One year ago.

Morning sunshine’s! I’m waking up with the realization that one year ago today, I was at the hospital getting ready to go in for surgery. I’d been diagnosed with kidney cancer. What began as thinking I was having heart issues…and doing a little ultrasound to see if it was actually my gall bladder…they found it.

I’m also waking up with the realization of how absolutely fragile and fleeting THIS life is. Yesterday, I was at the funeral of a dear family friend’s 52 year old husband who had just found out he had cancer and never got to fight it. Saturday, I’ll be live streaming another beautiful friend’s who had battled it for 7 1/2 years and now, at 42 years old, is with Jesus.

One of the greatest gifts I received last year was KNOWING that there’s not ONE THING the enemy can throw at my physical body to “get me”. Oh, he’s thrown a lot. It’s been “the thing” attacked the most. With the kidney cancer diagnosis, he overplayed his hand and God used it to show me that when our spirits are strong…though we have to go through it…fear and anxiety and all the mental torment that could come…doesn’t have to. It NEVER did for me. Not one time. I felt like I was in a bubble.

In past surgeries and illnesses…I’d had faith AND fear. Mixture. But this time, it was and still is ALL faith.

A strong spirit. A strong spirit takes authority over our souls (mind, will, emotions) and our bodies. A strong spirit stays in a place of peace in the midst of turmoil. A strong spirit enables us to face things we’d ordinarily face and fall apart with supernatural grace.

How do we get a strong spirit? Well, that’s a long convo and a topic for another day.

This morning, I want to say thank you again. I know your prayers helped create that bubble as well, and I’ll be forever grateful.

Let’s all live with the realization that every day is a gift and that loving those around us is the greatest way we can spend it.

Thankful.

E