Catherine Corley - Strength for 2013

Hello to all my friends!  In my previous blog, several days ago, I spoke about Gratitude.  Gratitude was my word I chose in 2012 in accordance with a book I read by Debbie Macomber.

This year, I chose the word "Strength."  I didn't expect that to be my word, but life has handed me some changes I wasn't ready to handle.  I don't believe any of us are ready for a bunch of changes at once!  Even with my arsenal of emotional tools, the changes in the last several months have caught me off guard and feeling less than strong.

Of course, my most crushing blow is the fact that I have a tumor on my ovary and, only a few weeks after being diagnosed, I will be having surgery tomorrow afternoon.  As I have said before, I have come to terms with it, but no matter the outcome, I need strength.

I also need strength for everyday life, just like you do.  Our strength is what defines us.  If we crumble at every turn, we are really of no good to anyone especially ourselves.  I've had those days lately.  If we are too strong, we turn people away because we tend to shut down all our emotions.

So I am turning to the Lord today and everyday to give me the strength I need to get through this one day, tomorrow and the rest of the year.  Strength to make changes that I know I have to make.  Strength to find direction after this surgery is over and I am completely healed.  What do I want to do with the rest of this year?  I ask myself that all the time.  I have been in a holding pattern for so long.

According to the dictionary, one of the definitions of the word strength is "Something or someone that gives one strength or is a source of power or encouragement; sustenance."  I believe that my strength comes from above.  As I face this surgery and the outcome, I lean on the verses found in Romans 5:3-4 (NASB) "...but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."  

To me, hope gives me strength.  Without hope, we have nothing.  

The word strength is also defined several other ways:  1) the quality or state of being strong; bodily or muscular power; vigor; 2) mental power, force or vigor; 3) moral power, firmness or courage.  

I like being strong physically.  I love working out and the empowerment I feel after doing push ups every morning or after going for a run.  I miss running and I can't wait to get back to it.  I want to yell like a Marine!  

I also like having mental strength, because I seem to lack that.  I used to be so ready for any task.  Nothing seemed too difficult to break down into pieces and handle as quickly as possible.  Running a law firm for more than a decade made me mentally strong!  

Moral strength feels victorious!  When our moral strength is less than we want it to be, we don't feel strong.  

The year 2013 started with an oncologist visit on January 2.  How will it continue for me?  Well, I think the Lord gave me the word "strength" because I am going to need it.  There are going to be a lot of changes in my life this year.  I already know that.  Some will be difficult, but mostly they will be great!  I will have opportunities I haven't had in years.  I look forward to facing each day with strength!  

I even bought a great bracelet with the word STRENGTH engraved in it.  I put it on my right wrist and every time I reach out whether for help, for food, for a handshake or for love, I will remember that I am strong and I have the strength of the Lord to renew me each day.  

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV) "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

I intend to grow as a person this year, so I can inspire others!  I have received so much love and comfort during the last month.  Thank you to all of you who have felt my pain along with me.  That love also gives me so much strength.

I also intend to be physically strong this year.  After my recovery, I hope to get certified as a fitness trainer and really help people who need weight loss assistance.  I also want to be mentally strong and write until I run out of words.  I am hoping this year, my writing will make a difference.  

I can't wait to write to you again.  In the meantime, be strong!  Be healthy!  Believe!

Love and strength,
Cathy

Catherine Corley - Endurance With Joy

"[We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, to exercise every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy."  Colossians 1:11 (Amplified)

A couple of days ago, I received some distressing news from my doctor.  I have to wait until December 17 to even have the test done to confirm or disprove the speculations about my health and then wait several more days for an answer and/or analysis.  

As usual, the Lord sent me the right verse on the right day.  It happens all the time!  I read Colossians 1:11 in every version of the Bible I could and, although I usually prefer the NIV translation, in this instance, I am claiming my verse in the Amplified translation because it is a BIG problem and I need an AMPLIFIED answer while I wait!  

So I am going to dissect my verse, as I usually do, and look up definitions, as I usually do, only this time with you.  Don't blame me, blame my mother.  She was an editor and we used to dissect sentences, conjugate verbs and discuss grammar and usage while driving in the car...didn't everybody?  You didn't?  Oh, but I learned a lot from that amazing lady!  She wouldn't have liked some of the incomplete sentences to follow, but she would have understood the point I am trying to make.

Let's break it down, shall we?  

We pray that you may be invigorated--filled with life and energy.  That sounds good!  I especially like feeling energetic.

We pray that you may be strengthened--of great moral power, firmness and courage--with ALL power.  I could use that!  

According to the might of His glory--the physical strength or superior power to do or accomplish the splendor or bliss of Heaven.  Wow, that sounds awesome!  I can barely accomplish my daily to do list.  

To exercise every kind of endurance--the ability or strength to continue or last especially despite fatigue, stress or other adverse conditions.  How?  With every kind of patience--the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation or the like!  Hmmm....without complaint, loss of temper, irritation or the like...maybe I should write that on my hand!  Just a second...

With perseverance--steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc. especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement.  With forbearance--refraining or abstaining from something; patient endurance, self-control.  Self-control?  I've been working on that one!  Maybe He is trying to tell me something!

Finally, here's the powerful ending--with joy!!!  Not with whining, complaining, and crying, but with joy!  Joy, the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something especially good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation!  It makes you want to smile, doesn't it?  

When we go through the rough times, we know God is in control.  We don't have to whine and complain (although I frequently do, I confess).  No, we can hold our heads high and rejoice!  We can feel joy even as we wait on a medical test or wait to find a job or wait for a problem of a loved one to be solved.  Anything!

Again, that gives me HOPE!  I love hope!  And I love writing with exclamation marks!

Have a blessed day and take care of your heart!

Simple Paths Forward - What It's All About

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6

Why did I start this blog today?  I have been thinking about starting a new blog for some time now, but today seemed the perfect day.  I have been handed more than I thought I could handle in the last week (over Thanksgiving week as a matter of fact) and I know today is the perfect day to begin a new path.  A new blog with a new attitude, to be more precise.

Sometimes I forget that I need to reach out and share in the midst of a crisis.  Other times, I think I don't shut my mouth for a second.  Lately, I think it has been a combination of both.  So my blog will be a way for me to truly express myself and I hope you will give me feedback and express yourselves as well.  We are all in this world together.

My life is pretty ordinary.  I live in a nice house in the suburbs.  I haven't worked outside the house since I quit my job at a large law firm to take care of my father for three years until he passed away in 2010.  I lost my mother to cancer ten years almost to the day before I lost my father.  

After my round-the-clock care giving days ended, I really didn't know what direction my life should take, so I didn't take any direction!  Most of my days were pretty ordinary.  My children are in their twenties and they don't need me very often, but they love me all the time and I love them!  Each day seemed pretty much the same, that is until I got an unexpected addition to our family.

No, not a new baby at 46 years of age.  But a lovely, caring adult cousin with special needs who was added to my family and my home.  Ruth is a 42-year-old who brought with her her own set of requirements and concerns.  She lives courageously with mild cerebral palsy, epilepsy and learning disabilities.  She also came to me complete with one of the nation's biggest health problems, morbid obesity.

Now that I have mentioned her "disabilities," let me tell you Ruth's "abilities!"  I will name just a few, because there is only so much space!  She is the bravest person I know.  She is also the brightest, cheeriest, warmest, kindest and best person I have ever met.  She has courage beyond measure and strength to do what others wouldn't even try.  I am blessed to be her cousin. 

Ruth also has the best memory of anyone I ever met.  She can listen to a CD and remember most of the words after the first time and sing along the next time in the car while I mess up all the words even though I've owned the CD for years!  She doesn't forget anything.  If you told Ruth to call you on such-and-such a date, say six months from now, to remind you to make a doctor's appointment, she would not only remember and call you, but more than likely, you would probably have forgotten the purpose of her call.  She is spectacular!

We now have new challenges that Ruth and I face together and individually.  For instance, I just finished my weight loss journey (if you can ever consider yourself "finished" since it is ongoing) and she has just begun hers.  

We spend our days together and look for ways we can help each other and people around us.  Ruth has the most giving heart I have ever seen.  She loves to help touch the lives of people.  I think she does that automatically just by being herself, but in addition, she looks for ways she can purposely touch people's lives and bless their hearts too.

I want this to be about paths.  Paths we all take whether we are prepared for them or not.  Sometimes those paths are so unfamiliar we don't know whether to sit down and cry or run like a maniac to find our way!  You may be a new parent.  Maybe you are part of the sandwich generation like I was--taking care of children and a parent or two.  Maybe you are an empty nester.  Maybe you, too, have a challenged child or adult family member.  Or perhaps you just need a little more sanity in your life, your home, your food habits, your job or your relationships.  

Let's get on the path and move forward simply together.