We’re about three weeks into this long and winding road of my daughter’s breast cancer diagnosis.
To date, not much has happened other than postponements for her chemo to begin. Now it is scheduled for July 6 after having originally being scheduled for June 22 and then June 29th.
When my wife and I went through our journey of extended unemployment ten years ago one of the things I prayed for daily was “glimmers of hope.” These glimmers of hope were little signs that things would eventually turn around or just that things could be worse.
I must admit that it took some courage to look away from the crisis to find the positive. So often when life is serving us lemons we don’t want anything to do with lemonade.
Well, once again, we are praying and looking for glimmers of hope. It’s amazing how when that is your mindset you seem to find a lot of things for which to be grateful! Let me share a few of those with you.
- We’re grateful they found her cancer early.
- We’re grateful the cancer hasn’t spread beyond her lymph nodes.
- We’re grateful she has the most common type of breast cancer so they know really well how to attack this demon.
- We’re grateful to live in the same community so we can help with the grandkids and in so many other ways.
- We’re grateful for an amazing cancer center in our little rural community that has helped so many people we know already.
- We’re grateful for an overwhelming support system from literally all over the world. These people have helped in so many tangible and intangible ways.
- We’re grateful for old and new friends who have reached out to us through, cards, emails and phone calls to encourage us as Sara’s parents. Many of these are people we haven’t seen in years but their words are such an encouragement. Some of them are people we’ve never even met but know Sara’s story through this blog.
- We’re grateful for the women who have walked this road before Sara who are showing her the map.
- We’re grateful for Sara’s sister, Kaitlyn, and the way she is handling so many things to keep us all informed of the different ways to help and support Sara and her family such as Caring Bridge.
- We’re grateful for a God who is real and is with Sara and us on this journey. We pray constantly for physical healing but as Sara said, “I’m not afraid for me. I win either way.” The verse she has chosen to cling to on this journey is Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with the hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now, please don’t get me wrong as you read this. Fear and doubt creep in more often than I care to admit. This is hard and not a road I want to travel. This strategy of looking for “glimmers of hope,” however, has tremendously helped me to cope with the difficult journeys of life. Sometimes it’s hard to find that first glimmer but when you do the second one comes a little easier. I listed ten for you but could have gone on with more.
Every one reading this has had a hard row to hoe at some point in their life and maybe you are there right now. I enCOURAGE you to look for the “glimmers of hope.” They are there if you are willing to step back from the mess and look for them.
Have a STRONG and COURAGEOUS Day!
Looking for a speaker for an upcoming event? I’d love to be that guy. You can reach me at dave@cultivatecourage.com or 952-200-7499.
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