Feeling grateful

BarbieAnne
BarbieAnne Member Posts: 174
I have just read Belinda's story in the recent Beacon. I can look back and thank God that life has given me children and grandchildren. I thank my first husband for that privilege.
I am grateful that all my working life I did something that I truly loved and only retired from at the beginning of this year. I am a nurse.
I thank God for introducing me to my second husband 15 years ago - this really was a "God moment". This wonderful man had lost his first  40 year old wife six  years previously to breast cancer - who would have known what a curve ball he had been thrown when we met? My first thought was of him and my stepsons when I was diagnosed. The circumstances are different - no breast removed for me as I have initial diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. He sees the fact that I am not losing the breast as a God thing and a blessing.  I saw the rawness of his first experience when my diagnosis was confirmed. He has attended every appointment with the Breast Surgeon and Oncologist with me. I am so grateful for his presence in my life and thank God for that every day.
I thank God for my wonderful sister who accompanied me on my call back to the Breast Clinic post mammogram. She took on the task with my brother of telling my Mum who I could not face in the early days. She is a constant presence in my life who is only a phone call away.
I thank God for those Christian friends that He has given me over the years through work and my church community.
God is great and I worship Him in all his glory!
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Comments

  • Jenmegs
    Jenmegs Member Posts: 104
    Hi @BarbieAnn,

    Am on the online metastatic group with you, although I didn't have to manage a straight-away diagnosis like you and your family are doing.

    Am also a nurse, now long-time retired. Hadn't actively returned to my faith when I was working.

    I did feel blessed that, when I eventually sought contact with my local church, the Pastoral Associate happened to be a retired very experienced nurse who absolutely got where I was coming from. She was also a good cheerful and practical friend to my family who have a different faith path to mine.

    It is wonderful that God's blessings have been working in your life, giving strength and courage.  I was so touched to read how your sister and brother helped your Mum when all the news was so new.

    Also wonderful your being connected with your friends and church community.

    Sending love to you, your husband and family, Jenny

    ps Will go back to the Beacon and read Belinda's story

    also, not used to putting the '@' in posts here, hope it works...



  • BarbieAnne
    BarbieAnne Member Posts: 174
    Hello @Jenny,
    Thankyou for your kind words and replying to this post.
    It is good that you seeked support through your local church. We are so blessed that no matter when we seek Him, God is there. 
    The amazing thing that I have discovered is the peace that I have concerning my diagnosis - this I know is because of my belief.
    God bless,
    BarbieAnne
  • SoldierCrab
    SoldierCrab Member Posts: 3,445
    hi Ladies sorry I have been busy and not saw your posts  it is great to see you both interacting with each other. 

    My faith is something which has helped me be secure in knowing He is with me at all times. 

  • BarbieAnne
    BarbieAnne Member Posts: 174
    Hello @SoldierCrab

    Good to hear from you. 
  • Megsie59
    Megsie59 Member Posts: 5
    Hi everyone, I have just completed all my acute treatment ( chemotherapy, followed by mastectomy and then radiotherapy) since diagnosed in September last year (IDC with 22 pos lymph nodes). Throughout the entire time of treatment I knew that God was showering me with His grace and mercy. It came in the form of many friends at church constantly remembering to pray for me, to send me encouraging texts with Bible verses to hold on to, as well as lovely little gifts from time to time. I have had expert medical care from all my specialists as well as other health professionals. Above all, I have had the overwhelming blessing of my best friend who has been with me to every appointment and cared for me at home. I am now on a clinical trial for the next 13 months and will therefore have ongoing appointments, tests etc. I am not sure of my future.......guess none of us are but I rest in the solid truth that God has our days numbered to be used for His glory. For that, and the last nine months I praise Him!
  • BarbieAnne
    BarbieAnne Member Posts: 174
    Hi @Megsie59

    Isn't it great how God provides us with the support and care when we most need it? Praise Him for those special people who take this journey with us.
    When we are unsure of our furures we can move forward knowing of His peace and presence.
  • Meema
    Meema Member Posts: 4
    Hi, I'm  Meema! That's what my two little grandsons call me. It's  so good to be able to log into a Christian  group and just be encouraged by you all. I was first diagnosed with triple negative early breast cancer in December 2015 - exactly a month after my brother died of bowel cancer. It was a traumatic time for us as a family, and a devastating blow for me. By the grace of God i completed chemo and radiotherapy, and in January 2017, after bone and CT scans and a mammogram, i was given the all clear. But sadly, in February the tumour had returned, and had grown rapidly to more than double the size of the previous one. At this time I'm  having chemo in order to shrink the tumour as much as possible before a mastectomy  can be done. God has been amazingly good to me since the beginning of this journey, and still is. However, i do have my down days as we all do, but God is faithful and gracious. He carries me when I  feel i can't  carry on. And I know He does it for each and everyone  of you too. May God bless and strengthen you as you hold onto His hand and His promises.
  • BarbieAnne
    BarbieAnne Member Posts: 174
    Hi Meema, glad to meet you, even though not in the best of circumstances. It must have been a traumatic time for you and your family at time of diagnosis. I pray that God will continue to be good to you through this present time of chemotherapy and then mastectomy. I read a lot of comments on the site and am grateful for my circumstance in comparison to others. It is only human to have down days and can attest to some myself recently. The knowledge of God's peace is always there - hang onto that.
  • BarbieAnne
    BarbieAnne Member Posts: 174
    Hi SoldierCrab, 
    I was unable to access above
  • BarbieAnne
    BarbieAnne Member Posts: 174
    Thanks SoldierCrab
    The Old Rugged Cross, so full of emotion and truth.
  • SoldierCrab
    SoldierCrab Member Posts: 3,445
    you are welcome BarbieAnne,  God is great all the time, and all the time God is great. 

  • au0rei
    au0rei Member Posts: 248
    @SoldierCrab @BarbieAnne @Megsie59 @Meema @Jenny

    It's so
    wonderful to see all of us trusting God in the midst of diagnosis and
    treatment.  I am very encouraged by all your faith. Let's keep on
    trusting God even when we do not understand.  I am in the midst of
    Herceptin treatment and admittedly, I struggle a lot with fear, fear of
    the cancer recurring is the biggest one I have.  And as much as I
    struggle with the reality of God since He is intangible and invisible
    and I only have the Bible and Holy Spirit lives in me (whom I also
    cannot feel nor sense nor see), recently He showed me that I am not
    surrendering this fear to Him. In my mind I see a vision of myself going
    to the foot of the cross to lay down my fear and when I walk off, I ran
    back and picked it up again and ran off. And so I struggle all over
    again! I hate feeling fearful and anxious! It's crippling!!! I also
    remember God telling me a while ago not to depend on my feelings and
    sensations, really to trust Him with all my heart and lean not on my own
    understanding. In ALL our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our
    paths!!!

    I have been seeking knocking these few months. I have so
    many questions to ask God. I know He is fine with all our questions, He
    wants us to be honest and real before Him.

    I want to share this wonderful blog with you : http://www.derailingmydiagnosis.com/

    And I also want to share some videos with you that really really helped me during this time.

    Joyce Meyer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELUyDOJKEzE

    Dr Caroline Leaf : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIQYfL2JVDk

    Dr MK : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZTWNnQg9eI&t=2228s

    Dr Henry Wright : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZaytR2XrZs

    Joseph Prince : https://www.tbn.org/programs/joseph-prince/watch/joseph-prince-1633

    https://www.tbn.org/programs/joseph-prince/watch/joseph-prince-1634

    All the videos have other parts that you can find to watch.

    They have encouraged and strengthened me and I pray it will for you.

    xxx










  • SoldierCrab
    SoldierCrab Member Posts: 3,445
    thank you @au0rei for sharing your thoughts with us. I am sure that we are all at different stages of our walk with God and we will all get different things out of the links you have given us.