Faith is courage; it is creative while despair is always destructive. ~David S. Muzzey
I’m not even sure there are words to describe what I’m feeling. Friends…dear friends, whether old or new, you have completely amazed me. Your support and kind words have alleviated so much pain…I don’t know if you can begin to understand your power.
Thank you for sharing your gratitude and reminding me what I have to be grateful for as well. From family, friends, starry skies…to coffee…your lists reminded me that there is so much in life to be grateful for. I’m going to print the comments and carry them with me wherever I go so that when I’m in doubt about the good and about the gratitude during bad times…I have your words to remind me.
You showed me that online friendships are just as real as offline. I was reduced to tears, and admit still cry when I read the posts that my dearest blog friends have posted in response to Miss Ann’s kindness. My daughter’s have been through so much in the past four years as cancer has ripped our family apart. My biggest fear is that something could happen to me and they will be left with bad memories. To give them a wonderful memory and spend some magical time with them means more to me then anything.
Friends you also reminded me to have faith which is something I lost a long time ago. I used to feel that people said, “I’ll keep you in my prayers” as a way of saying something when they were at a loss for words. I have to believe that you mean it…I have to have that faith. I do believe in God in my own warped way…maybe not in the biblical way, in a church, a temple or the traditional sense…but I believe in God.
I believe that God has a plan for me and I’m here for the ride. It’s my obligation to be open to his plan, listen intuitively and have faith that he’ll see me through. I know that without this faith…I won’t make it through this. Without your faith I won’t make it through. Yes, this from the girl who doesn’t understand the bible. Do I have to understand the bible to have faith in God? No.
We all have our opinion of God. We fight about it…we go to war over it. Is all of that necessary, I mean really, is it necessary? I feel like I’m going to have a Rodney King moment here, “Can we all get along”?
When everyone tells you that you gotta have faith…what do you put your faith in?
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Sodapop 04.02.08 at 7:09 am
Faith is a scary thing. Turning fear into faith is difficult on a good day, let alone when facing the troubles you face today. Your faith is your business, no one can tell you that you’re wrong.
For me, when someone tells me to keep the faith I do go read the Bible. I read Romans and I read Psalms. When I’m at a loss of how to pray or how to word my prayers, I read Psalms 23.
You don’t have to understand the Bibe to have faith. You just have to have faith and you have that. I’d say that’s a great place to be!
Sodapop’s last blog post..It’s Wednesday! YAY!
Lisa 04.02.08 at 7:14 am
Soda, I have read Romans and read Psalms and found comfort in those Bible passages. Yes, believe it or not, I have read some little parts of the Bible. It’s been a very long time since I’ve read either.
I feel the same way thought…the Bible and faith don’t have to be intertwined. I believe that as long as I know God is in charge, not me…then I’m O.K.
I also agree…it’s no one’s business to tell someone else what they should believe but it’s an interesting discussion.
Geeky Tai-Tai 04.02.08 at 7:32 am
Lisa, I’ve got to tell you that reading all of the beautiful comments brought me to tears too. I love being a part of this community, I truly do.
I was at my book club today, and the book discussion sucked (I was the leader and I hated the book — “A Woman of Cairo” don’t bother, it sucks ass (heh)). The topic of the internets came up. I attempted to explain blogging and friendships, but they didn’t get it. What they did get was that my friend has been struck with cancer again. I asked them to keep you in their prayers, and I know they will.
I think I’m a bit like you in that I believe in God, though I’m not “religious”. I believe in prayer and the goodness of humanity. There’s a lot of power there, and I believe that it can help us to heal and be kind to one another.
The thing about many religions is that there are zealots who believe their way is the only way. How can that be, when imperfect people are the founders? There are too many similarities within each of the mainstream religions for me to view one as “right” and another “wrong”. Just don’t get me started on the “Church” of Scientology, that’s a whole ‘nother discussion
Geeky Tai-Tai’s last blog post..High Anxiety
Jen 04.02.08 at 8:11 am
It doesn’t matter how you believe in God, just that you do. He will help you through this. He works through others to let you know that He loves you and will be there for you no matter what happens.
Like Soda said, turning fear into faith is one of the hardest things to do. He will help you and we are here to support you.
I am saying many prayers for you and your family.
HUGS
Jen’s last blog post..Sunshine and Roses
Musing 04.02.08 at 8:28 am
I have faith in love. That powerful, unstoppable, life-changing force that’s created when flawed human beings put others before themselves. If there is a God, I think that’s where he’s found.
Sending many good thoughts your way.
Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near You 04.02.08 at 9:22 am
I don’t know that I have any faith right now. I guess it’s just something that happens when I’m not looking.
Dawn @ Coming to a Nursery Near You’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday - Pretty edition
DutchBitch 04.02.08 at 10:05 am
Well Hon, the friendship you feel is well deserved and all that friendship is about. The blogosphere is a wonderful thing like this.
I am joining in Miss Ann Thrope’s effort and we’ll get you there!
Other than that I wish you all the love and strength that you could possibly need. Muah!
DutchBitch’s last blog post..To Skid or Not To Skid
sizzle 04.02.08 at 10:51 am
Faith is very personal. I believe in a higher power but have since turned away from the Catholicism I was raised in. Now, when I put my faith in something, I am believing and trusting that life will unfold as it should. I often have to force myself to give up control of every little detail. Who is to say what is “bad” when out of so many “bad” things wonderous things have happened? It tests my belief on a daily basis and keeps me on my toes.
Thinking good thoughts for you.
sizzle’s last blog post..Pull My Finger
Carol Anne 04.02.08 at 10:52 am
I haven’t read the bible and I’m a non-church-going Catholic, but I believe that God is there for you in your darkest hours.
I believe he’s the voice in your head telling you, “Get up” when you’re at your lowest and feeling defeated. That’s what I have faith in.
Amy 04.02.08 at 11:04 am
I don’t always believe in God. He really pisses me off sometimes. I don’t always believe in the Bible. After all, it was written by people, and people screw up.
However, the one thing that I’ve always believed in, the one thing that has never let me down, is love.
Amy’s last blog post..I have an idea
yoshi 04.02.08 at 11:35 am
When I say I have faith, I just say I have faith that things will work out. I’m a firm believer that things always have a way of working out the way it should be. I always have faith that things will turn out just right. It’s the optimist in me that believes it. It’s just about having faith that I can make it through whatever is happening.
Of course, I could just be blabbering. Seriously. But yeah, you gotta have faith. (ugh, that just sounded so like the george michael song)
yoshi’s last blog post..Read this post!
Chatty 04.02.08 at 12:00 pm
I just wrote out this long wonderful comment. Then I sneezed and it was gone?! I know it won’t be as good as the first…
I get my faith from family and friends. If I can wake up every day, even if it is destined to be a crappy day, I have faith. Crappy is better than none at all. I do read my Bible every so often too. Not bad for a non religious kid.
What also gives me faith? Burying my face in the soft fur of a Golden Retriever or two. Nothing says love than that!
Chatty’s last blog post..Because She Would for You
annie 04.02.08 at 12:20 pm
Faith is extremely difficult for me.
I hate those Christians that say if you tithe and give away your money it will come back, that’s all fucking bullshit and they piss me off! that has nothing to do with faith.
/rant
I have faith that I do what’s right, I don’t steal, cheat or hurt little children, stuff like that, so “good” or at least, “decent” things will happen to me, or NOT happen (bad things), as the case may be.
But it’s all realative to the situation at the time. This life is not perfect, it NEVER WILL BE, and that is ONE THING I KNOW for sure.
annie’s last blog post..The Mirror Has Two Faces
Tall Man Molly 04.02.08 at 12:34 pm
I am very sorry to hear that your cancer came back. I am not the poster child for Christianity, but I do know that God loves all of us, and I believe that He has a plan for each and everyone of us, we just have to put our trust in Him.
Tall Man Molly’s last blog post..Left Behind
Especially Heather 04.02.08 at 1:33 pm
I have faith in my Savior. I have faith that He wasnt sitting on his throne when he heard the news of my cancer thinking “oh crap, what do I do now?” I have faith that he is in control, He is in my tomorrow and all of the tomorrows I have after that.
I have faith in the fact that He never leaves me alone in my circumstance.
-H
PS.. You should really visit http://my.crazysexylife.com/ It is a website for cancer survivors and is headed up by Kris Carr, the author of Crazy Sexy Cancer Tips… It is an amazingly wonderful site full of young people with cancer who really do get it.
Especially Heather’s last blog post..Off the ground?.
Karl 04.02.08 at 1:51 pm
Lisa, I believe in God, too, though I’m a terribly lapsed Catholic. Really need to start going to church again…I was so much better off mentally when I did.
Lately, I find amazing faith in the blogging community. I love that bloggers band together, whether it’s to back up a fellow blogger with support, or to champion good causes (cancer research, March of Dimes, the Joseph Salmon Trust)…it’s proof that there’s fantastic goodness in people. Amazing(er) still is that many of these great people have never met in real life, but they’ll do almost anything for each other.
Karl’s last blog post..2HT2.0
Miss Ilexa 04.02.08 at 3:17 pm
I just wanted to say that I wish I could do more. When Miss Ann mentioned doing an afghan for a raffle for cancer, I immediately volunteered to help out and donate something of my own. I honestly thought that it was just to help out in general and until yesterday, I had no clue I was helping you out. I guess my own faith has been renewed in the goodness of people in general and in “something out there watching over us”. Anyways, rambling post, but I wanted to tell you, that I do keep you and your family in my prayers.
Jenny 04.02.08 at 3:39 pm
I’m not a faith-y person. (not religious) But I’m pullin for ya! And I hope everything turns out ok.
Jenny’s last blog post..‘Tis The Season To Enjoy Some Mommy Time
usedtobeme 04.02.08 at 5:51 pm
MY real life BFF and I were just discussing this today. We’re at a point in our lives where we lost faith, and now wonder if we can get it back.
No one ever tells me to keep the faith. People tell me “you’re strong and if anyone can get through this, it is you”
AND that is what I pass on to you my dear friend. You’ll get through it.
xoxo Me
PS - can I have your phone number?
usedtobeme’s last blog post..This is not a joke
Tug 04.02.08 at 7:48 pm
Just stopping by to tell you that you are truly an inspiration to me…to be strong, after all that you have gone through. I’ve been lurking here for a very long time (through your last bout)…and am very glad that I finally ‘came out’ to meet you. Please know I’m here, if ever you should need anything.
Tug’s last blog post..Someone shut my mouth for me please - UPDATED!
Tense Teacher 04.02.08 at 8:07 pm
I put my faith in the fact that God loves us. And I feel that if I pass that love on to others, then I’m doing what He wants me to do.
Know that others are thinking about and praying for you often. I ask my first class (that’s 31 bodies, maybe not brains!) each morning to remember you and your family in their prayers, and I asked my lunch-mates to do the same. I have a very firm faith in the power of prayer — when so many people come together for the same reason, good things happen. I’ve seen it too many times, and I hope you will begin to see it too.
*big hugs*
Tense Teacher’s last blog post..For One of Our Own
diz 04.02.08 at 8:28 pm
I’m not sure what I believe, but I believe that God exists in some form. In any case, I have faith that there are answers to the whys we have. I have faith that people can learn to be “good”, whatever that is, and that they can rely on an inner strength they don’t know is there when they really need to.
Hang in there.
diz’s last blog post..Cuz you know it ain’t over till the fat lady sings
Mishka 04.02.08 at 8:37 pm
I have faith in the life force all things on this planet have, and in the innate goodness of humans. I don’t believe in God but I do believe that we have a great will inside of us and it can do many things, big and small, to affect change in this world we live in during the time we have here.
Mishka’s last blog post..Thursday’s Thanks
Lisa 04.02.08 at 9:04 pm
I really appreciate all of you sharing your thoughts on faith and God. You are all inspirational to me. In fact, the strength of the blogging community is what has been carrying me for the past few days.
For me to believe that there is a lesson in all of this and that God has some sort of master plan is huge. I usually believe that God hates me. I know different today.
I also think I’m rambling in my own comments because I’m just flat out exhausted. Must. Sleep.
Miss Ann Thrope 04.03.08 at 12:52 am
I don’t know what faith is…acceptance? Is it just putting yourself at life’s…God’s mercy? Is it hope?
I believe in God…I’m not religious but you can’t take the Catholic completely out of the girl. I love the Bible. I read it frequently. To me, even though I know there is no way the original work could survive, what’s left, even if it’s just pretty story can be uplifting.
And I understnad it too LOL. And I can quote it like nobodies business.
What i know for sure is that the love of others makes all the difference in the world. They can carry us through when we’re just too tired to walk.
Whatever faith means, I have faith that the world isn’t done with you yet. You still have lo9ts of bitching to do! Ok so, maybe not but you have strength that is awe inspiring and that may just be your gift to us.
Miss Ann Thrope’s last blog post..Quick note
Miss Ann Thrope 04.03.08 at 12:53 am
oops, forgot to check the little box.
Miss Ann Thrope’s last blog post..Quick note
OldOldLady Of The Hills 04.03.08 at 9:50 pm
Lisa…I read about your siruation over at Annie’s Blog today…All I can say is, Hang in there and “keep the faith”…..This really sucks, I know. But with great friends like Annie and so very many others, you have a wonderful support system even if the Doctor situation sucks even more than the cancer! I am sorry you have to go through all this again, and pray that you will find the doctor you need..(Thank God for your Doctor Cousin)…….Meanwhile just know that people that haven’t even been here before, like me, are rooting for you, too. Bless you, my dear. And I hope you get to Disneyworld in style!
OldOldLady Of The Hills’s last blog post..jen the hen