Luke 2:19 ESV [19] But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. In this season, these words resonate with me more than ever before. 2017 was one of (if not THE) longest/hardest years of our lives, and I can’t begin to know what 2018 will bring. Learning of Austin’s relapse and… Continue reading A Time for Quiet
Day 9: July 27, 2017 Growing up, I learned to speak “Christianese” as a second language. In fact, by the time I made it through elementary school, I’m certain I was fluent in it. Words like salvation, justification and sanctification were all part of the norm. The phrase “and it came to pass” rings with… Continue reading When It Doesn’t Come to Pass
Day 7: July 13, 2017 But if I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it! Jeremiah 20:9 NLT It’s been seven straight… Continue reading Writing is My Therapy
Day 6: July 12, 2017 From my childhood, I have heard the story of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and the fiery furnace. As an adult, I thought I knew everything there was to know about it, and quite frankly, I felt like I had outgrown it. Until I heard someone highlight the verse that would later… Continue reading A Childhood Story Revisited
Even If Day 5: July 11, 2017 On March 3, 2017, we found out there was a spot on Austin’s brain that may be a new tumor. A little over a month later, days before Easter, the doctor called to tell us that it was indeed a relapse of his medulloblastoma – brain cancer. The… Continue reading Even If
Day 4: July 10, 2017 I awoke this morning to my heart in knots. My sleep tracker says I was restless for 4 hours and 17 minutes and only slept for 4.5 hours. I tossed and turned and dreamed in fits. Oh, if I could never dream again, I think I would! Seriously, I often… Continue reading Monday
Day 3: July 9, 2017 Yesterday was Saturday. I officially titled it “chore day.” After the kids being gone for camp and trips with grandparents, followed by a week of chemo, it was time to put things back in order. So, after sleeping in and lazing their way through breakfast, we went to work –… Continue reading The Gift of Normalcy
Day 2: July 8, 2017 I thought I already knew that God loves me, I mean really loves me. I grew up singing “Jesus, loves me, this I know,” but in my teens and early twenties, I followed after things that could never satisfy and was met with a lot of shame. But God —… Continue reading Lessons Cancer is Teaching Me
Day 1: July 7, 2017 I have been holding back my words. It has been months since I have written a blog post – since before we found out Austin’s cancer had relapsed. I wrote in the “waiting,” but then when we knew, I just couldn’t bring myself to write. I couldn’t put anything into… Continue reading The Writing Challenge
mariesmuse 