Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Tuesday's Tribute..It's Time To Give Back



I have wanted to share something really special that happened at Christmas time. As most of you know who follow my blog the holiday were a very hard time for me. I felt so many different emotions that some days it was all I could do to catch my breath,
One night or should I say early morning I wrote a post that I still have trouble going back to read.


Later that week I got the sweetest email from a fellow blogger name Shannon. I knew as soon as I read her email that she knew what I was feeling. Shannon was having to make some life changing decisions herself and was feeling some of the same raw emotions I was. She shared with me some of her fears about heart surgery that was going to happen after the holidays. It was such a blessing to be able to share these feelings with someone.
A few weeks later I had a package that from Shannon that I thought was my ornament that was part of a swap we were in. As soon as I lift up the package I knew there was something more because it weighed a lot. I have to admit I was excited to see what was in the package.
I opened the package to see this beautiful gold sign that said HOPE. It was perfect BUT it was broke. I know Shannon is saying..OMG you did not tell me that Amy. Well to be honest I kind of said to myself..This is a sign of how I am feeling. A little short on hope. Being diagnosed with cancer a few days before Christmas was just a blow to my hope my faith and cause some emotions I have never felt before. So I put the broken HOPE sign away and put a smile on my face and went back to watching the kids open their Christmas gifts.
A few weeks later. I started to come to terms with the battle ahead of me. I dug deep and found a little something in me that I had not know I had. While the fight was not pretty I think it was part of the steps I needed to take to embrace what I needed to take charge of my new life. One day I happen to come across the HOPE SIGN Shannon had sent me that was broke. I looked at it and thought about it for a while. That sign was a sign of hope to me..just like it said. Yes it had been broke. Yes I felt broke. But I would be put back together and I wanted my sign put back together. So I found someone that I knew could do it. I explained to them why it was important . I am thrilled to tell you my Hope sign is all in one piece . And most days my own personal Hope is all in one piece.
I will always keep my HOPE sign as a reminder that while HOPE may be broke with some work it can be put back together.
Thank You Shannon for being such a sweet friend. Thank you for being such a wonderful example of what faith can do in our lives. And thank you for sending me HOPE.

18 comments:

April said...

Beautiful, Amy!!! Hang on to HOPE at all times...we ALL need it in our lives! So glad that Shannon reached out to you like she did...she definitely had a profound impact on your life! God Bless!♥

Michele Williams said...

"my HOPE sign as a reminder that while HOPE may be broke with some work it can be put back together" I love that quote!!! Thank you ... great post...

Vickie said...

what a great post Amy! Thanks so much for sharing that with us!

Vic said...

Aw that is such a beautiful post. Keep up the hope. I HOPE that we can keep in touch better now that you know I am back! :) If you have a question, for my question and answer, I would be willing to post JUST for you. However you did miss that post. Have a fabulous rest of your week.

Shannon said...

You're right! I am saying, "OMG You did not tell me that Amy"!!! What could be worse than getting a BROKEN Hope sign???!!! You just don't know how bad I feel. I understand it all worked out but.... If 8 weeks ago someone had sent me a sign that said Hope and was broken I would have sat on my bed and cried my eyes out. Really cried. What a blow that would have been. I'm just so sorry.

Thank you so much for the great post. I'm so thankful that your Hope is strengthening day by day. I know there are still days that you'd just rather stay in bed, cover your head, and cry. So, once in a while do that...but don't lose HOPE.

I love you!

Amy B said...

Dear Shannon,
I needed that sign to come broken. It is to remind me the steps I am working through. As pretty as it is and as much as I love it..if it had come not broken I would of put it on the shelf and thought how nice it looked, and not really thought too much more about it. Now I look at it in such a new way. There have been some harder days I look at it and am reminded I can NOT even see where it is broken..just like when our hope is broken and we mend it. I LOVE it and you TOO.

Aspiemom said...

This is a great post, Amy. I appreciate how you look at things.

It's nice to know that each time you see that wooden "HOPE" you will remember being made whole again and think of Shannon, too!

Christy said...

Beautiful and the story behind it is perfect. Whether facing cancer, the death of a child (my personal one), etc....our hope is sometimes broken up, but with God's grace he shows us that with FAITH we always have Hope.

God Bless

ixtapacheryl said...

What a beautiful post .....and how symbolic! "Hope" arrived broken - but with some effort on your part "Hope" is intact. We can NEVER lose hope. Remember - Pray/Hope/and don't worry.

God Bless you!!!!

Jen said...

Go Shannon! How awesome is she? It's people like this that helps ease our burdens!

Vic said...

Hi! Just stopping by to let you know there are answers up to your questions and you need to send me your address for your treat! :)

Debra Kaye said...

Amy,

This was a beautiful post! HOPE...what a beautiful sign and remember in our brokenness we are sometimes made complete.

Blessings to you!

c said...

Thanks for sharing hope with others. I gave you an award on my blog. Check it out, if you have time!

My Chocolate Heart said...

Amy,

"The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their HOPE in His unfailing love." Psalm 147:11

He loves you so...and I know He will continue to carry you. So often in my prayer times He brings you to my mind, and I ask Him to hold you tight.

Take care of yourself. This was a simple, but very meaningful post, BTW.
Blessings,
Jennifer

misty said...

What a great post! Hold onto hope at all times,because even when it's broken, like you said with some work it can be put back together..what a great reminder!

boltefamily said...

Just wanted to stop by your blog and say hello and thanks for "following" my blog. It means so much to know so many are getting to know our boys!

Love,
Kristy Bolte

Supercool Hotmama said...

What a great way to look at it! and what an awesome blogfriend to send you some bloggy love and HOPE in the mail.

Jules said...

Awesome! How true that most of us (while not realizing it) needs our hope mended every once in a while. It's great to have such wonderful friends too, who know just what to say or do to 'make us think' and see the beauty in the small things in life!
Take care! ;0)