MONDAY MEMOIRS - God Bless Us, Every One

Tonight, I watched A Christmas Carol, based on the story by Charles Dickens. I love this simple story about having the Christmas spirit - loving others, giving of ourselves, helping those in need, and being happy. I love what little Tim Cratchet says in one scene: "God bless us, every one."

It's those words I want to talk about here tonight. I hope you'll be patient if I spend a few minutes here talking about God. I want to acknowledge that God has blessed my life - even, and especially through my cancer journey. I believe, like little Tim Cratchet does, that God blesses all of us.

One of my favorite scriptures is found in the Book of Mormon - in Alma, chapter 30. The prophet Alma is having a conversation with a man who doesn't believe in God. He wants Alma to give him a sign that there is a God. And Alma says: "The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."

I testify that God, and His son, Jesus Christ, are real. That they love each one of us.

At this time of year especially, I love to read about the Savior. He who was born in Bethlehem, who suffered in Gethseme, who died on Calvary, and who was resurrected. He is my God, He is my brother, He is my best friend. He suffered ALL things that I've suffered, and because of that, I know He can empathize with my feelings as I face trials in this life. He knows how scared I was when I found out I had cancer. He knows how awful I felt through my treatments. He knows how difficult it is for me to get used to looking and feeling different. He also comforts me, calms my soul, and NEVER leaves me alone.

I hope, like me, you'll take time this Christmas season to ponder and study about Jesus Christ. I pray that you'll feel His strength, His love, and the comfort that He can give.

Merry Christmas to all of you.

-Kara Herron

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - The Night Does End, The Sun Does Rise Again, and God Does Live

Guest Blog:

I love going to bed at night. I suppose because I have one of those minds that rarely rests when I am awake, it is such a pleasure to snuggle up under my favorite quilt and know that while I am sleeping my mind will take a break as well as my body....blissful!

Many years ago my mother was given a book written by Paul H. Dunn entitled, "Variable Clouds,Occasional Rain, with a Promise of Sunshine." I loved the thoughts in it so much that I bought my own copy. I am so glad that I did this because it is no longer in print. In it, the author discusses the beauty of each new day and the opportunity it brings for a fresh start with new hope. He states:

"The Lord certainly knew what he was doing when he made twenty-four hour days. That seems to be just the right amount of time to get some good things done, but not longer than we can bear when things are going wrong. I believe he intended that when one day ends we should let go of it. Each day is a chance to begin again. It is, if you please, a rebirth. May we put each day behind us and enthusiastically reach for the new. May we find comfort in Paul's testimony that 'there hath no temptation(or challenge) taken you but such is common to man: but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted(or challenged)above that ye are able; but will with the temptation(or challenge)also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.' We can bear it! There is nothing so difficult that we cannot find our way out. It can be done with his help one day at a time. I know it to be so."

This wonderful quote can apply to each of us. Cancer patients know that they conquer the disease one day at a time as they face treatments and the challenges they bring. Each one of us in our lives experience other difficulties which come in all shapes and sizes. No one is immune. Each of us have probably experienced nights so difficult to bear that we wondered if we could make it. The pain may be physical, emotional, spiritual, financial or any other variety. I know that we can be victorious and see our way through these difficult times.

Paul H Dunn says, "The night does end, the sun does rise again, and God does live." I agree with him one hundred percent!

Kathy Christensen
Survivor
Member of Lifting Hearts
Guest Blogger

MONDAY MOTIVATION - How Firm A Foundation

At church yesterday, we sang the fourth and fifth verses of the hymn, How Firm A Foundation. I've never heard these verses before, and I was touched by the words. It's a reminder to me that God knows me and cares about what I'm going through. I thought I'd share these two verses here today...

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

I especially love the last two sentences - the trials we go through are only meant to refine us.

-Kara

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Angel Wings

I have long been fascinated with the concept of angels. I believe in them and feel that they are ever near to help us when our earthly journey becomes difficult or uncertain. When I was called in for a second mammogram because something didn't look quite right, I was uneasy to say the least. I forged ahead with the appointment where the technicians told me that I would need to undergo a sonogram. "No big deal," I thought,"at least know they aren't painful."

I laid there as they proceeded with the process. They then told me that I would need to have a biopsy to check a particular part on my left breast. By this time I was beginning to get more than a little nervous. Especially when I saw the size of the needle they were going to use. We were experiencing some other stressful situations in our life at that time and I thought that a Cancer diagnosis would probably push me over the edge emotionally.

At that very moment, I had an indescribable feeling of peace come over me. It was almost tangible and very real. I knew at that moment there was a presence in the room to give me comfort. All fear dissipated and I had the strong feeling that my diagnosis would be positive for Cancer but all would be well. Of course waiting for the results was a tense time for us, but each night as I went to bed, I remembered the feelings I had during the biopsy and I slept like a baby.

I don't know who that presence was in the biopsy room with me that day, but I know it was an angel of some kind, sent to bring me the comfort and courage I needed. Perhaps it was my grandmother who passed away about 16 years earlier. I will never know for sure. But the situation played out just like I was prompted that it would. I did have Breast Cancer, but we discovered it early, went through surgery and radiation treatments and I am now Cancer free. This experience was one that I will never forget and for which I will be forever grateful. I want to close with a poem about angels that made me think of my experience that day back in December of 2008:

Today I stumbled and once again
Was lifted up by an unseen hand
What comfort and joy that knowledge brings
For I hear the whisper of angel wings.

The guardian angels God sends to all
To bear us up when we stumble and fall
Trust Him, my friend, and often you'll hear
The whisper of angel wings hovering near.

--Anonymous--

Kathy Christensen
Sister Survivor Member
Guest Blogger

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Give Your Troubles to God...

We are excited to hear from guest blogger & Sister Survivor member, Kathy Christensen, for today's blog post...

Several years ago after my second divorce, I was home trying to get
my life on track. Of course my spirits were low and I was doing my best
to "keep my head above water" each day. During the stressful times of my
life I have found it quite therapeutic to go window shopping in an effort
to get my mind on something besides my looming problems. Even though I
usually don't have the money to make any big purchases, it is fun to just
look and stroll along.

So off to the mall I went on this particular day. As I leisurely
passed all of the stores at the mall, my spirits began to lift. I
stopped for a Coke (my drug of choice) and things continued to look a
little brighter yet. I love card and gift stores so I wandered into the
first Hallmark store I found. I chuckled as I read some of the greeting
cards and found that it felt good to genuinely be laughing even a little.
I then came to the section of the store where they had mounted quotes on
display. As I browsed along one particular frame caught my eye. It
read, "Before you go to bed at night, give your troubles to God....He'll
be up all night anyway."

I was so taken by this message that I purchased the frame on the
spot because there was only one copy. When I got home that frame found
its new home on the headboard of my bed. Each evening as I retired to my
room to say my prayers and settle down for the night that thought gave me
such great comfort and strength. Cancer had not yet become part of my
personal vocabulary, but when that time in my life came, this thought was
safely locked away in my mind for quick recall. I knew that God would
be "up all night" to support me wherever and whenever I needed His help.

And so it is for each and every one of you Sister Survivors. None of
us need to travel this frightening and difficult journey alone. We are
here for each other and God is there for US whenever the journey gets
particularly rough. HE IS UP ALL NIGHT to offer support, help and love
whenever we need Him. All we have to do is humbly ask for His help.

MONDAY MEMOIRS - Night Reflections...

I was thinking recently about the few days following my doctor's announcement that I had breast cancer. One thing that sticks out in my mind about that time, is that I couldn't sleep. I would lie awake, staring at the ceiling, and finally get up and wander around the house. I would visit my kids' rooms, and watch them sleep. I would sit in my living room and watch the lights from outside make unusual patterns on the walls and ceiling. And I would think about those words... "you've got breast cancer". During the day I could handle that fact, but during the night, I couldn't calm my mind. It was a time of fighting fears, a time of quiet reflection, a time a pleading with God, and a time of facing my own mortality. As I'm describing this, are any of you right there with me?

Take a minute in your cancer journal to write about the nights during your cancer journey. What were they to you?

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - God Knows Best...

God Knows Best
by Helen Steiner Rice

Our Father knows what's best for us,
So why should we complain--
We always want the sunshine,
But He knows there must be rain--

We love the sound of laughter
And the merriment of cheer,
But our hearts would lose their tenderness
If we never shed a tear...

Our Father tests us often
With suffering and with sorrow,
He tests us, not to punish us,
But to help us meet tomorrow...

For growing trees are strengthened
When they withstand the storm,
And the sharp cut of a chisel
Gives the marble grace and form...

God never hurts us needlessly,
And He never wastes our pain
For every loss He send to us
Is followed by rich gain...

And when we count the blessings
That God has so freely sent,
We will find no cause for murmuring
And no time to lament...

For our Father loves His children,
And to Him all things are plain,
So He never sends us pleasure
When the soul's deep need is pain...

So whenever we are troubled,
And when everything goes wrong,
It is just God working in us
To make our spirit strong.