As I sit in the sun and reflect on the past year, I’m so grateful. I remember last year wanting very desperately to go to Relay for Life and walk the survivor lap. But I had received chemo the day before. I wanted to push myself but I just didn’t have the strength. I was sad and disheartened that I was not able to push through to do the survivor lap I so desperately wanted to do. But this year I will walk that survivor lap and I will walk it with my head held high as I cheer and possibly cry. The second lap is the caregiver/support team lap and I will walk with my husband, my daughter, my son and their friends. I will hold their hands and do physically what they helped me do emotionally and mentally last year as I battled through cancer treatments.
It is often asked “Why do you Relay”? I Relay not just for myself, but for my sister-in-law, the many friends I have made this past year in oncology offices and support groups; I Relay for the young mother who finished her battle on earth this year and her family as they remember her life. But, I also Relay for my kids, my grandkids, my great-grandkids and many future generations. Prayerfully, the money I help raise now will find the cure and the people I love will never hear “you have cancer”.
If you are able, I hope you will join me tonight. But for those not able to be there physically, remember me at 7:00 p.m. I will be celebrating! Then, at 9:00 p.m., please say a prayer with me. This will be the time of the luminary ceremony. I will be lighting two candles this year. One in honor of my sister-in-law and another in honor of a very special friend currently struggling for her life in a hospital. Please remember her and her husband.
What a difference a year makes. But, more importantly, what a difference God makes. Thank you Lord for your sacrifice at Calvary. You bore my sin and endured torture to allow my healing. I am forever grateful.
“But He was wounded for our transgressions,He was bruised for our iniquities;The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,And by His stripes we are healed.” -Isaiah 53:5