An avid reader since 14-years-old, I pretty much stopped reading books during my cancer treatments.
Seriously, I barely recognized myself those days because I was tired. Weak. I didn't care about keeping a clean house, couldn't climb down the stairs to do laundry, even seldom brushed my hair and as I said, I stopped reading books.
A little frightening all that, especially when satan (you feel) is whispering, "This is the new you. You'll never return to your past energetic, glad self."
So I had to keep praying--and--asking friends at Facebook for prayer. 'My village's' encouragement felt huge! Really, those of you who prayed for me, my gratitude will never cease.
And you know how sometimes our friends do something we don't understand? Back around 2010, a dear friend (of decades) from CA died and only 2 weeks before did she email me that she'd been terribly sick for months.
Oh my.
I would've prayed for her during all that time and sent her encouraging emails, cards, letters. But when her relative told us at Facebook that she'd passed away, I began to cry. It was extra hurtful because she'd kept her sickness a secret from us.
I turned to Tom with teary eyes and said, "If I ever get sick (Heaven forbid), I'm telling everyone! I'd want everybody praying for me."
Well, I kept that promise during my cancer scare and you know? Those prayers and encouragement meant everything to me. Barely able to walk, they helped me drag myself to the car on dark, snowy mornings to travel to treatments I didn't want to take. They calmed me while riding over that insane, icy Buffalo Thruway.
And they aided me in defeating, ignoring, those "you'll never feel normal again' lies.
Of course, you are free to handle sickness however you wish. I realize that.
But I wanted to share my story, this latest one and my friend's earlier one, to show you both sides. To help you decide now how (again, Heaven forbid) you'll handle what just may be the hardest time of your life.
Often it's best to make a decision with a clear mind well before that mind goes all foggy-dark later.
*****
The (Few!) Books I've Read (or Am Still Reading) this year:
Gladwynn Grant Gets Her Footing by Lisa R. Howeler
Mystery of the Red Carnations by Mary C. Jane
Natural Barn Killer by Amanda Flower
Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth
Chicken Every Sunday by Rosemary Taylor (probably for the 20th time. Total comfort book.)
More Junior Authors edited by Muriel Fuller (my edition is earlier. These books couldn't be removed from libraries, so I'd sit there for hours reading about my favorite authors, but now I have 2 editions of my own.)
Movies We've Watched Lately:
Spiderman No Way Home (2nd watch)
Breadwinner (Hilarious, over-the-top and we loved it)
I Can Only Imagine 2
Unexpected Family (give it a few minutes. IMO, Jackie Chan's finest performance.)
The Shift (2nd watch)
Greenland 2
Lovely Youtube Videos:
Cozy Pink Cottage Dollhouse (I fast-forwarded to the darling end product)
******
And what I've been doing lately? I cleared 2 additional shelves from the glass-fronted hutch in our home office and added more jars and bottles of food items. How lovely to have all those in one place rather than here and there on 2 floors of the house! (Photos coming. Someday. I think.) ツ
And I've been stocking-up, keeping lists galore, etc. How good to be ready for winter (or whatever comes) again!
******
And as I shared at Facebook:
Yay! In fact, today I knew they were close when I found myself placing my cool hands around the nice, warm crockpot!
In case you needed some (ok, early) autumnal decor inspiration .... Oh my!
*****
God created us to need each other. To not be all me-against-the-world loners.
2 comments:
Hello Debra, I'm always so happy to see your posts. First off, I continue to thank the Lord that you are doing well!! You know that you, Tom and Naomi remain on my prayer list. However, it has been beneficial for me to read about how your health challenges have affected your life. Mine surely changed me--and I'm still in transition. The hardest seasons have birthed some beautiful new beginnings. (Why does birthing have to hurt so doggone much, lol). Please keep on sharing what the Lord is doing in your life. One thing I'm thankful to have learned is whenever I feel awful or am too weak to do much, I can trust the Lord, fully, to take care of me and the folks and stuff that surround me. (Yep, in the past I thought I could be superwoman and do everything in my own strength. Ummm, I was so wrong!) Congrats on every single shelf you clear. I'm still clearing away what I don't need and/or want any longer. It feels good to give it away. Thank you for the links--I always enjoy them. YES, Glenn Beck's tribute to Dolly is the best I've heard, thus far. Love the story behind the "found" recipe box. My family farmed just south of where the original farm wife lived--so cool! That cabinet-turned-dollhouse amazed me. Crockpot recipes--always needed--and with fall/winter approaching. Love you Debra!!
Good morning Debra. It's good to see your post and read about how you handled your scary illness. You're right, everyone is different, but I would definitely be more like you, and want everyone praying. We're on a cross country road trip from Omaha to Spokane. We spent a week in the Black Hils of S. Dakota with Dennis's cousin. Then on to Buffalo, WY for one week. The past two nights we've been in Helena, MT visiting our son and granddaughter. Tonight we'll be in Spokane, WA. We're staying a whole month to visit with our friends and church family there. Tomorrow our best friends are hosting an anniversary party for us. Tomorrow will be number 48! I can't believe it. It seems we've always been together but yet it doesn't seem like it's been that long since our wedding.
Thank you for the suggestions on things to read/watch. I always enjoy seeing what you're choosing. We also watched Glenn Beck's tribute to Dolly. It was wonderful. She will never be replaced, that's for sure.
Blessings and hugs,
Betsy
Post a Comment