Blessings in Disguise

[Jennifer and Jack]

Lately everywhere I turn there has been sadness, sickness, diseases, death, horribly desperate situations. I can't find a happy place anymore. On here we have had heart ache after heart ache. On my Cystic Fibrosis forums we are having death after death of even small children. On Facebook I have friends who have lost their children to heart disease, brain cancer, and lung disease. All the rescue groups I belong to are posting picture after picture of beautiful dogs that have been abused, who are hurt, who need a home.

  It really has been affecting me a lot lately.. so much so I am losing sleep over it... Story after story.... plus dealing with my own health 'challenges" are wrecking havoc on my emotions.

I keep searching for a place to escape.. You know like trying to find a happy place.. It would seem it would be hard to find these days....

I came across a girls blog, This girl was diagnosed with a brain stem type cancer, She is 17 years old and a twin. There is absolutely no cure or really even extension of life with this disease, It is one of the worst childhood cancers I have ever seen.... I am very familiar with this type of cancer and I have watched it destroy so many beautiful children, but somehow not their attitude.

This girl has so profoundly affected me for the good that I am astounded by her, her wisdom beyond her years and words that I am going to try to live by.

Her name is Rachel, There is barely any documented cases of anyone living beyond 18 months from time of diagnose.. Some get "lucky" and have made it two  years.. but not before losing their sight, their ability to move, They are jacked up on so much steroids they never feel full but in the end are not able to swallow their food.

Her attitude is astounding....  This is a quote from her blog.. She knows full well that she is going to die, granted she is in the early stages of the disease, just diagnosed she has only just begun to blow up from the massive steroids but I can't help but think if she who is in the beginning stages of her life, now suddenly is in the last year of her life can think like this.. Maybe I can too. Maybe I can too try to see the blessing in the struggle, I have to admit lately that is hard to do.

This was her quote

"Sometimes I wish you guys could walk a day in my shoes, just to see, the way I've been able to, how God has his hand in everything. Life is so wonderful. Never take a minute for granted. We are all struggling, but we can push each other through."         http://rachelstratton.blogspot.com/

Here is to pushing each other through, leaning on each other, supporting one another and helping us find the blessings in disguise.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Lol karen I agree!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I really think we are all due for a blessing that isn't in disguise, lol, but this is very inspirational. Thanks for posting.  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Her blog is inspirational.....thanks for sharing Jen.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I agree with Laurie's comment. It takes someone truly special to see life in such a positive way in the face of such adversity.

[Bonnie and Kona]

It seems that when we are in our very darkest times we are given the grace to see God. Sometimes I think we are in a dark hour, but it passes and the darkness is not overwhelming. When we have the very bleakest times,  the light of God can shine through... even for this precious girl. Thank you for sharing her journey. You are an inspiration, Jenn. Truly. 

[Lauren, Scooby and Bella]

What a beautiful, wise woman-child.  She will touch a lot of hearts and lives by her gentle strength and wisdom beyond her years.  Believe it or not, God has blessed her in a very special way... and she in turn will bless others with her amazing way of dealing with her disease and her life.  She is very special.

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

It takes a special person to see life that way!

[Jennifer and Jack]

She really is amazing Laurie.. the thing about her is she doesn't see life as unfair... she is able to see the blessings that are all around her in spite of horrible circumstances.. That is my kind of person I want to be around...

It is like on here, we can chose to look at all the heartache, the sickness and disease with the precious doodles or we can see the blessings, love and support for one another through it.

For me personally, I had to switch my thinking because the other way was just about put me into a depression. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jen, I heard about this girl from your FB page. My heart goes out to her and her family. Life can be so unfair at times, but she has a remarkable attitude and I pray she gets a miracle.