Two Questions

I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my son, Brent and his family from North Carolina, coming for a week long visit. For the first time in a long time, all my grandchildren will be here together and they plan to have a picture made of all of them. The best part of it all is they will be here to share my exciting day tomorrow. The day to "ring the bell", meaning radiation is done. I can't wait!! God is Good all the Time!!

A friend sent me this e-mail and I liked it so much that I wanted to share it on the blog. I hope it brings a smile to your face.

Life Really Boils Down To 2 Questions.....

1. Should I get a dog......?

OR....

2. Should I have children.....?

Now that I made you smile, pass it on to someone else who needs a laugh today!

No matter what situation life throws at you...
No matter how long and treacherous your journey may seem...
Remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Have a great day and remember to give thanks!

Cats are so dramatic!!!

Achieving The Outcome

"Are you a person who is more concerned with outcome than how you achieve the outcome?"

Those were the first words I read from my morning devotional. And boy did they hit me between the eyes! Have you ever had someone ask you a question and you felt like they could see right through you when you answered? Or listened to a sermon and was sure you heard the pastor say your name aloud as he preached? Well, that's how this morning's question made me feel. Like God was speaking them directly to me.

I knew that I had to see my oncologist today. Aside from what he would say about going back to work now, I always wonder if he is going to tell me something I don't want to hear. I shared on yesterday's blog, my struggle with worry over this appointment and how I finally gave up and gave it all to the Lord.

You see, I was only looking at how I would have the energy and strength to go back to work. The outcome.

But, what God was looking at, was how I achieved that outcome. And this morning, I went in, trusting that God would handle it all, because I had given it to Him. That's how I achieved the outcome. By giving all my worries and cares to Him and letting Him take care of them.

As Carl and I waited in the waiting room, I felt a sense of peace that everything would work out okay. I experienced His peace again when Dr. B's nurse, Ellen, came in. She is one of the most calming, gentle people I have ever met. She gave me a hug and we talked for a bit and she said, "Remember, we nurses are the worst. Be kind to yourself." As she left, I again sensed God's peace, shown in my ever quiet, ever strong husband sitting in the chair next to me.

And even as Dr. B talked with us, God's peace could be felt through his care and concern as he patiently listened and answered every question. Never rushing. Always acting as if we were his only patients for the day.

What was the outcome, you might ask? He wants me to stay off of work and rest. Regain my strength, and try to get the swelling down in the arm by resting it. A follow-up doppler study ordered to see what is happening with the clot. He wants to wait a month before running any follow-up scans to try and provide some rest time in between.

Although I am very relieved and thankful for the outcome today, I am more thankful for how the outcome was achieved. For the lesson He taught me in the process. How to take the "easy way out." by giving it all to Him. And for the lessons He continues to teach me along this journey.

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what happens to you." (1Peter 5:7)

Taking The Easy Way Out

Sometimes I wonder why I choose to take the "hard way out" instead of the "easy way out". Last night before I finally fell asleep, I had myself so worried that I hardly slept at all. I had started worrying about going back to work when I finish radiation this week.

As I look back on the last 10 months, the effect of the treatments on my body were almost like fresh fallen snow on the top of a mountain. They started out as a little handful of soft snow. And with each treatment, the little handful turned into a snowball. The more treatments that went by the bigger the snowball got. Then came radiation, and the snowball seemed to get bigger and bigger. Now it seems like an avalanche out of control. I started out, before treatment, with a pretty good supply of energy, even though I was anemic. But as the days turned to weeks and the weeks to months, that energy seems a distant memory left at the top of the snow covered mountain. It is a chore to get through the day without several naps. Where as before, I could "push through" and "muster up" enough energy to accomplish what needed to be done, I find I have no more "push" or "muster".

Yesterday, as I thought about returning to work and the amount of energy it takes to do my job, I started worrying. I thought about getting up at 5am and making it through the day without a nap. When now I am taking 2 naps a day. And I continued to worry. I told Carl, I didn't think I could do it, and I continued to worry. By evening time, I had wasted the better part of my Sunday worrying. Instead of taking the "easy way out", and giving it all to God, I kept it and had a fitful night of sleep.

But God's faithfulness is great and He grants me new mercies every morning. (Lament. 3:23-24) Where would I be without Your mercy, Oh Lord?

As I began my devotion time, this morning, I couldn't find the words to pray. The combination of worry and lack of sleep last night left my mind blank. So I just sat, knowing God was there. Soon, I felt the gentle touch of the Holy Spirit as He whispered, "Be still and know that I am God."

I spotted a baby bird chirping on the fence. "Did he spend his night worrying?" I thought.
And I asked myself, "Why do you insist on taking the "hard way" first? How much of yesterday did you waste on worry? What did you change by all the worrying that you did? Could I have better spent that time telling Carl how much he means to me, whispering a prayer for someone in need, calling a friend I haven't talked to in awhile, or noticing the fresh new roses on the bush outside?

And there in the quietness of the new morning, in His holy presence, I took the "easy way" out. I laid all of my worries and cares at His feet. I just gave them all to Him. My job, my fatigue, my worries. All of it.

I don't know how He will take care of those worries, I only know He will. And today, instead of wasting precious time worrying, I'll take the "easy way out" and use my time in a way that will be pleasing to Him.