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.
by Sharon O | Jan 25, 2023 | Uncategorized
A new year brings a new month that is almost over.
Hard to believe time is just flying right on by.
My husband had a birthday, he is 69 now.
We survived the holiday season and quietly moved into a new year.
Wonder what we will experience! Anything could happen right?
In our age group of people we have experienced the death of one spouse, leaving new widows to navigate grief.
It is so hard to believe and so sad.
I have projects on my mind of things to do and get done and organize.
I want to paint a few walls in a few rooms.
I will be organizing closets and drawers.
It is time, we have lived here for four years this April.
Most of what we had when we moved in was just dumped into closets and cupboards.
I will take my time and purge right.
Not leaving any ‘junk’ when I am done.
Clothing can go if I have not worn it, or I don’t fit it.
Shoes can be gone through too.
Papers need to be purged and shredded then make way for new ones.
Lots of books to read so I can try for a book every two months.
Then there are friends who we want to get together with and see.
There are vacation places we want to explore, and the time is good to travel a little.
Our to do list will grow as we go, and it will get done one step at a time.
I will not shame myself for moving slow for that will do nothing but frustrate me.
I think it is a very good thing to plan ahead as we can and not get frustrated when it doesn’t get done.
A new year brings a new month, and we will challenge ourselves to move forward.
by Sharon O | Jan 2, 2023 | Uncategorized
My husband and I have been watching the Chosen movie.
It’s an amazing telling of the men and women who followed Jesus and it really is captivating.
Mary is also one of the followers, and it flashed back to a very moving scene between Joseph and Jesus as a young boy.
We are on the last few sessions then there will be a pause.
I have been thinking of one scene where there were crippled people laying around near a pool of water that spouted out every hour.
Apparently, the pool had healing powers within it.
The one man in the scene tried and tried to pull himself to the water. Over and over. Many times, failing, to get in the water.
At one point in a day Jesu walked by and said to him, “why are you here?” The man answered him.
“I have waited to get in the water, but no one has helped me.” Jesus said, “Do you want to be healed?”
The man explained again, why he had not gotten into the water, and Jesus said, “That is not what I asked you, do you want to be healed?”
The man had excuse after excuse.
Jesus said, “Do you want to be healed?” If you do, then stand up.”
The man tried to explain why his legs didn’t work.
Jesus just looked at him and asked again, “do you want to be healed?”
Part of the process of getting healed was for the man to rise up and start walking.
He would have to participate in the healing process.
He would have to trust.
Finally, HE did rise up and began rejoicing in the new ‘healed legs’ that he received.
I really loved this scene among many others in this series.
Jesus did not just ‘create’ miracles he expected participation, and involvement.
When he turned the water into wine, he told the wedding party to ‘give him the barrels’.
They had to trust him and his process.
I love the way he centers into the situation.
“Do you want to be healed?” that is a question for all of us.
What would it look like to not identify yourself as a cripple? As a leper? As a non-believer?
We identify in what we have been comfortable with. Perhaps the cripple had attention given to him in that condition.
Once we are healed, and we receive his QUESTION in our hearts then we must act on the changes made within us.
If the Savior asks, “do you want to be healed?” we must be willing to do what it would take for that to happen.
My husband and I have been watching this very special series and I encourage others to watch it too.
by Sharon O | Dec 22, 2022 | Uncategorized
Christmas is almost here.
The shopping is done, cards mailed, wrapped gifts are around our tree and food is in the pantry and refrigerator.
The weather is changing so hopefully we will be able to go to our son’s house for brunch.
They are predicting ice and freezing rain. That is NO fun to be out in.
The holiday is fast approaching.
I also have a birthday coming up. Turning 68 and that is just fine with me.
The aging process doesn’t bother me, it’s the body that doesn’t want to always co-operate.
For example, today the air outside is very cold, and my body does not respond to it very well.
I have a great deal of pain, if I get too cold.
So, I stay in where it’s warm and do my best to stay comfortable.
The family will soon be together and that will warm my heart immensely.
Our decorating has been very simple this year, and the focus has been to not do too much.
We have watched a few Christmas movies and also have discovered music on you tube.
I have limited my time in public on purpose so I can stay healthy for the rest of the year.
Mamy people we know have had bad bugs and I certainly do my part to stay away.
I mask up if I am in public places and I even wear winter gloves.
One cannot be too careful.
I treasure this time of year and I love the songs and the spirit.
The nativity story is the reason for the season.
I think my favorite song is “oh Holy Night”.
When it says, fall on your knees… it reminds me of the simple.
It reminds me of hope, of love and of God coming to us in a way that we could understand.
Christmas is almost here, and we rejoice in the message.
by Sharon O | Dec 9, 2022 | Uncategorized
The birth of Jesus was well orchestrated with many different characters.
Each had a role given to them for the specific purpose within the story.
Beginning with Mary, and the Angel Gabriel, then Joseph, Elizabeth (and even baby John), and Zechariah.
Then we find the Shepherds out in the field with more angels greeting them with song: and Gabriel again.
Then we find Simeon and Anna in the temple, who had waited many years for this very special moment.
Then we also add in Herod who was an angry man tricking the Wise men who were told to find the baby.
I think I would also add the donkey, who went with Mary and Joseph and helped with the journey.
Remembering that the donkey brought her to his birth, the donkey also brought him later to his death.
Scripture had to be fulfilled.
Each character had to do their part, not too different than in the story of his death.
Each one played a role, and each one was needed.
There were many others in the verses that I read, but these were the key players who formed the beautiful story.
As we sing, Oh little town of Bethlehem,
we visualize ‘our picture’ based on Christmas cards of nativity scenes.
We love to sing silent night, Holy Night, all is calm… all is bright.
But really it wasn’t.
Yes, it was a Holy night, but it was dim and probably not well lighted with anything but a lantern.
I love the Song, Sweet little Jesus boy, for it says, “We didn’t know who you were.”
I believe that to be true.
No one expected a Savior to come the way HE did.
Even Mary might not have fully understood the baby she gave birth to, as the Holy One.
Too much to take in, too much to think on.
Silence was within the 400 years from the Old Testament to the birth of Jesus.
The silence was broken by a baby’s cry.
I think a lot about Mary, so young and alone maybe only having Joseph with her.
I think of Joseph with a huge responsibility put upon Him,
because God saw that HE could do it and He knew his heart was right.
We hear very little about him after Jesus was born. I wonder so much about him.
I am sure he stayed with Mary, and they had other children; but did they ever talk about this
special Holy Birth?
May we read with a new awareness of all that it took,
for this baby to bring Hope to a very dark world.
The birth of Jesus was well orchestrated with many characters.
by Sharon O | Dec 8, 2022 | Uncategorized
The wise men were the next ones to arrive on the scene with Mary and Joseph.
We often see the manger story with them near the manger, where Mary had the baby.
That is actually not accurate.
In Matthew 2 we find a different kind of story.
beginning in vs 2:
About that time (when Jesus was born) some wise men (or Maji) from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star (or star in the east) as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”
King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was the whole land.
He called a meeting leading priest and teachers of the law and asked,
“Where is this Messiah supposed to be born?”
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:
vs 6b “a ruler will come from you O Bethlehem, who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.”
“Then Herod told the wise men to go to Bethlehem and search for him,
come back and tell me so I can worship him too.”
vs 9: After this interview the wise men went their way.
And the star in the east guided them to Bethlehem.
It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was.
When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!
They entered the house [notice it is not a manger scene] and saw the child with Mary his mother,
and they bowed down and worshiped him.
Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh.
(These gifts were symbolic of what was to come.)
When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route,
for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
vs 13: After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.
“Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said,
“Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother and stayed there until Herod’s death.
[I don’t know how long that was for them, but it was very important for them to stay away as long as possible.]
The wise men were the next ones to arrive on the scene with Mary and Joseph.
