Helpful words

Yesterday I was visiting with Annaleigh's dance teacher, telling her Annaleigh would be absent next week. As we talked, she shared that her Mom had had the same surgies I am facing, for the same reason. Another breast cancer survivor! I loved the way her Mother referred to the parts being removed: "it's all just a cancer factory; get rid of it!"

I appreciate the way those words are "fighting words". So far, I have been approaching all of this with an attitude of acceptance...of peace...believing it is the best and right choice for me. Yet I still felt a little passive...a little "accepting of what is going to happen to me" as opposed to this being another way to destroy the cancer. Not sure if that makes sense, but I hope it makes a little.

Perhaps the reason those words were helpful is that the flip side of the "prevention" word is the "re-occurrance" word. The R word has made me a little anxious. It seems a bit scarier than chemotherapy for sure. During chemo, I was under the care of a great oncologist, and it is "now". "Now" I under control and I believe all is well. The future holds the unknown and uncontrollable. It is a trust factor...it is applying the lessons I have learned thus far about God's presence, faithfulnes and victory. It is remembering that we are all terminal, and that each day is meant to live and live well, not waste.

Fear makes it easy to forget all of that, whereas "destroying a cancer factory" is an attitude of control, choice, and victory. Thanks God, and thanks Miss Laura, for those words.