[this blog was actually written on Thursday, sorry for posting it a day late! not enough hours in the day]
One week until toni&I drive southbound toward Dallas.
One week until our bags are packed full of clothes decorated with pink ribbons.
One week until we're like little girls at christmas who can't sleep the night before something fantastic happens.
One week until the word ‘hope’ will be the only word that consumes my mind.
One week until every emotion on the spectrum will be racing through my body.
My 5’7 body will be filled to the brim with excitement to see my 3day team, The Hopefuls. As comforting as it is to be welcomed and deeply loved by my 3day team, I will be bursting at the seams to see the thousands of unfamiliar faces. Faces of men bravely & boldly making a statement in honor of their wife, mother, or loved one. Faces of women, around my mother’s age, that have battled breast cancer and won. They are victorious & they will be glowing. Older faces full of wrinkles that have a lifetime of stories that have created those perfectly beautiful wrinkle lines. Faces of children, lining the streets & filling our cheer stations, with stickers & candy. They don’t really understand the depth of breast cancer, they just know that they look good in pink and will bring joy to my life.
With all the excitement aside, my heart will be burdened. It will be heavy knowing that there are thousands of us walking to raise awareness for a disease that has taken so many lives, too many lives. My heart will absolutely plummet to the floor when I see a 65-70 year old man walking, by himself, dressed in a t-shirt that has a lovely photo of his wife, who is no longer with him. I will be struck to the core when I see a group of 20-year-old girls, girls my own age, wearing a shirt in honor of their 20-year-old friend who was ripped away from them because of breast cancer.
For a little bit, I might be angry. I will probably be mad that a disease has this much power over our lives and affects 1 in 8 women. With all the research, technology, and brilliant people in the world – why can’t anyone find a cure? Please, just find a cure!
I will be inspired, beyond inspired. These women, much older than myself, will be trekking 60 miles all around Dallas to make a statement. We will be making a huge statement; this is the boldest breast cancer event in history. I will be inspired when I see women lining the streets with signs saying “I am a survivor. Thank you for walking.” That alone ignites a flame inside of me that inspires me to walk for anyone and everyone, we need a cure. My prayer is that my children will know a world without breast cancer. I want to be inspired every day of my life by women bolder and stronger than myself to never give up hope.
Hopefulness will be my heart’s cry throughout the entire weekend. This event isn’t about me, Toni, or sweet memories we will make together. It’s about us joining forces, knowing the only way we will make it through the 60 miles is our hope for the cure and our hope in Christ. Through Christ we’ve found a deeper love for people & life. We want to live life to the fullest. The 3DAY enables us experience life to the fullest.
The very best part of the walk is that, every step of the 60 miles - I will be humbled and in awe of our mighty Savior. I honestly can say there is no way I would raise $2,300, walk 60 miles, and stand boldly in front of people for breast cancer if I didn’t know that the Lord had a greater, much greater purpose than what our eyes can see. He is good & does good. Our prayers and cries for a world without breast cancer are heard. I give all glory to Christ for allowing me to walk and I pray His light shines through me every step.
Last year I entered the walk after four years of dreaming of participating. I knew that this weekend was going to rock my world, in the best way possible. Little did I know, it was going to be the most life-changing weekend of my life. Every aspect of the 3DAY was simply perfect. I was deeply moved by how many people passionately hope for the cure. My ears heard story after story of breast cancer altering lives forever, my eyes witnessed the most genuine relationships and unconditional love displayed, my arms were hugging strangers, my legs felt the most immense amount of pain, my heart was full – full of hope, love, faith, support and my body was wrapped closely in the arms of Christ.
I cannot wait to see how the Lord moves in my heart this year. 3DAY 2010. I can’t wait to do something out of the ordinary because everyone deserves a lifetime.
“Be strong and take heart, all you who HOPE in the Lord.” – Psalm 31:24
No comments:
Post a Comment