Posted in Life

The Gift of Prayer

For many years, I considered myself an agnostic.  I had questioned the existence of God.  Several events in my life caused me to change that view.  Probably the biggest influence in my change of heart, is my BFF, Denise.  I’ve written about Denise several times here.

Denise and I have been close for 40+ years now.  I wrote sort of a tribute to her that you can see HERE.

When Denise was diagnosed with lung cancer, I wrote about her and her struggle HERE and asked for prayers.

Well, those prayers have been answered!  To a point.  Denise went to the hospital July 2nd to have a 2nd biopsy done on the spot in her lung.  It was supposed to be a day trip, meaning she would be home, tucked into her own bed by that night.  12 days later, she was finally allowed to go home!!

It turns out that the 1st biopsy was a botched job.  They collapsed her lung and left her hemorrhaging, bleeding into her own lung.  This was unknown until her 2nd biopsy.

Her 2nd biopsy was done at a different hospital, different doctor too.  During the 2nd biopsy they discovered the hemorrhage and tried to get a piece of the spot to biopsy.  Things didn’t go well.  I’ll cut the story short here.  It turns out, her lung collapsed 3 times during this visit.  Once was a Code Blue.  They couldn’t get the hole in her lung to seal up, it kept wanting to collapse.  The doctor then decided he needed to just go in and remove the spot in her lung.  During this process they also had to remove one of the lobes inside that lung.

It was about 5 more days before her lung closed up enough for them to send her home.

The whole process was horrifyingly scary for her, me and her kids.  She thought she was going to die.  Her kids thought she was going to die.  Everyone thought she was going to die.

When she came out of surgery, she was supposed to be in the ICU for several days.  She was there ONE night before they moved her to a regular room.  She was up and WALKING that next day as well.

LOTS of prayers were being said for this dear woman.  I firmly believe that God has had a hand in her recovery, that prayers were being answered.  To all of you that said prayers for my Dear Friend, THANK YOU.

Denise isn’t completely out of the woods yet.  They still need to test what they removed from her lung and give her a final determination.  Hopefully, they got it all and it’s a done deal.  So if you would please continue to keep Denise in your prayers, I would really appreciate it.

A final point that I would like to mention here.  Through Denise, I was given the gift of prayer. To behold it’s true power.  Even if you are not a “religious” person, (and believe me, I get that) I feel that if you simply put positive thoughts, wishes, feelings out into the universe, those positive things will come back to you in positive ways.  If you put negativity out, that’s what you get back.

How can I possibly thank someone that has given me the Gift of Prayer?

Copyright (C) 2020 Penny Wilson 

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Fate or Faith?

When I moved to Texas from Oregon, it was a hardest and most frightening decision I ever made in my life.  At 50-something years old, I was starting my life over again from scratch.  All I had that was guaranteed was a bed to sleep in at my brother’s house and faith.  Faith that I was making the right decision.

I’ve told a lot of people since I moved to Texas that “I’m meant to be here.”  My life has improved tremendously since my move from Oregon.  But it does make me wonder…

Continue reading “Fate or Faith?”

Posted in Poetry, Writing

Writer’s Prayer

God, give me the grace to write with serenity

The things that I should write,

Courage to edit the things

Which should be changed,

And the wisdom to distinguish

The worthwhile from the worthless.

Writing one line at a time,

Accepting that discipline is the pathway to Publication,

Taking, not as Hemingway did,

But the blank page and cursor before me,

Not as I would have it,

Trusting my editor to make it right,

I surrender to his knowledge,

So that I may be reasonably happy with my publisher,

And supremely happy with my work.

Amen

CC Licensed 9/1/17 Penny Wilson

Posted in Life, Prose

A friend in Need

I don’t usually repost something.  But recently another blogger brought this post of mine back into focus.  It’s a tribute to my Best Friend.

Recently this Best Friend has discovered that with her illness, she will not get any better.  There is nothing else to be done and from here she will just continue to deteriorate.

This little woman that has always been such a positive influence in my life is now struggling to see the positive in her own life.  Her youth is behind her.  The present seems to hold little in the way of joy for her due to her pain.  The future, she sees as only bleak and dark.

I love this woman so much.  I would do almost anything for her because she has always been there for me.   I can’t take away her pain, or find a cure for her illness.  I do my best to “be there” for her and be supportive.  Each day, I try to find something to make her smile.

In light of all this, I feel my tribute to my Best Friend is worth repeating.  See below.  I hope you enjoy.

I originally titled this A Lifetime of Thank Yous.

friends 

How do you say thank you to someone who has always been there for me?  She has been my biggest supporter, my biggest cheerleader, no matter what I wanted to do.  She always had my back.

This little woman is a ball of dynamite.  She is a true lady in every sense of the word, but will cut you down to the stumps like a she-bear protecting her young if you dare hurt anyone she loves.

She is an enigma.  She has been ill off & on most of her life.  She’s been misdiagnosed and was supposed to die several times.  But you cannot keep her down.  She powers on and has proved the doctors wrong over and over again.

The doctors did finally come up with a diagnosis, but that hasn’t stopped her.  Although her condition is degenerative, she keeps on keeping on.

Despite her hardships, which have been many, she is the most positive and optimistic person I have ever met.  She has been the most positive influence in my life.

This woman has seen me at my best and at my worst.  She loves me no matter what.

She’s been there to hold my hand through the hard times and to cheer me on when I try something new.

Through her eyes, I have seen the power of prayer at work and believe; where once I did not.  How can you repay someone for a gift this precious?

We met as young women, not much more than children.  We have seen each other grow, change and age.  We have known each other’s children, loves and siblings.  We have known birth and death in each other’s lives.

Once we had the world at our feet; a lifetime ahead of us.  We laughed at the thought of tomorrow.

The next day, we share stories of our aches, pains and wrinkles.  Where did yesterday go?

Who is she?  “Friend” is not a strong enough word.  She is my Best Friend.  But she is also the Sister I never had.  She’s been confidant, a shoulder to lean on, a hand up, and just someone I could always turn to.  She is also that person that will give it to me straight when I need a good kick in the butt.

A lifetime has passed between us.  I cannot imagine how empty my life would have been without her in it.  I am richer, wiser and a better person because of her.

We have shared births, deaths, marriages, divorce, tears, sorrow, happiness, joy and laughter.   Most of all Joy and Laughter….

To this amazing woman, I say thank you.  Thank you for sharing your life with me.

 

Posted in Life, Prose

A Lifetime Of Thank Yous

friends 

How do you say thank you to someone who has always been there for you?  She has been my biggest supporter, my biggest cheerleader, no matter what I wanted to do.  She’s always had my back.

This little woman is a ball of dynamite.  She is a true lady in every sense of the word, but will cut you down to the stumps like a she-bear protecting her young if you dare hurt anyone she loves.

She is an enigma.  She has been ill off & on most of her life.  She’s been misdiagnosed and was supposed to die several times.  But you cannot keep her down.  She powers on and has proved the doctors wrong over and over again.

The doctors did finally come up with a diagnosis, but that hasn’t stopped her.  Although her condition is degenerative, she keeps on keeping on.

Despite her hardships, which have been many, she is the most positive and optimistic person I have ever met.  She has been the most positive influence in my life.

This woman has seen me at my best and at my worst.  She loves me no matter what.

She’s been there to hold my hand through the hard times and to cheer me on when I try something new.

Through her eyes, I have seen the power of prayer at work and now believe; where once I did not.  How can you repay someone for a gift this precious?

We met as young women, not much more than children.  We have seen each other grow, change and age.  We have known each other’s children, loves and siblings.  We have known birth and death in each other’s lives.

Once we had the world at our feet; a lifetime ahead of us.  We laughed at the thought of tomorrow.

The next day, we share stories of our aches, pains and wrinkles.  Where did yesterday go?

Who is she?  “Friend” is not a strong enough word.  She is my Best Friend.  But she is also the Sister I never had.  She’s been confidant, a shoulder to lean on, a hand up, and just someone I could always turn to.  She is also that person that will give it to me straight when I need a good kick in the butt.

A lifetime has passed between us.  I cannot imagine how empty my life would have been without her in it.  I am richer, wiser and a better person because of her.

We have shared births, deaths, marriages, divorce, tears, sorrow, happiness, joy and laughter.   Most of all Joy and Laughter….

To this amazing woman, I say thank you.  Thank you for sharing your life with me.

Copyright (C) Penny Wilson