I have been very tired this week. Literally most of what I do is sleep. I am sure a lot of that is because my body is fighting the cancer. Yes. We have confirmation after my last procedure that the treatment is working. My body is killing the cancer. The tissue samples in my 2nd procedure were rubbery but my samples from last procedure were soft and brown, which is more normal. That means the IUD and the medication is helping my body get rid of the cancer on its own. If things keep going in this direction, after my next procedure in November we can start spreading out the procedures and maybe even cut back on the meds. This makes me very happy.
We have had a lot of trials to overcome. This week is not without them. My sister, Jamie Holloway, is still in the hospital. She is planning to have surgery on Thursday to have stints put in her lungs on Thursday. She is also confronting the reality that she is at the point that she has to give up much of her freedom. Her doctors want her to go to a group home where she will have round the clock care, which sounds great but she won’t be able to have her cat with her or visitors and she isn’t sure about her books or her internet. These are all her security blankets. She asked my opinion and I started asking questions. Before we could get really anywhere she told me she was going to ask about assisted living where she could have her cat, visitors and internet. I told her I felt that she would not do well in a place that did not let her have these things. She agreed.
I am heartbroken.
I just got off my Zoom appointment with my psychiatrist. He is nice but he isn’t my therapist. He is mainly there to make sure my meds are correct. They are. Even he asked if I had spoken with my therapist about Jamie. I look forward to Monday when I talk to my therapist.
I hadn’t realized how sick my friend was until I saw her in the ICU. It took me seeing her being helped by 2 nurses, knowing that they don’t put you in the ICU for no reason, to know that my friend and I might not get to do some of the adventures we dreamed of.
And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
John 21:6
God gave me this message a few weeks ago. I have been chewing on it for a while. I wasn’t sure what it would look like because I wasn’t ready to write it. I have been reading a lot. I have been trying to live better. Enjoy life better. As our car is still at the shop because we don’t quite have all the money to pay for it and there are programs we have been waiting YEARS for that we know we are eligible for, but for whatever reason we are still waiting for, I could let myself be pretty let down with this side of the boat, but I know that there is another side of the boat.
On the other side of the boat, Jamie is safe. She is cared for and Nicholas, her cat is safe with Jamie’s brother’s family. Karen and I have a roof over our head, food to eat, clothes and shoes to wear and we too are safe. We have everything we need. Not only that, we like each other and enjoy each other and many married couples can’t say that. Karen got hired on at another job that she will start this weekend. Although I don’t like her having to have this other job, I appreciate that she is willing to do it so our bills can be paid and we can save for emergencies like the car breaking down. Or better yet, trading this one in for vehicle that works better for us both.
I have been reading all kinds of books lately. I had to leave some people I love on their path because they were taking away from my harmony and balance. It is hard. It doesn’t turn off my love for them but it helps me heal and learn my harmony and balance so I can be a better person. From what I have read, it seems that in many religions there is a higher power or Creator, and the main goal is to learn peace, harmony and balance with others and to learn how to love others which doesn’t always mean staying with people that promote chaos and drama, whether intentional or not. Most religions promote listening over talking. I find this refreshing. Most religions teach a connection with all living things. I feel this. I have always felt this. I don’t believe this takes away from the teachings of Jesus, in fact I think it enlightens them.
Did you know that our Cherokee brothers call our White brothers, brothers? Even with all the terrible lies we told them and everything we took from them, they consider them on their own path. The Cherokee have sacred teachings about everything from the beginning of time that talk about global warming and chronic illness, their teachings and ways would have protected us longer. They believe that their White brothers are just not as advanced on their path. That is how they talk about people that look like me.
I am reading Beloved by Toni Morrison right now too. If you have never read it, it is a novel where most of the characters were slaves at one point in their lives and they were from plantations where the masters were terrible. I have read easier to read stories. This is not one of them. One of the characters says that White people don’t know when to stop.
As I process these different ideas and books I know that not all White people are evil. This is a good time to fish on the other side of the boat. For every evil person, there were people that taught others to read, gave them food, took care of their wounds, gave them jobs and were their friend. There were advocates of every color and creed. There still are.
Why am I doing this? I am searching for myself. When I told certain people I had to leave them, I lost everyone. My family doesn’t reach out to me; they don’t answer me. I felt disconnected. But I am not. Karen is my family. God is my family. Everyone is my family. I am looking for what I don’t know that is missing in me. So I am reading autobiographies, random novels by powerful authors and everyday I am in the bible. I am fishing on the other side of the boat and I am amazed at what I am finding.
~
Feel free to leave your comments below!
My name is Summer. That is how you can call me. I hope that I am a blessing to you. I am not perfect. I will fall again. But I am forgiven.
For anyone reading this that isn’t a Christian, unapologetically, I am a Christian, but I believe there is room for lots of beliefs and religions in the world. It is not my intent to offend people with different beliefs than I have and I would be open to open-minded conversations with no goals of changing anyone’s mind, but sharing information.
If you are interested in becoming a Christian…Do you know Jesus? Do want the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you understanding and salvation? Ask Him. Want someone to pray with you? Contact me.
If you would like to know Jesus as your friend, but want to make this amazing commitment by yourself please pray something like this:
Thank you Jesus that You are the Son of God, the God that created heaven and earth. Thank you Jesus that You came to earth in the form of a man so that You would be able to empathize with my humanity. Thank You that You did this in order to fulfill the promises You made at the foundation of the world.
I realize that I am a sinner and do things that hurt myself and keep myself away from you. Thank You that You died for my sins so that You could defeat death and bring me into Your life. Please forgive me.
I ask You to be Lord of my life. I ask you to heal my hurts and show me what my new life, empowered by You looks like. Thank You for Your mercy.