I wrote 40 thank-you notes yesterday. Not because I felt I had to fulfill some cultural norm. I wrote all morning because I couldn't help it. Those who know me well know when I am overcome with emotion I always have to write. The kindness shown to me and my family compelled me to write all those thank-yous. How could I not? My heart was full to bursting!
I and my family have received daily reminders that we are loved and prayed for. Daily. Whether a phone call, a text, an email, a note with a real stamp in my actual wooden mailbox, or a surprise package, a meal, we are daily reminded that we are not alone in this.
No one should ever be alone when walking through a difficulty like cancer. This diagnosis, cancer, is just about the worst thing on anyones list of bad things you don't want to ever have to deal with in life. You never ask for cancer. Or anything bad you may have to deal with.
Life is hard. But there is ALWAYS hope. And there is almost always the ability to feel JOY. I know our family will make it through this. We will be better for it. And I am not afraid. This strength and this joy cannot come from me. Cancer is huge. It's painful. It's toxic and the medicines to fight it are toxic. This strength and joy are from my God. I'm not afraid because I am in His hands. His hands that work through my doctors. His hands that work through scientists who figure out which drugs work. His hands work through those that carefully prepare meals which make me feel good and nourish my family. Those who have reached out and served us in any way have blessed me and my family. I pray blessings on you and yours.
But even if none of this were given to me; even if I were alone and had no one to care for me, I would still have strength, and hope and joy. Because I believe in a God who cares for me personally and deeply and He would send others to care for me. Like He sent you.