I am close…

With Thanksgiving a week away, I challenged myself to see if I could get to the point of being thankful for my cancer. This one is tough and notice that I am not trying to find the reasons to be thankful for anyone else’s battle or experience with this disease. I have lost 2 moms along with other family and friends to cancer. You too, have a cancer story in your life about someone you know or love who has had to face the big C. So I am not trying to cast an overall net of gratitude for cancer BUT in writing these words this week I think I can see how God is taking something that the enemy meant for evil and using it for good. 

The song “Scars” is one that is on my playlist and when you really look at the lyrics, it isn’t an easy one to sing without some experience in God’s faithfulness and provision. This is the list of experiences so far that is leading me down the path of thankfulness.

Since April 3, 2019…

• My husband and I find ourselves “on the same page” on an immeasurable number of things. Can I get an “amen” from my married friends? 
• My life as a retiree has been jump-started. I absolutely loved being in a classroom with kids day in and day out. I also had no idea how great it would feel and freeing it would be to not have that schedule.
• My own kids are very intentional about connecting with me on a daily basis. What Momma Bear doesn’t crave that when her cubs are in their 20’s and living independent lives (as they should be)?
• My friendships are now deeper than ever.
• I have new friendships and renewed friendships that are being used by Jesus to bless me daily.
• I have a mighty army of prayer warriors between the ages of 96 and 3.  I have no doubt that my 96-year-old grandma and my favorite 3-year-olds have front-row seats at the feet of Jesus and He is so tuned into the precious words they regularly speak on my behalf.
• The concept of time has been redefined for me. Fill in the blanks: “I now have time to ______________”,  or even more powerful “I don’t have time for ________________”.(Filling in those blanks is a year’s worth of blog posts in themselves).
• I have a regular supply of things to talk to my dear counselor about. Silence in those sessions is awkward anyway.
• I have been able to shut down the comparison monster that just was too easy of a weapon for the devil to use.
• I have learned the words to so many worship songs.
• My faith, trust, and hope has been strengthened. My confidence in who Jesus is and my place in His heart and His place in mine is stronger now than ever. 
• As you can read, I have a boldness about my faith with a need to share His story in my life.
• I start each morning with deep gratitude that He has opened my eyes for another day. As of today, He has done this 232 times since April 3!
• I have single-handedly raised the stock price of the Kleenex company. 

This list is long and seems to be growing. It all started after April 3. I know for sure that I am deeply thankful for this list… So am I thankful for the very thing that God is using to bring all of this to me? Am I actually thankful for my cancer?…. I am close.

Praying your gratitude list is growing too,

Happy Thanksgiving 2019

Jodi