Light, Love, Hope

It was a warm 86 degree day in the south today.   I could hardly wait to get home from work to enjoy some time lounging around the pond in my backyard.  I purposely chose to be present in the moment so I left my phone inside to ensure no distractions.  Paying attention to the blue skies with white puffy clouds that looked like cotton balls floating effortlessly above me, I listened to the birds chirping in the distance.  Glancing at the bird feeders to ensure they were full, I sat down in the red wooden Adirondack chair by the sparkling water.  Looking around in the natural environment where I longed to be all day, I spotted several Cardinals in the distance getting braver by the minute as they inched closer to where I sat. To my right, Bluebirds were flying around the white Purple Martin house attempting to seize it again just as they had las year.

Ahhhh … Spring.

Well, almost!

In 28 more days, Spring is officially going to arrive.  Right now, the warmer weather is causing green sprouts to erupt from the earth and fragrant flowering trees to bloom.  Imagine my surprise when I found a Japanese Magnolia Tree bursting with fuchsia flowers!

Do you take time to just be one with nature?

The world screams at us with such urgency on a daily basic that “this” or “that” is important.  We rush around checking things off of our “to do” lists so much that we are left exhausted.  Take time to enjoy nature and soak in the sights and sounds of your environment.  It rejuvenates and refreshes our souls.

Where were you at 2:22 p.m. on 2-2-22?  Hmmm … I was at work on a great Tuesday afternoon and thankful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our clients.

Think on that for just a moment.

With each new day, we are provided an opportunity to do great and amazing things.  We have the power to brighten someone’s day, whether it’s by casting a warm smile their way, offering a sincere compliment, or praying with them before parting ways.

This opportunity presents itself when your eyes open in the morning before your feet ever hit the floor, and it is available to you right on up to when you close your eyes at the end of the day for a good night’s rest.

Do you take advantage of the opportunities given to you, or do you find yourself in complacency?

We can ask this question of ourselves in the work atmosphere as well as in our home lives.  Often times we are nicer to strangers than we are to people in our own household.  Why is this?  Because we know we can get away with it with people we are closer to?  Because we know they will forgive us?  Why aren’t we striving harder to show the ones we love that we love them?!  Sure, they “know,” but it is always a good idea to SHOW it and SAY it as well.  Everyone likes to hear the words, and it’s even better when your actions line up with the words you speak.

Today we gave our youngest daughter balloons and a card that said, “There you go again – brightening up our world and God’s just by being you!” – just because.  There was no special occasion other than wishing to celebrate her and bless her with a little surprise.

Do you wait for a special occasion to express your appreciation for someone in your life?  Or do you enjoy surprising them “just because?”  Have you gotten to a place where you feel it isn’t needed – well, think again!  Some times it is truly the little things that mean so much!  A person can be having a really bad day or be upset about a situation, and the smallest gesture can make their heart smile and soul sing!  That was the case this afternoon, and I’m SO thankful we planned this surprise earlier in the day not even knowing she wasn’t happy about a certain situation with someone close to her.  God knew, and I believe He laid this on my heart – God does whisper to us, if we only listen!  Thank you, God!  It was just what she needed, when she needed it, too!).

If you find yourself feeling too comfortable, whether it’s at work or in your home life with your relationships, get out of the mindset and place of security where you don’t feel like you have to put forth much effort now.  Strive to do better, to want more than being stagnant.  Use the opportunities given to you!  Those around you will appreciate it far more than you will ever know!

Tomorrow will be two weeks since my loved one’s surgery.

The spot on his right kidney was considered an “incidental finding” as the doctors sent him for a scan due to stomach discomfort.  The urologist referral was made, and the doctor explained this is how 95% of kidney cancers are found.  Now that they knew about it, they could not ignore it.  A biopsy was performed which revealed results none of us wanted.  Tearfully, we tired to make peace with the news, trusting in God the entire way.  We knew the mass would ultimately need to come out.  Thankfully, it was a slower growing cancer, but it was cancer … and no one likes to hear that “C” word.  Ever!

What started out as a mission to get the spot on the upper right portion of the kidney ended in the removal of the whole right kidney.  Once inside, the doctor determined this was the safest way to proceed, even if it was not the desired outcome.  It was too close to a major artery.  Therefore, the doctor proceeded with removing the entire kidney instead of chancing anything detrimental and catastrophic happening.

It was hard to hide the disappointment in his face when we told him after he woke up in recovery.   That was his very first question, and we could not keep it from him.  He was still with us, and that was the most important thing to us all.  He still has a good functioning kidney, and we will pray that it remains healthy.

In these two weeks, he has had to adapt to a new way of life … for now.

He is used to going and doing, but right now, he has to take it easy.  It is at the end of Winter here, so the timing was right so he wouldn’t be tempted to get outside and do yard work.  But, being inside day in and day out is wearing on him.  Walking to the mailbox helps, but it doesn’t take the place of having your hands in the dirt or hooking up to your tractor to plant seeds in the field.

The doctor asked him to allow two weeks before driving again.  You don’t really realize all of the muscles you use to drive, look over your shoulder, steer, turn, etc.  Reluctantly, he agreed to wait and not push himself.   A massive sneeze snuck up on him over the weekend, and he felt incredible pain as a result.  Usually, he will keep a pillow nearby to hold next to his stomach if he sneezes or coughs to soften the force.  It happened so fast, though, that he was not able to get the pillow in time.

Ouch!

One would think the incisions would be on his back, but the mass was located in an awkward position facing his navel instead of his spine.  Therefore, it was necessary to go in through his stomach.  The doctor was one of the first trained in robotic assisted surgeries, so the incisions aren’t as big as what one would have with traditional surgery in years gone by.  Technology has advanced, and we are thankful for the improvements made.  Even still, there are five incisions.   The lower one, being longer than the others, is the main one giving him soreness.

Two weeks may seem to fly by for us, but they drag on for someone recovering from surgery staring at the same four walls day in and day out.

Please pray for comfort and complete healing, for his left kidney to be perfectly healthy and functioning as it should without any issues.  And please pray for his mental wellbeing as well as he allows himself time to rest and fully heal from this major surgery.

Thank you for those who have taken the time to follow along and for the prayers lifted up.  God hears, and we will continue to trust in Him.  We thank Him for His hand of protection over our precious loved one.  As much as we love him, we know God loves him even more!