Grateful

Just before I received my diagnosis of cancer (our "week off" thanks to Ike) I read, no, I inhaled the book The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.

One of the most powerful passages in the book was when Corrie's father was comforting her about death. She had just seen it for the first time, face to face. It made her very afraid of losing those close to her, especially her father. Her very wise father asked her a question, "When do I give you your train ticket?" She answered, "Right before we get on the train." To this he replied, "Don't run ahead of Him Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need--just in time."

Now I fully believe that I am to be healed and that death is not in my near future. But I also know from being in the room with these beautiful women of God today that when the time comes for one to have cancer God does give you what you need--just in time. He has given me what I needed--just in time. He has given these other women what they needed--just in time.

If you've every seen the movie "Pollyanna" with Hayley Mills, you know what the "Glad Game" is. Well, today, as I was receiving my first round of chemo, I was playing the "Glad Game" and amazed at all the things I have to be grateful for.

It is not often that you get the chance to sit in a room full of people with cancer. Often, you don't even know that the person sitting next to you, or standing in line behind you has cancer.

But this was an amazing group.

Back to my "Glad Game":

I am grateful to have a supportive family, including my husband, children, parents, parents-in-law, brother, sisters-in-law, and brother-in-law who are all willing to come to my aid.

I am grateful for my church family, school friend, neighbors and friends from everywhere (!) who have offered their help and support.

I am grateful for the group of women God surrounded me with today to offer edification as I begin my journey. The affirmed my faith and hope for the future.

I am grateful for the years of cancer research that has lead to such a specific treatment for my specific type of cancer.

I am grateful for amazing nausea medicines and years of research that has fine-tuned the dosage regimen to be so effective.

I am grateful for the wisdom of many friends who were used by God to help us get to the place where we are today. Feeling 100% in the center of God's will for my treatment.

I am grateful for friends who have gone before me on this journey who offer their support and hope for complete healing.

I am grateful that my type of cancer is a "quick" treatment. One woman I met today is taking chemo every three weeks for the rest of her life.

I have much to be grateful for.