I was beginning to reflect on this last year. The joys, the hurts, the new things, the old, the losses, and the gifts.
When I think about the difficult times in my life, I sometimes have to wonder how some of us make it to 80 years old before we find the grave. Who hasn’t said, “I can’t take this anymore” or “I can’t deal with any more stress?” We have all had points in our life where it looked so dark that it appeared there was no way out. Yet with our God given endurance and ability to evolve with the times, we as human beings have been able to overcome a multitude of trials and tribulations.
We can either be singing “Simple Plan” emo songs.....or dancing around like Richard Simmons.
It was almost one year ago (January 10th 2010) that our dear friend Carol drove herself to the E.R. because of severe abdominal pains. Within a week, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer – maybe weeks to months left to live. I remember looking at her face, and it was not the Carol I knew. Her skin was grey, she had no energy and her hope was gone. And then one miraculous day, a doctor said, wait, you need to fight this. There is hope that we can overcome this cancer by treating it aggressively. That word of hope changed her. She was literally a different person. Life was breathed into her.
Almost a year later, she is cancer free. She is up in Alberta looking to serve the homeless in anyway that she can, to join a local worship team and to work on a book about all her trials in her life. If there is one person who knows pain, it’s Carol. From a young age until now she has endured many health issues, more than you can imagine. And yet from her lips, she praises God for His kindness and faithfulness. It’s beautiful.
One “life coach” said, “live life with an attitude of gratitude”. I generally have a sceptical attitude about self help people, but that is a quote that is right on the mark. You see the more that you’re thankful for what you have in your life and the more you praise God, the more joy you will feel in your life. Genuine gratitude is something that needs to be worked on. Initially it may hurt.
For example. Thank you God for the warm house you have provided Brandon and I with – even if it includes a mouse that seems to be living in a wall in our kitchen.......that we can’t seem to catch. EVEN THEN, thank You God for shelter.
So thus I come to reflection upon the good things in my life. For example, going to Tulalip Resort in Seattle. We were absolutely spoiled. It was a beautiful relaxing time for us.
Celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary and our 10th year of being in love!
Turning 25....a whole quarter century!
For being taken care of, never being in need!
Life is good - God has really blessed us!
There are 10 days until Christmas. It’s the silliest thing. My house is completely decorated and yet I don’t feel the excitement for it that I used to have. Maybe too much build up? Maybe we need to have kids to feel that excitement again, I don’t know! Anyways, I do have most of my Christmas shopping done. That’s good news! I do need to make a midnight trip to Wal-Mart and Superstore tho! It’s a lot of fun to do the things you normally can’t do.
I am really excited for Boxing Day. This has been a tradition Bran and I have created about 5 years go. We get up really early – around 4:30 – and then go to Future Shop, Wal-Mart and Winners/Home Sense. It’s not really about the deals or the consumerism – although we do find some smoking deals! It’s more being lost in this crowd of people who are also willing to get out of bed early and wait in the cold. It’s a rush. There is this huge buzz of energy and it’s so fun to be apart of it.
I had a really awesome dream 2 nights ago.....
I dreamed that it was winter and so there was snow everywhere. I could see myself......I was wearing a sundress outside and gardening. I was digging away at the land, and planting flowers and fruit, and vegetables. I was so warm. Not from doing the work, but there was this warm breeze blowing on me and at one point I got up and just stood enjoying the breeze. And yet this was such a contradiction because there was a few feet of snow all around and people were bundled up head to toe as they walked by. I told Brandon about it because I felt there was significance to it. Some dreams you just kind of shake of and you say that was “funny” but this one kept circulating in my brain. Brandon felt that it meant that even tho things may seem cold and desolate, that I am still “sowing” into the ground and that the warmth is like the Holy Spirit. I felt like it’s a message from God saying don’t give up.....even though it looks like nothing good can grow from this environment, He can make all things come together.
Well Im going to sign off now - time to go lead worship at prayer night! Wooohooo- fav night of the week!!
xxoo
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