipated. I was looking forward to the opening of Life Fellowship's third campus, Kelli and John coming home from the Philippines, the birth of our new grandbaby, and so many other exciting things. Cancer was NOT part of my plans. So what do we do when plans change? We can shake our fist at God in frustration, we can cry in anger and sadness, or we can choose to face the change of plans with joy.
If you asked me at the beginning of this journey what the biggest takeaway would be, I probably would have said something about staying strong through difficulty, or keeping your eyes on God and not becoming distracted from what He's doing in your life. Those are things that I have learned - but I would never have predicted that JOY would be the theme of this season.
Who would think that God could use cancer to teach me so much about joy??
I read this the other day and it is so true - "I may not have the power to change my season, but I can always choose my response." And choosing to respond with joy as opposed to worry, frustration or efforts to control the situation - it is life changing.
I will have many more good memories than bad of this time. Not that every day has been fun or easy - but in hindsight, the lessons learned have been well worth the struggles.
Thank you to our friends and family for every encouraging prayer, message, post, text, email, phone call, hug, gift or meal. You have blessed us and made this road so much easier. smile emoticon
“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7–8 NLT).
“For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything” (James 1:3–4, NLT).
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