by Sharon O | Apr 19, 2023 | Uncategorized
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
What an amazing prayer promise to give to someone.
God will give you peace. At all times. In every way.
I think of the song, “it is well with my soul.”
When peace like a river ascended my way, when sorrow like sea billows roll.
Whatever my lot, thou has caused me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.
The song is smooth and peaceful.
It is assuring to us who listen and to others who sing.
The song is a promise of protection. The verse is an encouragement.
May the Lord of peace, NOT the Lord of chaos or confusion. But peace.
We receive the peace that passes all understanding when we reach our hands out to accept, what HE has to offer.
When I was doing treatment for cancer recovery, I remember feeling calm and peaceful.
I didn’t feel the anxiety till much later after the process was over.
It felt well with my soul, for I knew there was nothing I could do within myself to heal quicker.
I had to trust the process. I had to trust the one who heals on all levels.
Not a day goes by that I do not remain very thankful and fully, sure that God was with me.
The process was new. a little scary but I was ok. It imprinted itself on my mind, heart and spirit.
My soul was well, and in peace.
There were some unknowns but nothing is without a reason and just recently I was able to share with a new ‘survivor’ about my experince and story. Nothing comes to us without a purpose.
I was able to encourage her and explain to her what she could be feeling right now.
It was a positive thing.
I will continue to be open to those who need ‘my story.’
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.
by Sharon O | Apr 4, 2023 | Uncategorized
A new month is beginning and soon spring will arrive with warmer days and blooms on my flowers.
I have been ready for warmer days for some time.
It’s been a long wait.
We are in the week of Easter now. Oh I remember when our kids were little, and we would do eggs and easter baskets.
I remember one time our granddaughter who was about three or four, decided she did not need to go find eggs.
Why do I have to find them when I didn’t lose them? That is a logical question for sure and kind of funny.
She could never understand why one would take eggs out of the refrigerator, boil them, color them, cool them down and then hide them in the yard ONLY to go put the found ones back into the refrigerator.
She never knew why but she did it anyway so we could take pictures and be happy for her basket of goodies.
Easter is really a family holiday. It is for church. It is for remembering the story of Jesus.
It is a story of love.
We have been watching the chosen and those characters. really show the relationships that were formed in the days of Jesus and his followers.
It is powerful and it is meaningful.
Easter is also a time for grief. It is a sad, solemn. time.
I cannot even imagine Mary watching her ‘grown son’ go through what he had to experience.
I cannot even imagine the deep sorrow. The grief upon grief.
Knowing that she was the chosen one in the Christmas story, she was also chosen in his ‘death’ story.
She had a mother’s heart, and it would break and break more as it seemed so final.
God designed this story letting everyone know we are loved.
It had to be this way.
A new month is beginning, and spring will bring warm days and new life.
by Sharon O | Mar 14, 2023 | Uncategorized
In March of 2020 I was able to ring the bell for the last time bringing my treatment for breast cancer to a close.
No more radiation and allowing myself time to recover from surgery and fatique.
It was a good and exciting time.
I am not ever going to allow that to be minimal. It was a huge, big deal in my life.
This month I began my third year of recovery.
They give you five years to move past the first experience before they say ‘you are free’. I pray for good news.
This month is also our son’s birthday, our daughter’s birthday, our grandson’s birthday, our daughter in law’s birthday, an anniversary and another birthday. crazy busy.
I bought cards and stamps for the mail to go out.
I still believe in the old-fashioned handwritten cards.
Then I heard someone we know had major surgery, then others have significant days or moments.
It is all a part of listening and paying attention to those around us.
I know when I was recovering, a few handwritten cards meant so much.
I put them in my ‘cancer’ recovery folder.
It has been very dark and dreary outside. Oregon rains producing fall like weather.
I am SO ready for warmth. Sunshine and spring and summer.
I found out my old boss passed away, in fact both of the pharmacists that I worked with passed away just a few months apart.
Life has a way of creating memories and the passing of time.
I sure feel it as I get through each month.
Getting older is not for the faint of heart. One has to get focused and do their best to let this journey pass well.
Let our life shine so others can see our positive energy and hope even in the middle of the hard moments.
In March of 2020 I was able to ring the bell.
by Sharon O | Feb 27, 2023 | Uncategorized
The month is almost over and soon it will be March and we will head into spring.
I ended my radiation treatments in the early part of March, 2020 so I will be entering into my third year of recovery.
It was life changing for me. I don’t think I am the same person since I did all that.
My anxiety is higher, although I trust the Lord deeply, this is a different kind of anxiety.
While I am saying that I am ready to go out and do some traveling in our trailer.
I rarely go out anywhere alone.
I found a hairdresser who cuts my hair for a reasonable price just a few blocks from our house.
The eye doctor and dental office is only about 3 miles away from our house.
I have kept the circle small after we moved.
It is way better for me and my peace of mind to stay close to home.
Remembering the years when I would drive all over the areas surrounding us.
Would I wish for that ability back? nope I like keeping close to home.
Times have changed and life is different now and as long as it is possible my peace is staying near.
My nerves cannot take bad drivers, or the chaos of some people.
When we moved to our new area there were many changes and I have not really gotten used to them.
Then the ‘quarantine’ of covid that lasted a long time just continued my peace of mind.
I do like to go out. Only not so much with people but the coast or the rivers. I love to be outside.
I do love to be with our friends and of course family.
I LOVE the beach.
It is where my spirit finds breath and life and so much of familiar places.
It brings peace in the midst of life changes.
The month is almost over and soon we will see spring.
by Sharon O | Feb 1, 2023 | Uncategorized
This is the month of love.
Valentine’s day soon will arrive and the time for hearts and flowers.
Showing sentiments to each other, I always told my husband to not give me stuff on that day, pick a different one.
When I am sad, or don’t feel good, or don’t expect it.
When I worked in a flower shop valentine’s day and Mother’s Day were the worst.
Busy and chaotic, so many rushing to pick something up.
I think most moms would just appreciate a had written card or note from the heart.
This is also a birthday month. Yesterday was my best friends 70th birthday.
Then the third is another friend’s birthday, then the 13th is our twin granddaughter’s birthday. They will be 19.
The 11th would have been my sister’s birthday, but she’s gone now.
The 22 would have been my mothers, but she is gone also.
It’s a busy month celebrating those we love and lost.
Jesus talked about the Love needed in 1st Corinthians chapter. 13
13 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, [b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love always wins.
This is the month of love, let us celebrate and rejoice in it.
