Ever since I was a little girl, every Sunday morning finds me at church going to Sunday School. I have attended different churches in different cities over the years but I always feel most at home when I am in Sunday School. I’ve been fortunate to meet some really great people at church who have inspired me to be a better person. I call them “Sunday School Saints” and I’d like to tell you about a few of them.

My earliest memories are of Mrs. Woody in a rural church in Virginia. She led the singing and opening assembly before Sunday School started. If it was your birthday week, you were presented with a wash cloth puppet she had made. A gift that was both practical and fun! The thing I remember most is that she always made everyone feel special. It didn’t matter who you were, who your parents were or where you came from, everyone was treated as an equal.

Another saint was Ms. Vonceil, our former pastor’s wife. When she sat down to play the piano it was like heaven on Earth. She just had a way of connecting with the music that made you feel what was in her heart. Ms. Vonceil was one of the most genuine, gracious people I have ever known.

One of my favorite saints was Mrs. Payne. She was a retired P.E. teacher and tennis coach who also taught Sunday School, including my two boys. Whenever one of her class members accepted Jesus, she rejoiced and wrote their name on the wall outside her classroom. She had a purpose and she loved to share that purpose with everyone.

Each of these ladies taught me an important lesson in life. I’m not sure about Mrs. Woody, but we lost Ms. Vonceil and Mrs. Payne to cancer. Both of these women were faithful to the end and rejoiced in sharing how Jesus had touched them during their cancer battle. They never complained and they set an example for me of how to deal with adversity. I only hope that my sharing about my struggles helps someone else the same way they helped me.

Blessings, Cindy J

Ten years ago today, I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. I still vividly remember my doctor walking into the examining room, looking at me with concern and saying, “You have cancer and it’s not good”. Some memories never fade; just like the ones of the twin towers falling in New York. You see it.  You hear it.  You know it just happened but somehow it doesn’t seem real. I won’t lie; it has not been easy dealing with this disease. I try to be positive but there are still days when it is tough. So much has changed in my life and the life of our country since those fateful 9-11’s. I’m more cautious about my health but also more grateful for each new day. Our country has learned to be more vigilant and to realize we are not immune to attack from the outside.

Each of us has faced some type of challenge in our life. As Robin Roberts said, “Everybody’s got something”. Whatever your something is, my prayer today is that you can learn from that something and make a positive change in your life. Better yet, use it to make a positive change in someone else’s life as well.

Blessings, Cindy J

My husband and I enjoy spending time out on the water in our kayaks. We like to paddle in creeks and small rivers where the water is smooth. There have been times however when we needed to maneuver through a larger body of water to get to our favorite spot. Sometimes these waters can be rough and I have to paddle a little harder but I know that eventually it will be worth it. The reward at the end is a quiet, calm place to spend time on our adventure. It makes me realize that at times I have to encounter some “rough waters” in my life to better appreciate the peaceful safety of each ordinary day. Even in the smooth waters there are floating logs and limbs that cause an occasional bump or snag.

Facing a life-threatening illness is like navigating through choppy, at times dangerous waters. I feel like I spent two years of my life in those waters and even after all the treatments and surgeries were over, there were still times when my life boat experienced a little turbulence. These rocky times have taught me though that I just need to hang on, paddle a little harder and ride the waves. Most of all I need to stay focused on the task at hand, getting to the calmer waters. The life application here is that when you encounter rough waters and the occasional bump, just keep on paddling.

Blessings, Cindy J

So many times throughout the course of my cancer treatments I would ask questions about when I could do the things I did before I was sick. Often the answer was, you’ll have to find a new normal. I’ve written about this before and stated that I didn’t want to find a new normal. I wanted my old life back. But what if we looked at it in a different way and stopped to think that maybe normal is just what we know. Perhaps then change would be easier.

I have always had a fear of making people upset and usually do whatever I can to avoid confrontation. I tell myself that if I’ll just stay quiet and do what they want me to do, that everything will be okay. Guess what? In the long run, it really doesn’t work and I end up becoming even more anxious. In this case, my normal behavior isn’t necessarily a good thing. Instead, I need to share my feelings with people. Cancer can teach you a lot of things and the lesson for me here is that sometimes we do need to find a new normal; maybe even a better normal.

Post cancer, what does my normal look like? I cherish time with my family more than ever. I don’t let little things bother me as much. I understand the importance of taking time for myself and the healing power of rest. I’ve learned that going to the beach for the day is not frivolous, it’s what I now call “ocean therapy”. Most of all I have learned that life is going to change whether we want it to or not.

So, what exactly is normal?  I’ve found that it’s different for everyone but it seems the happiest people understand that normal changes every day. I encourage you from time to time to embrace a new normal.

Blessings, Cindy J

I will exalt you, O Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. Psalm 30:1-3 NIV

King David wrote this Psalm after he had been plagued by an illness as a way to thank God for his deliverance. I know how he must have felt for I too have been in the pit and it’s a scary place to be. I remember one particular day when I was near the end of my chemotherapy treatments and my bones just ached so bad all I could do was lay on the couch and cry. I called on God many times that day and here I am nine years later still living, still breathing and still able to remember the pain. I think sometimes God allows us to go down into that pit so that we have to rely on Him and learn to trust Him more.

If you’ve experienced being in “the pit” for whatever reason; sickness, family issues, career struggles, etc. just remember that God is there to heal all of those circumstances. The problem with most of us is that we don’t always pay attention to how the healing occurs. Many times, we have to experience that pit to get to our point of healing. I have also learned that all healing does not always take place on this Earth. Sometimes God chooses to heal people by taking them to heaven.  Either way, God is there with you and He will lift you up from the depths. Of that, I am certain.

Blessings, Cindy J

It’s hard to believe a little over a year has passed since I wrote and posted my first blog entry. I guess you could say it’s my first anniversary as a blogger! I’ve had lots of anniversaries in my life…wedding – 37 years in August, motherhood – 35 years, retirement – 2 years, cancer survivor/thriver – 9 years and the list could go on and on. Anniversaries are important because they mark significant milestones in our lives. Each one of them is a cause for celebration.

Writing this blog has been a great healer for me in many ways. I hope that it has helped you in some way as well or at least made you stop and think about the people and events in your life that need to be celebrated. As for me, I praise God for each day that He has given me. So as I share my first anniversary of pouring out my heart to you in this blog, I pray you find your special thing to celebrate today.

Blessings, Cindy J

 

I’m a summer girl. Maybe it’s because I was born in July but all I know is when May rolls around, I start anticipating the months of June, July and August with great enthusiasm. Summertime means warm weather, longer days, lots of sunlight and trips to the beach. And yes, even though I know I need to protect myself from the harmful rays of the sun, I love it when my skin starts to turn a golden hue after spending time outside. I like to say that I have been “kissed by the sun”.

All of us could use a little sunlight in our life. It just seems people look healthier when they’ve spent time outside and their skin has that summer glow to it. Spending time outside can also increase our Vitamin D levels to some degree. Of course, that’s along with making sure we eat a healthy, balanced diet!

My point is, if you’re sick then try to get outside for a while if you are physically able and experience the healing power of the sun. It’s both a mental and physical healing. Close your eyes, turn your face toward the sky and let your body be kissed by the sun. I promise it will make you smile.

Blessings, Cindy J

Ask someone who has been through a major illness how they are doing and you’ll get a variety of answers. Some people with tell you EVERYTHING! Others will share a few pertinent details and still others will tell you nothing at all. One thing I have learned is that if people need to talk about their pain and the experience of their disease, then let them. For some people, sharing their hurts and problems seems to help them let go of the negative energy they carry around as a result of their sickness. For those who don’t want to talk, simply being there to help them through a difficult day can be enough.

Another thing I have learned is that you should never compare pain. Just because someone doesn’t talk about it, doesn’t mean the pain isn’t real. Everyone deals with pain differently. On the flip side of that, having someone share all the details of their treatment plan plus side effects doesn’t mean their pain is any worse than the one who doesn’t talk. Each one deals with the adversity of the disease in a different way. What may seem like a minor issue to you is very real to the person who is experiencing it. In essence what they are trying to say is, “It’s real, it hurts and I’m scared.”

Medical diagnosis, staging or degrees of disease are irrelevant. Pain however, is not irrelevant. Cancer survivors have to learn to accept their degree of pain and find their own way to deal with it. So, as a friend or even a fellow cancer survivor, don’t judge or compare pain. Just listen and love.

Blessings, Cindy J

After having worked in the textile industry for over 20 years, my father became a Southern Baptist minister at the age of 42.  He obediently accepted the challenge from God to go into the ministry even though it would be difficult and require changes in his family’s life. Daddy pastored small, country churches and his church members affectionately called him “Preacher Man”. Being raised in a rural farming community in Southside Virginia, it was easy for Daddy to relate to the people he pastored because he really was one of them. One of the things people would always tell you about my Daddy was that he simply loved and accepted them for who they were without judging them for their faults.

May 28th would have been my Daddy’s 87^th birthday. We lost him to a heart attack in 1990 at the age of 58. It seems he was so busy taking care of everyone else’s needs that he neglected to take care of his own health. Just recently, two different men who knew my Daddy talked about the lessons he taught them and they way he lived his life for others. Even after all these years, he still has an impact on their lives because he left behind a legacy of love and faith.

Having faced health challenges from cancer, it really makes me think about the legacy I will leave behind for my children, grandchildren, friends and community. What will people remember was important to me? What lessons have I shared with others? I want to make an impact on the lives of those I love and the community where I live right now. I think about it because of cancer but shouldn’t we all think about our legacy? What will you do to make someone else’s life better today?

Blessings, Cindy J

 

 

 

 

It’s May. The flowers are starting to bloom; there’s color everywhere. New growth and greenery emerge out of the soil and onto tree limbs. Everything is growing once again and it’s beautiful. There’s one particular flower that out does them all this time year though. It’s the peony. Dead shoots from the peony bush stick up out of the ground all winter waiting to be cut back in early spring. Then the buds of new growth start to peek up out of the ground and almost seem to form leaves overnight. Finally, the flower buds start to take shape with their many layers curled tightly in a ball. These buds stay there a while until the sun and the temperature are just right and then they burst open into one of the most beautiful, intricate and colorful flowers I have ever seen. The catch is that you better enjoy this show of nature while you can for it is brief. All that watching, waiting and anticipating is short lived in spite of the special beauty it brings.

A peony plant blooms once a year and the blossoms only last about a week or two. Oh, but during that time it is simply amazing to behold! Does this thing of temporary beauty warrant our attention, time and care? Is the flower we see for such a short time worth it? Yes; yes, indeed it is. Although we know some things will only be with us for a season, the temporary joy and beauty they bring to us are worth everything we have invested in them. Temporary beauty is all around you, so don’t miss it. Enjoy your peony, whoever or whatever it may be, for tomorrow it may be gone.

Blessings, Cindy J