Friday, April 9, 2010

Love Above All ~ And Friday Follow

Some of you may remember this post where I talked about my friend Wendy that is going through cancer and that my family is going to participate with her team "Love Above All" in an upcoming Relay For Life.  Now just yesterday we heard from on of Andy's best friends that his sister was just diagnosed with ovarian cancer and liver cancer.  No one here can do the surgery but a surgeon from MD Anderson in Houston has already contacted her and has scheduled her surgery for next week.  Also yesterday we heard about a friend of ours from church that plays in the orchestra and has been in musicals with us is awaiting test results from a huge mass in her colon and liver.  They are almost certain that it is cancer.  We also have another lady from our church that works in our children's ministries that is currently battling pancreatic cancer and is terminal.  I now have 4 people on my prayer list that currently are battling cancer.  Never thought I would say that.  

So...before I get to Friday Follow...I asked my friend Wendy if I could share a post from her Caring Bridge journal that she posted before Thanksgiving last year.  As you can see below she said yes.  Please take a moment to read this and then if you find it in your heart please hit the below button and make a donation.  





WRITTEN SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21:

Several years ago my father in law gave the kids and I a pin that reads “Love Above All Else”. We all still have them, mine is attached to a hand made wooden cross someone gave me. Seems appropriate.
With no doubt many of you have heard that the last 2 rounds of my new chemo have had some unpleasant side effects. I’ve been sick for weeks, missing work, basically detached painfully from society. I’ve too many days of not being able to get out of bed, 2 trips to the hospital, not being able to take care of Nick who missed two weeks of school. Sick to my stomach every day, pain from head to foot and a rash on my face I will spare you the details of. But each time I looked in the mirror I would just start crying all over again. That was on top of a usual day of self pity and crying. I forgot about Love Above All Else.
My every blessed church family and friends have been calling, sending food, sending cards, just showing up and sitting by my bed side at home and in the hospital. We did even manage a quick trip to Florida for a very special couples wedding and 2 days of Universal Studio – was good but could have been better had I felt human. Love Above All Else. One morning when I thought my face couldn’t look any worse; Kelly came into my room found a clear spot on my face, gave me a kiss and said “Mom your still beautiful”. I cried again, happy tears. Love Above All Else.
Nick came in my room later that day had a look at me and said “Mom it’s really going to be okay, we love you.” Love Above All Else.
While I lay awake thinking at 2:30 this morning I came up with so many examples of Love that you all have given me these past few weeks. The most awesome boss who surpasses understanding of what I’m dealing with. Who knows she and I will somehow work out the work, no guilt, no worries, her main concern is me getting healthy and healed. The meals that have simply showed up at our door. The unexpected company at the hospital, the sacrifice of a friend simply showing up to spend the night. The cards, the texts, the emails. The cute pink tee shirt. The hospital treats. The unexpected company at home. Love Above All Else. How did I miss it for so many weeks?
Love really heals just about everything from skinned knees to broken hearts and can feed lost souls. It’s such a simple, selfless act. It provides warmth, forgiveness, comfort, and peace. And that no one loves us more than God, and His Love REALLY is Above All Else. God loves us so much; I know He’s not having me suffer for these pains for no reason. I know He Loves Me Above All Else and will heal me.
A conversation I had with Dr. J. sometime ago wandered back into my thoughts this morning. Just before one of my surgeries he and I got to talking about walking our path with Jesus as our guide and we have come to fork in the road, one side is a cleared and easy path. The other side is full of weeds, thickets and brambles. We talked about if we stayed with Jesus on the thorny path how much greater our rewards would be at the end. The gift of faith that would sustain us during this journey would provide us great rewards from God. We learn so much during our hard times.
So I got to reflecting on what a thorny, thicketed path I’ve been on the past several weeks. But I also came to see that there were so many treasures on that path that I realized if I had just started looking up off the cracks in the path and past the thorns there were so many sparkling jewels I missed. All the above treasures of each of you I just mentioned. And amazingly God placed them ON the path, I didn’t even have to get to the end of receive them (thought this time I did have to reach the end of it to see that they were there all the time).
LOVE ABOVE ALL ELSE BABY!



Now on to Friday Follow:

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16 comments:

Seizing My Day said...

Hi... new follower... following from Sits! ;)

I have too many people in my life that I know or have know affected by cancer... some VERY close to my life and heart... others connected through friends and family... it is So hard !!

I have exited the baby and wedding stage of life...

crazy... don't really like that part of this stage of life...

anyway... Love that you are doing Relay for Life... we almost made our own team this year...=) it just didn't work this year... Bless Your Heart for doing it!! It will change your life! =)

Looking forward to following !!

I will say a prayer for your friend... her post brought tears...
she has the most beautiful spirit! I need that reminder to take the easy road with Jesus!! =)

Xenia said...

Thanks for stopping by! You're right, this post was beautiful... and heart-wrenching at the same time. I lost my stepfather to cancer almost exactly a year ago and it's just such a horrible thing. Someday there will be cure, I just know it!

Mandee said...

Wow, that was a touchy post and brought me to tears. I lost my stepfather 4 years ago and it is still very hard on me. He was the rock in our family.
He passed of a heart attack at age 43! However, I have had a lot of family members in my life affected or taken by cancer. It is a terrible thing, and I do hope that one day we can all be rid of it. Your post is great! I pray for all of your family and friends that are in pain and suffering right now.
God bless you all!

Unknown said...

Love above all else! I think I'll have to quote that! An amazing story that everyone should read. I cried as I read through it. I will think of your friend!!

Happy Friday Follow! Thanks for visiting me!

Jill said...

Wow, that was a powerful post. I need to remember that - Love Above All Else. Thank you for posting.

Ria @ Life as a Wife! said...

Thanks for the follow!! Yeah, it was quite the blessing this week :) Following you back and hopping you have a FABULOUS weekend!

Ria (Life as a Wife! www.riathurston.com)

Robyn Campbell said...

Love this post. These are all on my prayer list. I'm a new follower from Friday follow. Take care and remember, God works miracles every day.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the follow! I am following you back!

Anonymous said...

Very touching. My brother in law is a cancer survivor.

It is nice to see you part of Friday Follow! Have a wonderful weekend. Rita @ One 2 Try.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing that. Love above all else is such a great reminder. Wishing you an amazing weekend -

~ Lynn
http://www.middayescapades.com

Sarah Coulsey said...

God Bless all your Friends.

Helga said...

What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing. Love above all else....sometimes we forget the little things in life that make us happy. We need to be reminded Love above all else!

Have a great weekend :o)

Stefany said...

Prayers for all those suffering with cancer and possible loss of loved ones. :(

Veronica Lee said...

That was really touching. Thanks for sharing this.

Praying for all cancer victims and their loved ones.

Amy @ Marvelous Mommy said...

I'm your newest follower! Visiting from Friday follow! Have a great weekend!

Find me here: www.marvelousmommy.com

and here: http://www.marvelousmommy365.blogspot.com/

Rachael @ Empowering Mommy said...

Thanks for sharing this. I will definitely be donating. Thank you enough for caring enough to share.

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