The meaning of Life!

Last week I think I mentioned to you that I found out where the chapel is in the hospital and that I go in there sometimes after my treatments to think, ponder and pray. I have never seen anyone else in there and it is a beautiful place so I decided to take a few more quiet moments in my day. There is a journal there and so I wanted to share with you what I experienced in there today. It was eye opening, heart wrenching and definitely filled with hope.

The card that sits by the journal said this....

YOU ARE INVITED TO USE THIS JOURNAL TO RECORD YOUR PRAYERS AND REQUESTS FOR PRAYERE. EACH DAY THE REQUESTS ARE GATHERED BY THE CHAPLAIN AND HELD AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT YOU MIGHT USE THIS JOURNAL TO SHARE FROM YOUR HEART. AND IN THAT SHARING YOU MANY FIND SUPPORT AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY WITH WHAT IS SACRED AND HOLY IN YOUR LIFE. ALL OF US HAVE TIMES WHEN WE NEED TO SIMPLY BE HEARD. MAY YOU FIND BLESSING IN THIS PLACE. ____Dept. of Spiritual Care

Here were some of the request and prayers that I read today, I am not trying to be disrespectful for sharing them. I did not add their names but they were so sincere and so honest that I just sat there and cried and realized how very blessed I am, even with having cancer. I really felt like I needed to share them with you and maybe you too can add them to your thoughts and prayers.

Dear God, Only 3 more days of radiation, thank you for the stamina and faith to stay the course...

Please God, give me the strength to make it through chemo and radiation...

Lord, I pray that you will heal my husband and give him strength to endure the next 3 months. He needs your help to heal his body from this infection....

Please Lord help my mom, she is lingering and she needs your help to let her know we will be ok and bring her safely home to you...

Grant me clarity to see your will in my life...

Thanks for  your guiding hand in helping my husband heal. I know we have a long road ahead, I pray for discernment and knowledge...

Please God make my mom come back to us after her stroke...

Dear God, Please bless my mom and dad that they will work on their marriage and bring back those loving feelings...

Help me hear your voice God...

"Suffering and joy teach us, if we allow them, how to make the leap of empathy, which transports us into the soul and heart of another person. ln those transparent moments we know other people's joys and sorrows, and we care about their concerns as if they were our own."   ____Fritz Williams

"People living deeply have no fear of death."  ____Anais Nin

I just wasn't the same when I walked out of that chapel today. I realized that there are many people suffering, many of them much, much more than me and my heart went out to them. I included them in my thoughts and prayers today and hoped that they will find the peace and hope that they needed. On the wall when you come into the chapel there is a saying that goes something like this ....MAY THE PEACE OF THE SPIRIT BLESS YOU....BE STILL AND KNOW.

So when I came out of my 20th treatment and was getting dressed today, I looked at my arm area (which is the reddest and sorest) and realized that the skin is cracking and open now. I was a bit discouraged because it is hurting and uncomfortable most of the time now. Then I went in and sat in that beautiful place that someone was so thoughtful and kind enough to build. I read the heartfelt pleas of so many people that were so real to me that I came away with an appreciation for Life and thankful that I know the meaning of it. I left feeling so thankful for each day and that even though I am doing radiation that I am at least able to come each day and do it. I am grateful for my life, my health and my body. I have so much to be grateful for. This life is a place of learning and today I did a lot of that and my spirit was lifted...I am thankful for LIFE!

The world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it."    _____Helen Keller

P. S. Lauren and Jeff just came back from 3 days in Port Townsend, WA and while she was there she took lots more photos, I was grateful this one fit perfect for my post today. Thank you Lauren, your photos are getting better every day!