Almost exactly three years ago, my husband and I learned that his heart condition that hadn’t changed in 16 years suddenly changed.  In a matter of six weeks, he had his (we thought) routine yearly imaging, we had two appointments with his cardiologist and then with the surgeon, and, finally, he scheduled open-heart surgery.

It was terrifying.  He was 51 – too young to need open-heart surgery!  But that’s where we found ourselves.

Several of my friends had been praying for us during those six weeks and knew we were waiting on a date for the surgery.

Also almost exactly three years ago, my church announced an upcoming concert with a favorite musician of mine.  As we waited (for what seemed like years but was only two weeks) for The Date to be scheduled, I sent this text to my friends:

So Chuck contacted the surgeon on Wed to schedule surgery, looking at April or May.  I’m sure you’ll all ask what you can do to help so here is something: open your calendar right now & block out Fri March 29th.  JASON GRAY IS PLAYING AT ST. ANDREW’S!  Ahem…as most of you know he is my favorite singer so I see this concert as a gift from God for a girls’ night out before surgery.  I’ll (pretend to) understand if you can’t make it.

Seven weeks later, eight of us attended the concert.  I had seven friends show up to support me that night.  Seven!  Women with whom I could share any hardship I encounter.

After the concert we stood in line to get a picture with the singer.  He knew me but he didn’t know my friends so he asked,

“Who are all of these ladies?”

I turned to them to introduce them to him and say they were the best friends anyone could have, but instead one of them jumped in with,

“We’re her posse!”

Ha!  Indeed.  The best posse ever.

As I read my YouVersion devotional today, it reminded me of these ladies:

“Yesterday we looked at the fact that it’s okay to grieve.  However, sometimes we can make the mistake of isolating for long periods of time when what we really need are other people to share the burden of what we’re feeling.

Today’s practical step:

Try finding a different person in your church/community/friend group for every day of the week who will help encourage and sit with you in the midst of what you’re going through.”

Depression: A Devotional for the Wounded Spirit, YouVersion Bible App

That night seven friends sat with me in the midst of what I was going through.

Later that night I realized I hadn’t thought about epilepsy for the whole 2-hour concert.  Two hours of joy, of deep breaths without anxiety of the next seizure!  That realization ultimately started me on the journey that resulted in Come So Alive.  The journey to talk more about epilepsy, to get involved more with the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota. 

I recently started volunteering in a new way for EFMN and my first goal was to simply say, “Thank you!” to the thousands of people who also volunteer their time and energy in support of EFMN’s mission. 

I woke up this morning thinking about that project and realized that I haven’t thanked you for reading my blog for over a year now.

It’s still very odd to think anyone would want to read what I write.  I’m not a celebrity. I’m not giving away freebies, not offering a 2-step program to get 6-pack abs.  I’m just offering you my honesty. Because I have learned the only way to heal is to be honest about the hurt. 

…“sometimes we can make the mistake of isolating” when really what we need is a posse to “sit with [us] in the midst of what [we’re] going through.”

You’ve been sitting with me in the midst of all that has happened for the last year. 

Thank you.