Secret Garden

 

                                                 Everyday is a brand new day,

                                                 everyday is a journey.

What I possess, or what I crave,

Brings no content, great God, to me,
If what I would, or what I have,
Be not possest, and blest, in Thee;
What I enjoy, O make it mine,
In making me that have it, Thine.
J. QUARLES.

I have always enjoyed a good storm whether it was a snowstorm or a thunderstorm. Whenever a storm is on it's way, I want to race home before it comes pouring down. There is something so comforting, so relaxing, so calming and reassuring when watching a powerful storm from the sanctity of one's home.  A sanctuary. A peaceful place where we find our biggest Joy and where we can feel safe from all the storms of the world.

For as long as I could remember, I have dreamt of such a place just for me. A tiny dwelling surrounded by woods, trees and flowers. A place where the only noise to be heard were the songs of the birds all day long. I have this vision in my mind of how exactly it will look. 

A home is so important. It's your special place to get away from everything chaotic and stressful. Choosing the one that fits you is key. What that may look like for me could be entirely different for you.

This past Spring, my son and his wife, sold their home. A home that I absolutely adored. My favorite spot was the porch and I have made several YouTube videos on that porch. I just couldn't get over the idea that it was being sold. I couldn't imagine another place out there that would be able to replace it. I kept driving by unexpectedly when no one was home to take one more look before it was sold. 

When the time came to pack it all up, I cried real tears for that home. I couldn't understand why anyone would want to give up a true gem such as this place. Some time passed and I went to revisit that place that held so much of my love. I was taken aback by what I saw. It didn't look anything how I remembered it. In fact, it resembled a shell like any other home out there. This couldn't possibly be my special place. 

I realized that what makes a home is not the structure itself, but the people inside it. That place was special to me, because of who lived there and made it a real home. They decorated it and filled it with things that reflected who they were as a family. A real sanctuary.

The book Secret Garden written by Frances Hodgson Burnett, spoke of such a place. A hidden, secret garden that was so special to a group of children. No one knew of it, except them. We all want to find a secret garden of our own where we can be ourselves, safe and hidden, from a destructive world. A place to run home to when the storm hits. What does that place look like to you?

Have a blessed day everyone.

Living Purposely

                              Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.

 Bright be my prospect as I pass along;--

An ardent service at the cost of all,--
Love by untiring ministry made strong,
And ready for the first, the softest call.
A. L. WARING

If there is one goal I want to achieve in my lifetime is to show others with a chronic illness that they too can live a purposeful life. Yes, it is harder and takes longer to do certain things, but we can still accomplish plenty. We are not finished living life.

A person does not go through all that, both physically and mentally, without a struggle. It is that struggle and determination that actually makes us stronger than the average person. It should not be an obstacle to us living out our best life. Life is meant to be lived, so let's live it fully.

When I first came out on YouTube, I went in search of other channels who were living life with cancer. The ones I found were either several years old with no current video or ones going through the treatment. I noticed two things right away. One, they stopped chronicling their journey once in remission. Two, they passed away. 

That truly bothers me. I know that cancer is a hard word for many people to think about or say, but as survivors, shouldn't we encourage others to stay the course? Shouldn't we show them what comes after? The struggle isn't over just because we went into remission. For majority of us, living with pain becomes the norm or experiencing repetitions of recurrences. 

I don't want anyone to think life has nothing more to offer us except living with pain. We shouldn't be afraid to embrace the challenges that come with it nor should we be afraid of sharing the same challenges with others who are coming up behind us. 

Look at me, look where I have been and look where I am now.

That should be the words we want to live by and pass on to others with a chronic illness. We should also add and look where I'm going! 

Trust me, the last thing I want to do is be flippant about the journey with cancer or any other chronic illness. It was hard, really hard and at times, still can be. Giving up is not in my vocabulary. God has given me another chance to breathe out into others. I want to be an encouragement, a supportive shoulder, a joyful cheerleader to my fellow survivors, no matter what that illness may have been. 

Send me, Lord, send me.

Have a blessed day everyone.