Day 31: Help Write Her Story

Before I really get started on this post I need to preface it by saying that you should have a good understanding of how your Pink Warrior friend views her story. Just because I have been so open about my journey sometimes I have to remind myself that this whole thing is a truly sensitive and private matter. The emotions I carried through the experience may vary significantly from others who are called to walk the journey. In fact, they might not even feel like it is a calling. They may be downright angry about it. They may hate to see the color pink and despise the pink ribbon especially. I do understand these emotions, but I just pray they don’t crowd out the Hope.

There are many ways to help write her story as I have already mentioned, but for this final post, I will focus on one that proved to be life-changing for me. It is my experience that when one receives a diagnosis, it stirs up compassion in those around her. Many want to know what is happening and how they can help. I realized that I would never be able to keep everyone updated the way I would like without something like CaringBridge, a free website service that allows those going through a health crisis to provide information to loved ones about their journey. It was through my journaling on CaringBridge that I found release from many of the things I was feeling and at the same time developed a passion for writing. Pinked Perspective would not exist were it not for those early journal entries on my CaringBridge page.

Perhaps your friend doesn’t feel like a writer or doesn’t feel she has the energy to write. You could start a CaringBridge page for her. You could be the one to record all of her results and give the updates. Speaking of sharing your art! And just maybe there will be a day that she will want to start adding her own writing to her page. Encourage it but don’t pressure it. I have found there is tremendous power when those that are walking through the fire pour out their heart. If you don’t believe me, visit my friend Maria’s blog, True Worth. Her story is hard; the way she brings Glory to God is inspiring.

Whether your friend’s story is put out publicly on CB or another blog for the world to access or kept private for herself and her family, my guess is she will want the story written. We do so easily forget God’s Faithfulness and His daily provision of the manna and quail. And what a legacy it will leave to future generations to have it all in writing.

Since I mentioned manna and quail…another October is drawing to a close. As I sit eating my final Pink Ribbon bagel, I reflect on the month. While I know God is with me every day and is my provider no matter what the calendar says, He always tends to show off during the month of October. Joining the 31 Days challenge provided by the Nester never ceases to challenge and stretch me. Although I have been absolutely spent the last three Halloweens, I can say without a doubt that I would not have done it any differently.

This month brought much affirmation of all that is being attempted by Pinked Perspective. From an overwhelmingly successful Think Pink event on Oct 4th…To the fact that six newly diagnosed ladies were blessed with a kit this month alone which tells me the word is getting out…To the stories of people that have been encouraged by stuff (both archived and recent) that was written on the blog. The weather has been incredible while our family celebrated a big birthday for my mom, fulfilled fall traditions and made priceless memories. We even enjoyed a wonderful visit from my brother, sis-in-law and two beautiful nieces from Colorado. Spiritually I am learning so much from the Life of Moses and have been so encouraged by the community that is being built with a family that recently moved to MD from Hawaii after The Lord orchestrated the events of a certain Wednesday morning of walking our son to school to bring them into our lives.

 

Thank you for joining me this month. Thank you to those that cheered me on to the next day and the next and the next. Thank you to those that inspired the posts by the love you poured out on our family three years ago. Obviously, the impact is still very real and will hopefully serve to influence others to care for the Pink Warriors in their own lives.