Life Can Sucker Punch Ya

January 1, 2011. We had just celebrated Christmas and were enjoying the last few days of vacation before getting back to our normal routine. We were optimistic about the New Year. And we were clueless about what was right around the corner: life’s sucker punch.

Three days later, my doctor discovered a lump in my breast. Thirteen days after that, the cancer diagnosis was confirmed. Breast cancer was not on our list of resolutions for the New Year, but it defined the new year. We did our best to fit life into the regiment of doctor appointments and cancer treatments.

I crossed off days on the calendar to mark the time when I could smile again. But God was giving me reasons to smile for the todays. The cancer was caught early. My younger son and I spent his Spring Break in Washington D.C. We celebrated his high school graduation. The good things of life were still happening.

I had anticipated better days in the future, but God reminded me that this day in God’s presence is really good too. And the most important lesson I learned: life’s sucker punch doesn’t have to be a knock-out.

Note: This year, I am celebrating three years of being cancer-free! For the month of October and Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I will be posting stories about my personal experiences with breast cancer.

Lamentations 3:22-23

 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Psalm 90:14

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.  

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The Statistics Don’t Lie

Starting this blog was to take a step out of my comfort zone.  I am having fun learning about and being a part of the blogosphere.  I am also humbled by the experience.  Did you know that you can track the statistics in great detail for a blog?  The number of followers, the number of views and implied, the lack thereof.  However, I decided early on that I was not going to pay a lot of attention to my blog statistics.  For I have always been more interested in the qualitative than the quantitative.  Many years ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to quit my engineering job and be a full-time stay-at-home mom.  I didn’t change the world, but I was the biggest influence in the lives of two little boys. I am not a globe-trotter, but cards of encouragement that I have written have traveled far and wide. The qualitative starts with just one person that I can reach out to. The quantitative is good and absolutely necessary for sales and marketing. Regardless, I get the most excited about the individual and that one genuine connection. For that reason alone, I will always choose the qualitative over the quantitative.

Scripture Verses with a “Number” Emphasis:

Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days, that we gain a heart of wisdom.

 

Matthew 10:30

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.