Former neighbor Candy gave me a leather bracelet with BE STRONGER THAN THE STORM engraved on a metal plate. It tells me that my friend, caught in her own whirlwind, stands with me. Many do. Beyond this sphere, the Three-in-One hold me close when my world tilts upside down.

Friend to friend: “We all go through storms. Good to know God’s got this!”

Praise You, Creator God.

Praise You, Redeemer Jesus.

Praise You, Sustainer Spirit.

Entwined together, we’re stronger than the storm. Right now for me, the skies are clearing. My breast cancer antigens continue to drop – another 62 points – which is great. I’m largely able to keep on with things that in former times I took for granted.

Out the window, a doe-gray cardinal with her bright orange beak and red tail feathers pecks at the feeder. She tilts her head from side to side, considering what to do next.

I’m a lot like her.

I peck at bits and pieces of life, unsure what I most want to do with this precious gift of time, beginning with how to spend the singular gift of a sunny May afternoon.

Fatigue is one my biggest hurdles. Do I huddle in a shaded bedroom and snooze? Read one of the books piled by my chair? Or take a walk and catch the scent of honeysuckle in the air?

At a Bible study, Pastor Scott at Divine Destiny discussed Jesus’ parable about two builders. Sounds like one fellow was in a rush or lazy, he settled for constructing his house upon shifting sands. When rain fell and winds blew, it crumbled and great was its fall. I shiver at that phrase – deadly hurricanes, mud slides, and homes slipping into the sea come to mind.

The other homeowner dug deep and built upon a solid foundation. When the rains fell and winds blew, it withstood the tempest. Both builders heard the same Word, but responded differently.

To endure crises, I need to hear and heed the Word. Although Jesus is my Rock and foundation, often I, like the first builder, settle for less than God’s best. My pastor said sin is an archery term that means missing the mark. One way or another, I miss the mark every day, yet by His grace, guilt and condemnation don’t batter me.

There is no condemnation for those are in Christ Jesus.

Natalie Glaser of Indiana wrote a wonderful book about her cancer journey, Don’t Call Me Brave; I was not alone. I know what my friend means, even though I sometimes feel alone. Waves of anxiety are most likely to strike when evening fades into night, especially if no one is around except the dog.

At the new Sunday night service at Grace Church, youth director Drew Whaley spoke about storms. I was glad the lights were low; my eyes stung as he spoke. I wanted to race out of Fellowship Hall, run away from a God who sometimes allows us to walk through storms and, in the process, help guide others through the dark.

The Bible is full of stories like that. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stories, where followers of the Lord God Most High went through fire. They were certainly not alone. Jesus stood with them through suffering and persecution. To survive, we all best set our eyes on Jesus, not on gales raging within and without.

*****

I look at the clock. I need to leave in an hour for a haircut. (My hair’s still growing, despite chemo. Praise the God who counts our hairs.) It’s time to set this blog aside, stash piles of laundry, and chose stuff to donate to St. Vincent dePaul. Maybe there’s even time to pull a few weeds.

Thank You Lord, for work and the energy and strength to accomplish it. This is a good day.

*****

Sometimes I give away cherished gifts, like the plush throw my son gave me. A pottery mug from a cousin that spoke stillness into my mornings. The blue and white tea set my twin sister presented me on our fiftieth birthday. Giving away treasured objects spreads the joy, enlarging the circle of love.

I wore the leather bracelet with its engraved message from Candy daily, taking comfort in its message and its connection to a dear friend. Then one evening a brave mom hugged me. I knew I had to slip it onto her wrist. She’s going through parenting storms I’ve already weathered; it will remind her that she’s not alone, that she will make it to the other side, that friends stand with her.

And the Three-in-One.

Thank You, Creator God.

Thank You, Redeemer Jesus.

Thank You, Sustainer Spirit.

Together, we’re stronger than the storm.

All will be well.

Texting Thru Recovery/Indiana Gazette