After the diagnosis and surgery I came home.  I came home to regroup, to heal, and to be cared for by family and friends.  I would like to tell you that I remained incredibly strong at all times.  But it was really difficult.  Waves of sadness and fear sometimes washed over me.  Some days I just couldn’t seem to shake the anxiety that a diagnosis of breast cancer brings.  But I couldn’t stay in that Pit and God wouldn’t let me.  I felt His Presence, His Touch, His Care all over me.  So how did I keep fear at bay?  In today’s post I will share one way:  What Do You See?

When fear, anxiety, and sadness came knocking and even when they weren’t quite at my doorstep yet, I did this…  I closed my eyes and visualized.  In my mind’s eye I saw Jesus’ hand reaching down to mine.  His Hand was strong.  I placed my hand in His and visualized Him pulling me out of a pit, a well so deep that I couldn’t touch the bottom.  I also visualized us walking together- usually along the beach or along a path surrounded by tall green grass and water.  I pictured myself lying down in the grass, feeling the breeze, and smelling the air.  When my thoughts seemed to be on a runaway track of “what ifs,” I saw Jesus holding me, hugging me.  That felt incredible.

I know if you are reading this, you may not have a relationship with Jesus.  You may not believe God or believe IN Him; but to push back the fear, the anxiety, the sadness you MUST see something.  You must visualize something that will pull you out of that Pit.  Choose what you see carefully- it has the power to carry you through.

Here is an excerpt from my journal from my summer of healing:

“The Pit”

Lord,

I seek Your Face, I hunger for Your Peace.

I thirst for Your Joy.

You reach down and pull me up from the Pit of my thoughts.

Take my hand, and don’t let go…

So… what do YOU see?