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