Marcy Gardenhire passed away in 2010 after a long struggle with cancer. She lived and died better than most people I’ve ever known. A few years ago, she wrote these words of encouragement that kept her going:
Faith. By far, this is the best place to start. Have faith is not enough. Live faith is better advice. I’m trying to live a faith that reminds me of a valuable truth. Even in the midst of my darkness, there is a Light that shines(very dimly on some days) to erase the scary shadows lurking to trap me in hopelessness. I must be on the lookout for the Light so as not to miss the shine.
Action. A lot of feelings swirl inside when hardship hits our lives. The most toxic, I believe, is helplessness. It can paralyze us and make us forget the resources we have to confront the darkness. Taking action is one way to give helplessness the one-two punch.
Sense of Humor. Granted, there is nothing funny about Stage 4 adenocarcinoma of the lungs. There is, however, room and need for humor. Don’t be afraid to treat your situation with irreverence. Don’t give it more power than it deserves. One of my favorite ploys is to play the “C Card” to my advantage. “Honey, would you get me another glass of tea? I’d do it myself, but you know, I have cancer.”
Thankfulness. Over time I’ve come to believe that adopting an attitude of gratitude is what enables me to accept what’s happening and recognize the signs of hope and love tucked away in the shadows of this tragedy. I will never say that cancer is a gift, but many gifts have come my way because of this life crisis. I’m truly learning to live in the moment, to be more mindful of all that surrounds me in the beauty and grace that comes my way each day. I want to focus on what I’m being given and not what I’m losing.
Worth Repeating
The entire world is full of suffering; it is also full of overcoming it.
–Helen Keller
7 Significant Moments in Your Story
Click here to read, listen to the next podcast, or post your 7 significant moments.
Every other Thursday, I am co-hosting a radio podcast with Denise Brown of caregiving.com. For the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about how to tell your story. So, read the posts at the link above, chime in, or call in to the show at noon (CT) on Thursday, September 25th.
