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