| I read an article back in March 2005 that had the | | | | found myself even MORE prayerful. I found more time |
| words of the title of this article in it. I picked it up at the | | | | to enjoy my days, to kiss my kids and tell my husband |
| Cancer Center at Beaumont Hospital, in Detroit | | | | I loved him. I also found a lot more time for God. |
| Michigan. It was a heartfelt story of a woman who | | | | Hmmm, makes me wonder why. But isn't life funny |
| had lost her breasts to Breast Cancer. The story went | | | | that way? We move along forgetting that our time is |
| on to talk about Melissa Etheridge and of her | | | | short, our days are numbered, our fate is destined and |
| deliberate boldness at the 2005 Grammy's, when she | | | | we truly have no idea when Gods hand will reach |
| came out with a bald head, after her cancer | | | | down and pluck us from our busy, appointment filled, |
| treatments, as if proudly displaying it as her "gift" of life. | | | | carpooling, grocery shopping, house cleaning, business |
| The story went on to talk about women who in | | | | building days. These precious days that we can't seem |
| desperation for survival had in some ways traded their | | | | to find time to get on our knees and give thanks |
| beauty for life.I related to the story, being a breast | | | | because we don't have the time. Why, because our |
| cancer survivor myself. But, what truly touched me | | | | lives are just too full. Too full. I want you to remember |
| about that article was the woman in the story talking | | | | that last statement. Life IS full. Praise God our lives are |
| about how when her outer beauty had faded away, | | | | filled! Live every single day of it!We have one month, |
| and during treatments, she was "left with spirit, raw | | | | one day a year to get our families together to gather |
| and powerful and hanging on with claws, daring her to | | | | in praise and thanksgiving. A National Holiday will do |
| live."What a concept. Have you ever been dared to | | | | that for most of us. But how about not waiting for that |
| live? Tim McGraw has an old song titled "Live like you | | | | Thanksgiving Holiday or that crucial moment of |
| were dying," about a man, who seemingly is given a | | | | unknown fate.When you find yourself on your knees |
| certain number of years or months to live due to | | | | at times like these, stay there. We could all stand to |
| some type of fatal disease. In the song when asked | | | | kneel a little longer. My hope is that this year we |
| what he was to do about this news, he replied with, | | | | remember Gods graces and appreciate our lives and |
| "skydiving," "mountain climbing," and a wish to all of his | | | | everything in them because God is good! Something |
| friends to one day know what it feels like to "live like | | | | as simple as feeling your pulse each morning is proof |
| you were dying."I remember what it felt like going | | | | of that. Keep on remembering. While you're at it, |
| through my cancer treatments. I remember the | | | | remember those full days when your inbox is so full |
| ugliness of my body and the forced humbleness of a | | | | that you can barely find time to breathe? Those are |
| deep seeded pride. I recall wondering if I would live | | | | the days to be grateful for. Those are the days to get |
| through it, the pain, the blisters and stress. Looking | | | | on your knees in praise because when your "in-box" is |
| back, I realize, I "lived" every day. I lived more then | | | | empty, you're dead.By the way that lump in my |
| each day then I sometimes do now. Why is it that we | | | | breast? Nothing but a small cyst. Cancer Free another |
| have to be faced with something tragic to appreciate | | | | day! Praise the heavens for this and every day. I |
| LIFE? What is it in our human-ess that makes us | | | | intend to fully live ALL of mine. How about you?Melissa |
| forget the grace and mercy of God and the power of | | | | Privett is a Transformational Workshop Leader and |
| prayer until we are brought to our knees at a crucial | | | | Keynote Speaker. She is intensively trained to facilitate |
| point in our life and MADE to remember? Funny, how | | | | a myraid of seminars and workshops for personal and |
| God sometimes has a way of reminding us of the | | | | spiritual growth and self-acceptance. Her workshops |
| fragility of life. I believe He does this just so that we | | | | are highly praised for their inspirational empowerment |
| DO remember.I recently was reminded again last | | | | of women. Melissa is also available for Spiritual Life |
| week when another lump was found after almost two | | | | Coaching by phone or in person and Chakra and |
| years of "survival." I'm a prayerful, faithful woman, but I | | | | Energy Balancing by appointment. |