When Life Really Is Trying to Get You Down

There is so much to write about, but time and sleep deprivation limit me this night.

My dear friend hosted a beautiful party last night as a time for she and some close friends to come together before her major surgery that is quickly drawing nigh. What an eye opening experience of something I would not have thought to do if I were in her shoes, but wow, so needed and helpful. It gave us all a chance to meet (her support team), have some laughs, pray over her together, get boosted up in this fight we're starting together, eat, cry and let go...because cancer and health problems require all those things.

When I was younger, major health struggles were within my family. We pulled together to care for our dying mother. The couple of months we had together in that difficult time of little hope for a sustained life stretched each of us. My fledgling Christianity was put to a mighty test, but God did what He does and saw me through. My mother died, but God remained on the throne and still offered the hope and peace that only He can give. 

Fast forward 19 years and I've had an acquaintance pass from cancer, but never a bosom friend, not only to me, but a mother that has greatly influenced my oldest daughter. Her best friend is walking the path of a teenager whose mom has cancer, and my girl is walking the path of support giver to someone she loves. We are growing and being stretched, my girl and I. I think my longing to just take the pain and difficulty have been passed to the next generation. I'm grateful for a friend who reminds me that this isn't anyone else's path to trod. We have our marching orders, she has hers. That is tough for me. I hate seeing those I love suffer, but I believe that we are to be made like Christ, and this friend of mine has had opportunities rare to most to be like Him in suffering. From fertility struggles that amounted to numerous losses, a hemorrhaging that took her only child's twin and resulted in an emergency c-section, a baby born with an apgar of 0, depression struggles, double mastectomy surgery scheduled with a total hysterectomy and finding out about a heart problem just prior...so much hanging over her, yet her positive attitude of trust in her Savior are steadfast. And I don't think it is that she will definitely be OK in the earthly sense, I think it is the bigger picture, that she knows where she is ultimately going and has a promise from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords that she is HIS, and He WILL see her through this.

I need that promise. I need to know that my God sees what we're all struggling with right now. In this last year I've had some significant heart ache. Not everyone lets us love them. Not everyone has time for us or can be trusted with our true self. In my distress, God opened a door for a deeper friendship with this pal of mine who has cancer. She listened and understood my distress, and she let me in.

Friends are who often walk our hardest paths when we are older. We've moved away from family. We've found 'family' in our community, our church, through friendships. It is so different than what it was when my mom was sick, and yet, those memories and feelings have flooded my mind and heart today.

I don't want to say goodbye and I'm believing that we're not going to be saying anything of the sort any time soon.


3D mammograms--they are worth the extra money you have to pay.

Eph 3:14-21

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^[a]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the ^[b]saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, ²¹ to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations ^[c]forever and ever. Amen.

Brian Regan

If you need a laugh, look up Brian Regan. He has to be one of the best, if not the best, stand up comedians of our day. The jokes are quite clean, with only the occasional mild swear word incorporated.

We speak English. We delivery. :)