This morning, as I sit here and try to come up with a thanksgiving post… it is hard. Not because I dont have anything to be thankful for, but because I have so. very. much. to be thankful for.. and it is hard to put it all in words.
The past year and a half has been crazy. Finding out about the brain tumor, having it removed, getting the pathology, going to through radiation/chemo, and then chemotherapy for a year. It would bring the strongest person to their knees.
It put me on the floor.
But it has also been the most rewarding and beneficial time of my life. I have grown so much this past year. Closer to family, friends, and most importantly, to my Savior. He has shown me things that I never dreamed I could accomplish, and He has called me to do these things, although I fight Him all the way. He is so very persistent, using everyone around me for His plan and purpose in my life.
I’m sitting here, tears streaming down my face because I am just awe-struck. I am awe-struck at how he has chosen me… in all of my grime and dirt and filth… to accomplish this task. I look back and see His hand all. over. my. life. From Emma Grace, to her transplant and life, to my cancer journey.
His fingerprints are everywhere.
I look back and see the people who have stood by me. Really stood by me. Through it all, they were a constant figure in my pain, insecurity and fear. I see my beautiful husband, whom I love immensely. He has given up so much, and still sticks around. He is such a Godly man, even when he has reasons not to be. He loves me unconditionally, without preconditions or expectations. He knows the real me, and still loves Heather Dawn George. I see my parents, whom I would not have made it through this without. My father, who faithfully is there for me, no questions ask. My mother, who has become my closest friend. I see Michelle P, who in such a short time, has become like a sister to me. I see my church family who has loved on us like no one else could. I see my beautiful amazing fault ridden children… who keep me honest and teach me patience on a daily basis.
I see my life. And I am so thankful for it. I am thankful for the opportunities to lead. I am thankful for the platform to do Gods work. I am thankful for the burden and the calling to minister to all those I come in contact. I am thankful for my cancer, for without it, I would not be the person I have become and I would have missed out on oh. so. much.
I am thankful for you. For your constant confidence and support. I am thankful for this outlet, and the way that it ministers to you, and in return, ministers to me.
I am thankful for my life. All of its bumps and twists and dead ends.
Its a crazy beautiful life. I am so very blessed to be living it.
And even though it has been harder than I ever imagined.. I have hope.
Because my future is in the hands of a Living God.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
Amen! Thanks for posting. It is so so hard to put into words for me as well. Although you did quite well.
With tears,
k-
Kates last blog post..Thankful!
Dear Heather,
Absolutely! You are brave and wonderful. Being thankful in the midst of all these trials show the character God is forming! Keeping focused on Him and His promises is what we all need, so easy to say but not always easy to do! I’m sure that’s why that verse in Matthew 6 about not worrying and being anxious for tomorrow, or how the birds don’t fret about their food and the Lord provides, is in the Bible because God knows we’d worry. How much more valuable are we than the birds? Anyhow I am thankful that you have this blog and that I can pray for you and sweet Emma Grace (: Have a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving with your family.
Molly (:
What a beautiful post. I like you have been through so much this year…in a variety of ways, back surgery, dealing with my dad cancer and death, my uncles cancer and death…dealing with grown children and my one child still at home and like you I am blessed, very blessed and at times it just blows me away. Loved your post and keeping you in my prayers. Hugs!
Kathleens last blog post..Remorse and Contentment
Heather,
Thank you for this post. I came across your blog a while ago and I have been one of those “lurkers’. But now I want to stop and thank you for saying all you said in this post. We have an 8 yo on the autism spectrum and we just found out that our 5yo daughter has liposarcoma. We are in the very early stages of this finding but we know what may lie ahead for our sweet girl. These words of being thankful may not makes sense to others in the world but I want to stand and say those same things in the end of all of this too. Thank you so much.
Have a blessed Holiday!
Brookes last blog post..
Happy Thanksgiving, Heather! You are right, there simply aren’t enough words to express all of the things we are thankful for!
Blessings to you!
~Gina
Gina Dunns last blog post..Happy Thanksgiving!
Amen, and Amen.
Melodys last blog post..Less Mess Cinnamon Roll-Rolling
Thank you for your help Heather. We both have a lot to be thankful for. Even in the valley, God is GOOD! I love you sis! Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Karens last blog post..The ABC’s of Thanksgiving
I am ever so thankful this year. We are beyond blessed.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your precious family.
Kathys last blog post..The Laundry and the Tooth Fairy
Such a beautiful post, Heather. You truly have more to be thankful for than anyone else I know. We are thankful for you and your amazing example.
we love ya Heather, and we all can learn a lesson from what you had to say. HUGS and pray you are able to eat much turkey.
Happy Thanksgiving Heather..Wishing you and your Family the best. Its funny how all the good in life and through all the hardships we all learn so much…Wishing you many blessings for the Holiday Season. God bless you and yours.
Kerrys last blog post..I Love Thanksgiving
Dear Heather,
I am constantly impressed by your courage and strength, and you are a beautiful person inside and out. You are an inspiration to all who know you. It is our constant prayer that God will continue to bless you and heal you. At this Thanksgiving season, we are thankful to know you.
Much love,
Bob & Betty
At one point in this entry, you said, “I look back and see the people who have stood by me. Really stood by me.“, and it struck a chord deep in my soul.
You and I come from different backgrounds, and have different philosophies about any number of things. Yet, one of the things that I sense that you and I can agree on is that we both treasure loyalty.
My dearest friend gave me a picture frame once, with a quote that says: “Treat your family like friends; your friends like family”.
Even though I love my family to death, there are times when I am closer to my friends than my family. In an odd sort of way, as children leave the proverbial “nest”, I get the feeling that that’s the way it is supposed to be, at least to some extent.
ANYWAY… the one thing that I look for the most in my friendships is LOYALTY, and I am SO thankful to have some of the most loyal friends in the universe (in my not so humble opinion, anyway).
I know that most of my family is always there for me, but it is those people who don’t necessarily HAVE to be there… aren’t there because they feel “obligated” to be there… that make my world a much richer world… and those people are my friends.
A true friend will stick with you through thick and thin, and beyond. You can show them ALL of your imperfections. Yet, they will never, ever abandon you, and while you were most likely referring to friends AND family, what you said about people who have REALLY stood by you is %1000 true when it comes to your friends.
Yes, you ARE blessed, Heather… but so are your family and friends. I truly suspect that their world(s) would be a much bleaker place without you around.
I hope that you are feeling well these days, and that your husband and children are also feeling well. I pray that Emma Grace has rebounded after her recent hospital stay, and is at play and happy again, like any little girl should be.
Corys last blog post..So… President-Elect Obama, huh?
Step by step inch by inch moment by moment The Lord Jesus has been glorified on this blog. Thanksgiving is not a day to you Heather it is your life. For you, it is Thanksliving!
God Bless you SSiC!
Because of Jesus, Bobbie
Bobbies last blog post..A Message from PapaSmurf and a reminder to prayer this Thanksgiving
Hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving.
The Waala’ss last blog post..Need motivation ?
“I am thankful for my cancer, for without it, I would not be the person I have become and I would have missed out on oh. so. much.”
Amazing.
And something that can only come from someone who’s been on the floor, because it is in our weakness that He is strong. Strong, indeed.
Gayle @ thewestiecrews last blog post..Black Friday
It’s so wonderful to come here and read how something so ugly can be turned into something so lovely, by your words and God’s presence in your life. May He continue to bless you and give you so much to be thankful for. Thank you for your optimism and this beautiful post.
Terris last blog post..Oh Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
I cannot compare my past year to yours… though I must say, the depths of sadness and the waiting and not knowing that I experienced were pretty awful. The whole time walking through, I knew that God would take away the pain and give me a new life… and He did. I’m glad that I realized he would cleanse my mind, too… so I wrote it all down… and I took pictures of myself… and I’ve gone back to look and to read and to see God’s hand in my life. He is so amazing and so magnificent. And I am so thankful that He puts his hands so lovingly on us, reassuring us that He is always there.
Thank you for always sharing.
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