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Sweet Sacred Inspiration

Posted by Pat Stewart on Jan 4, 2016 in My Blog, My Breast Cancer Journey | 0 comments

Whether it’s ringing in a New Year or celebrating a birthday or the anniversary of my breast cancer diagnosis, any time of renewal brings me quickly to the deep gratitude for the gift of each new day and a recommitment to live my best life to the glory of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Of course, I fall short many days but it is a good road map toward the sincerest appreciation of all for which God has blessed me. Today, I’ve thought a lot about a poem I wrote in the midst of my first year of my breast cancer journey in 1999…almost 17 years ago. As we know, the life struggles we experience really do strengthen us and offer to us some valuable lessons in life that we might not have received were it not for those struggles. Those boosts in strength and the lessons obtained enhance our days of living for certain. Reflecting on what we gained through the struggle strengthens our renewal of life many years later. Here’s my poem: Sweet Sacred Inspiration I walk through dark, deep water Feeling the pull of the struggle Knowing that time passes on. My feet stumble in weakness as My soul searches for sweet sacred inspiration. I feel the rhythm of my heartbeat Ripple through the water as I move forward Seeking relief from the weight of suffering. The journey teaches me determination as My soul searches for this sweet sacred inspiration. Days of the past capture my thoughts My mind’s eye sees children playfully wading. A child turns her face and I look into my own youthful eyes. The pull of the struggle is revealed as the Guide. Sweet Sacred Inspiration awaits me as I cross over to the other side....

Forgiveness Is A Choice

Posted by Pat Stewart on Dec 3, 2011 in My Blog, Think About This | 3 comments

Relationships are essentially teams. Teams are made of two or more people who form bonds of trust and consider one another’s interests, needs and faults…and still, they choose to be a team. As we say in Facebook language, they are “in a relationship.” Now, in Facebook-ese, that means a romantic relationship. I am referring to relationships formed by family members, friends, co-workers, club members, etc. Inevitably, we humans are going to make mistakes, revealing the flaws in our character. Many times, I believe, we make mistakes without even realizing it. These mistakes can be very hurtful to those on the receiving end of our actions or words. But, whether these offenses are intentional or not, true teams…true strong relationships manage to smooth things over through apologizing and, if unintentional, explaining that there was no intent on our part to injur. That just gets us half way to enjoying our relationship again. It’s like we have two pieces of bread and a knife and look into the cabinet and find there’s no peanut butter there. An important part of the sandwich is missing. That’s what it’s like when someone can’t forgive their teammate who offended them. Forgiveness is a choice. In reality, we make this choice to forgive because we know that forgiving is a step toward healing ourselves from that wound. Choosing to forgive is something we actually do for ourselves. In Mark 11:25 we hear “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. “ As Christians, there is an expectation that we will forgive. Sometimes, it is very difficult. Many people find themselves in a hurtful situation and CHOOSE to remain bitter, to allow the hurt to morph into resentment and carry that with them into their future. I’m always amazed when I hear someone say something like “Yes, she has a son but they have no relationship at all. He’s not a part of her life.” Her son? Really? Choosing NOT to forgive just keeps us in the hurtful struggle. “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. – Unknown“ Healthcare personnel and scientists have studied the effects of forgiveness, or the lack of, on human beings. Carrying grudges and remaining bitter emotionally and physically damages a person’s well-being. And what does it do for the people who live/work with them? It’s like second-hand smoke. The smokers are affecting the people with whom they live. On a lighter note, another quote about forgiveness that speaks loudly to me is this one from Oscar Wilde: “Always forgive your enemies…nothing annoys them so...