Three Years, with Gratitude and Love

Today is the 3-year anniversary of my surgery.
My most recent tests (November CT scan, etc.) did not show any recurrance.
I am feeling good.
I am glad to be here.

My hair has grown back.
(I am liking to keep it short right now though.)

Reflecting...
I am reminded that I am not defined by one experience in life.
But also, I am not invulnerable.
Both.
This is a reminder for me, and a life-lesson for my children.

Whatever difficulty may be in your life right now,
does not define your whole life.
There may be an area to get past.
It may be temporary.
Do what you need to do to get through it...
to move along on your journey...
with many other gifts and experiences and dimensions.

But you also know that you are a vulnerable human being.
We never know, nor get to choose, some things that come our way.

I slightly smile to myself at a small voice in me that says (knowing better really),
"If I just did not have this cancer shadow,
I would be normal like everyone else, and live forever."

We are all vulnerable.
We are all complex.

We have an amazing God,
who loved us so much,
He gave everything for us.
He made us in his own image, so he knows exactly how complex we are,
and what gifts we have to develop and to share.

He also understands our needs.
He is strong and dependable.
Whether life's difficulties are from our choices or things that just appear,
He does not say (as earthly parents might),
"You should have thought of this earlier,"
or "Why didn't you (fill-in-the-blank)?"

He holds you close, then takes your hand to walk
together.
You may not see where the next step may be.
He will guide you....
physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

His love is bigger than cancer,
bigger than jobs,
or having no job,
bigger than changes,
bigger than discouragement and disappointment,
bigger than tiredness,
bigger than loneliness,
bigger than stress and pressure,
bigger than anger or fear,
bigger than this life.
His love is eternal.

My dear children,
God's love is the one thing you can depend on.
And because of that love, we can love and be loved by others.

Today, I am so thankful for you.
You bless my life!
- Your mom, who loves you so much.


Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD.
Psalm 150:6 NIV

Every day with Jesus

A quotation from a calendar on my kitchen windowsill:

"This uneasiness about the future is unwholesome for you.
We must leave to God all that depends on Him,
and think only of being faithful in all that depends upon ourselves."
Francois Fenelon

This quotation speaks to me about perspective.
(Interesting wording: "This uneasiness" is actually "unwholesome".)
I am very aware that the days of earthly life are limited.

And yet (note to self), why dwell on the worry and let that get in the way of living?
Instead, focus on the moments of life, the joy of life, the depth of life!
Be thankful for God, the mighty God beyond-time-and-space, who walks through life with me,
like friends walking home from school, baring souls.
And be thankful for family and friends, who care even when I am not looking.

Jesus, I pray to be more intentional about your presence in my life.


Matthew 6:25-26,33
"‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear.
Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them....
But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."