In less than six months this year, three friends received very serious cancer diagnoses.
The first came in April when my friend’s husband was admitted to the hospital the same day as receiving the diagnosis. The family’s community immediately rallied. Over the next several months, our family helped with the kids, provided food, and gave hugs whenever needed.
I also gave my friend one of my “The only way out is through” temporary tattoos but she didn’t think her husband’s doctors would let him apply it. Another friend had given her a bracelet that absorbs essential oils so she added the tattoo to her own wrist next to the bracelet. She even shared a photo of the bracelet and tattoo on a Caring Bridge update as they were on the front end of going through her husband’s cancer treatment.
Her post reminded me of my post “Through” last spring which included a photo of that tattoo on my own arm, the arm going through shoulder surgery recovery and PT. Two lone arms going through very difficult times in life.
Then two more friends received cancer diagnoses. Unfortunately, they live plane rides away from us so we can’t do much for them other than send texts, cards, and goofy little items to give them a laugh and help keep their spirits up. It’s been frustrating not being there to help but we’ve walked with them through as much of the journey as we can from afar, even if it was only written encouragement to our friend during his wife’s long surgery last Thursday.
Last weekend a friend treated me to “Swan Lake” at a local historic theatre. We found our seats and then asked a woman to take our photo with the beautiful theatre behind us. My friend put her arm around my back but I struggled to put mine behind her. I had to explain that I still can’t move my shoulder at that angle post-surgery.
“Ok,” she said. “We’ll do this,” as she grabbed my arm & linked hers through it.
That simple act reminded me of a quote I saved from a devotional recently:
We were designed to lock arms & fight together…
“Living Changed: Spiritual Warfare” YouVersion Plan
Yes, that’s what I have experienced within our storms of epilepsy, open-heart surgeries, stroke, and even shoulder surgery – people locking arms with us to get us “through” the storm.
So, while it’s true that “the only way out is through,” it isn’t the whole story.
More accurately, the only way out is through – together.
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own.
Ephesians 6:13 MSG
