The birth of this blog is a result of suffering.
COVID struck in 2020. In May of that year, after a routine mammogram, I found out I had breast cancer.
One week I am enjoying my family and visiting Oregon’s beautiful wine country. The next week I am meeting with doctors.
The doctors informed me I had an aggressive form of cancer. They told me I needed to go through chemotherapy (to stop the cancer from spreading to my body) followed by a mastectomy.
Yes, it’s true. In the blink of an eye, everything can change.
Suffering is a part of being human. We can’t escape it.
Suffering allowed me to see the love, kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity of human beings.
Suffering caused me to draw closer to God. I had to rely on Him for peace, strength, patience, stillness, joy and hope. I had to trust He was in the details, in the healing.
God literally stripped me of my outer beauty, teaching me to appreciate my inner beauty. He helped me to embrace my quirks that make me unique. He guided me on how to extend grace not only to others but also to myself.
Through suffering, God taught me to see myself through His eyes: completely loved, uniquely created. It made me stronger, giving me the courage to step out in faith and create this blog.
Prayer
I am a big proponent in the power of prayer. David, in the book of Psalms, did not hold back on his heart’s concerns. He poured out his heart, always putting his hope in God.
Sometimes I like to pray from scripture. If you are suffering, may your heart be energized and your soul filled as you pray these words.
I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God (Psalm 40:1-3). You are God my stronghold. Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? I put my hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 43:2-3, 5). I hope in the Lord and He renews my strength. I will soar on wings like eagles; I will run and not grow weary; I will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31).
