From Martha's parents:
We want to share with those who have followed Martha's story a recent posting by Jen Roop who, among other things, is a great biker and who has loved Martha and rides to raise money and awareness for cancer research. You will be blessed as you see how the pebble in the pond continues to ripple outward for God's glory!
Please see Jen's beautiful "Tribute to Martha" using the link on the right sidebar.
Blessings to all, Fred and Jean Depp
Monday, July 11, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Martha's Story of Cancer
The video placed here was assembled by Luke Morales, a member of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Martha's home church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Depps are grateful to Luke for his fine efforts. This ten minute video is a merge of three video clips. One clip was taken during an extended interview Luke did with martha during October, 2010. A second clip was taken when Martha spoke to her church members on Easter Sunday, 2010 and a third clip was taken in February, 2011 in her home on a Sunday evening when her pastor, some family and some church members went through the memorial service she and her pastor, Hunter Dockery had planned together about a year earlier. It was a joyous and faith filled evening as you can sense from the video.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Betrothed in Dazzling White
Mary, mother of Jesus, was betrothed of Joseph, chosen to bear the Son of God Most High.
Martha, child of King Jesus has been betrothed to Him, the Christ, Savior and Son of God Most High since He came offering her new life many years ago. Made a member of His bride the church, she continues to worship Him with Mary and all those who live and move and have their being in the Risen One with the pierced hands and feet.
Martha, child of God, is now dazzling white and glorious, a maiden among many sons and daughters of the King eternal.
Martha has now entered into the bridegroom’s gates with praises wearing His wedding garment, the King’s gift to each of those who love Him and seek His holiness without and then within His blessed gates.
Cancer now consumed, all earthly doubt dispelled, all fears quenched in the Spirit’s loving ministry and singular transformation now seeing the bridegroom in His glory.
Who gives this woman to be wed to the King for all eternity? Her mother and I do with unspeakable joy and thanksgiving in our souls. We give her most gladly to Him who is called: Greater Love Hath No One Than This.
Martha, child of King Jesus has been betrothed to Him, the Christ, Savior and Son of God Most High since He came offering her new life many years ago. Made a member of His bride the church, she continues to worship Him with Mary and all those who live and move and have their being in the Risen One with the pierced hands and feet.
Martha, child of God, is now dazzling white and glorious, a maiden among many sons and daughters of the King eternal.
Martha has now entered into the bridegroom’s gates with praises wearing His wedding garment, the King’s gift to each of those who love Him and seek His holiness without and then within His blessed gates.
Cancer now consumed, all earthly doubt dispelled, all fears quenched in the Spirit’s loving ministry and singular transformation now seeing the bridegroom in His glory.
Who gives this woman to be wed to the King for all eternity? Her mother and I do with unspeakable joy and thanksgiving in our souls. We give her most gladly to Him who is called: Greater Love Hath No One Than This.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Martha's Joy-shared by Jae Campbell at the Memorial Service for Martha Depp
Don’t you see her?
Running through the meadows
The wind in her hair
Her smile bright and vibrant
Her glowing eyes
She reaches an area where children have gathered
They are laughing and playing
She joins in with excitement as they circle a tree
She is the tallest of all the little ones but her joy is just as full
Don’t you see her?
She sprints through a garden
Her arms stretched out from her side
Her hands floating through an endless bounty of flowers and leaves
Don’t you see her?
She closes her eyes and spins and spins
Finally falling back on the cool green grass
She looks up to see the father smiling down on her
His presence overwhelms her and she shouts out his-praises
Don’t you see her?
She enters a cave and notices the structure of the walls
Her hands glide along the carvings, paintings, and mixture of colors.
Her eyes take in the rich pure pallet of
purples, pinks, yellows, greens and blues
Don’t you see her?
She looks down at her hand and clasps them together
Her eyes fill with tears
Oh but she is not sad
She is thankful that he would share his artistic design with her
She is amazed that he chose her as the vessel
To give us a glimpse of the heavenlies
Don’t you see her?
And today, today she smiles down on us
She is thinking of us as we are remembering her
She is praying for us
Praying that the peace, joy, and comfort she
Is experiencing with the father now, we will taste and see one day
Don’t you see her?
Written By: Jae Campbell (Inspired by God)
Running through the meadows
The wind in her hair
Her smile bright and vibrant
Her glowing eyes
She reaches an area where children have gathered
They are laughing and playing
She joins in with excitement as they circle a tree
She is the tallest of all the little ones but her joy is just as full
Don’t you see her?
She sprints through a garden
Her arms stretched out from her side
Her hands floating through an endless bounty of flowers and leaves
Don’t you see her?
She closes her eyes and spins and spins
Finally falling back on the cool green grass
She looks up to see the father smiling down on her
His presence overwhelms her and she shouts out his-praises
Don’t you see her?
She enters a cave and notices the structure of the walls
Her hands glide along the carvings, paintings, and mixture of colors.
Her eyes take in the rich pure pallet of
purples, pinks, yellows, greens and blues
Don’t you see her?
She looks down at her hand and clasps them together
Her eyes fill with tears
Oh but she is not sad
She is thankful that he would share his artistic design with her
She is amazed that he chose her as the vessel
To give us a glimpse of the heavenlies
Don’t you see her?
And today, today she smiles down on us
She is thinking of us as we are remembering her
She is praying for us
Praying that the peace, joy, and comfort she
Is experiencing with the father now, we will taste and see one day
Don’t you see her?
Written By: Jae Campbell (Inspired by God)
Monday, April 4, 2011
A testimony at the memorial service 4-3-11 for Martha Depp by Joanne Depp-a sister-in-law
Martha’s story begins and ends with Jesus.
Without question, Martha had a special relationship with Jesus, and we have been blessed by all she shared with us.
But - Martha would want us to know and remember that she did not have a special access to God that isn’t available to the rest of us.
She knew and believed that she was a child of God, and that that Jesus’ loving hands were always reaching out to her - regardless of what her emotions or feelings were telling her about God’s reach towards her.
And do you know what Martha did -- She reached back. She prayed and studied God’s word and knew Him and loved Him in his entirety and His enormity of character.
She believed word for word that God is who the Bible says He is, and did not discount any parts that were uncomfortable, even by today’s standards.
Martha would be the first person to tell you that she wasn’t perfect; but she would also be the first one to tell you that her God was.
She would say that she needed Jesus in every step to her Journey to the Door because she could not get there on her own; not in her own human flesh and weakness.
And God’s promises carried her through that door.
She believed with her whole heart that God would not leave her or forsake her.
She knew that she would pass through waters and fires, but would remain unconsumed and unburned.
She knew that she was precious to Jesus, and that He loved her, and that He would preserve her for eternity.
She knew that God had a purpose for earthly suffering, and trusted that He would work all things together for good.
She knew that Jesus was her rescuer and deliverer. And that one day, He would restore her body and soul to perfection.
She knew He had prepared a place for her in Heaven, and that He was the only one who could keep her in perfect peace while she waited for Him to come.
And she knew that nothing - not even cancer or the process of dying or even death itself - could ever snatch her out of God’s loving hands.
And how did Martha know and believe all these things?
She prayed and read her Bible and focused on God’s promises to her - I should mention even long before her diagnosis of cancer. God had blessed Martha by giving her ears to hear and a heart to trust in his promises long before cancer was in her body.
Martha will always be remembered for her inspiring story and her courage in the face of terminal illness, dying, and death.
But please - please - in your memories of Martha and in your re-telling of Martha’s story - Please do not forget the One who gave Martha her courage and strength and peace.
Martha said in her own words - “Anything good coming out of my terminal cancer is because of the transforming work of Jesus - there would be no good in it otherwise, not for me. Remember where the good stuff originates.”
So on behalf of Martha, I’m asking you to remember that the “transforming work of Jesus” was and is her story.
Martha ran to him and clung to him and loved him so closely - that in the fullness of her story, it was hard to distinguish between Martha and Jesus--
between her words and his promises;
between her faith and his strength;
between her obedience and his love.
This is why throughout Martha’s story with cancer, people would make comments to me like --“When I’m with Martha, I know God is there.”
and “I can’t wait to see what Martha writes next - why hasn’t she posted anything recently?”
and “Wow, she is such an inspiration - I could never have such courage!”
And while these things may be true, did you ever stop to wonder why so many of us clung to Martha and the story she told us?
I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that regardless if we realized it or not, it’s because we want to be with the One Martha was clinging to.
We want to know and hear Jesus like Martha did; and understand his peace like she did; and experience his love like she did.
Martha’s God is pretty appealing - afterall, Martha’s God is THE God of the universe. And Martha would tell us that we all have ACCESS to him; that his promises are for all who believe in him.
And though we are grieving Martha right now, we do not need to grieve the closeness of God’s presence we experienced while she was with us. God is still very present; still reaching out; still offering His promises to those who want them.
Martha brought us to our own Door of sorts, and she would encourage us now to reach back. Even if it’s just by starting with a simple prayer and asking God to help you believe the promises Martha proclaimed.
Or even by picking up your Bible and seeing God’s promises for yourself; seeing that they weren’t only written for Martha, but also for you and for me.
I can only tell you these things with this kind of boldness because this is the part of her story Martha so desperately wanted people to remember. Martha’s story is not HER story if we pass it down without naming Jesus as her Savior and Deliverer and source of all good things.
So my recounting this part of Martha’s story to you is my way of telling Martha thank you - thank you, Martha for sharing our God’s promises so that we can know Him and love Him better. Thank you, Martha, for making God real and tangible to so many of us. Thank you, Martha, for showing us that any goodness we have is only from the gifting of God.
And it is also a gentle reminder to all of us of Martha’s very own words. As she said, “Remember where the good stuff originates.”
Without question, Martha had a special relationship with Jesus, and we have been blessed by all she shared with us.
But - Martha would want us to know and remember that she did not have a special access to God that isn’t available to the rest of us.
She knew and believed that she was a child of God, and that that Jesus’ loving hands were always reaching out to her - regardless of what her emotions or feelings were telling her about God’s reach towards her.
And do you know what Martha did -- She reached back. She prayed and studied God’s word and knew Him and loved Him in his entirety and His enormity of character.
She believed word for word that God is who the Bible says He is, and did not discount any parts that were uncomfortable, even by today’s standards.
Martha would be the first person to tell you that she wasn’t perfect; but she would also be the first one to tell you that her God was.
She would say that she needed Jesus in every step to her Journey to the Door because she could not get there on her own; not in her own human flesh and weakness.
And God’s promises carried her through that door.
She believed with her whole heart that God would not leave her or forsake her.
She knew that she would pass through waters and fires, but would remain unconsumed and unburned.
She knew that she was precious to Jesus, and that He loved her, and that He would preserve her for eternity.
She knew that God had a purpose for earthly suffering, and trusted that He would work all things together for good.
She knew that Jesus was her rescuer and deliverer. And that one day, He would restore her body and soul to perfection.
She knew He had prepared a place for her in Heaven, and that He was the only one who could keep her in perfect peace while she waited for Him to come.
And she knew that nothing - not even cancer or the process of dying or even death itself - could ever snatch her out of God’s loving hands.
And how did Martha know and believe all these things?
She prayed and read her Bible and focused on God’s promises to her - I should mention even long before her diagnosis of cancer. God had blessed Martha by giving her ears to hear and a heart to trust in his promises long before cancer was in her body.
Martha will always be remembered for her inspiring story and her courage in the face of terminal illness, dying, and death.
But please - please - in your memories of Martha and in your re-telling of Martha’s story - Please do not forget the One who gave Martha her courage and strength and peace.
Martha said in her own words - “Anything good coming out of my terminal cancer is because of the transforming work of Jesus - there would be no good in it otherwise, not for me. Remember where the good stuff originates.”
So on behalf of Martha, I’m asking you to remember that the “transforming work of Jesus” was and is her story.
Martha ran to him and clung to him and loved him so closely - that in the fullness of her story, it was hard to distinguish between Martha and Jesus--
between her words and his promises;
between her faith and his strength;
between her obedience and his love.
This is why throughout Martha’s story with cancer, people would make comments to me like --“When I’m with Martha, I know God is there.”
and “I can’t wait to see what Martha writes next - why hasn’t she posted anything recently?”
and “Wow, she is such an inspiration - I could never have such courage!”
And while these things may be true, did you ever stop to wonder why so many of us clung to Martha and the story she told us?
I’m going to go out on a limb here and suggest that regardless if we realized it or not, it’s because we want to be with the One Martha was clinging to.
We want to know and hear Jesus like Martha did; and understand his peace like she did; and experience his love like she did.
Martha’s God is pretty appealing - afterall, Martha’s God is THE God of the universe. And Martha would tell us that we all have ACCESS to him; that his promises are for all who believe in him.
And though we are grieving Martha right now, we do not need to grieve the closeness of God’s presence we experienced while she was with us. God is still very present; still reaching out; still offering His promises to those who want them.
Martha brought us to our own Door of sorts, and she would encourage us now to reach back. Even if it’s just by starting with a simple prayer and asking God to help you believe the promises Martha proclaimed.
Or even by picking up your Bible and seeing God’s promises for yourself; seeing that they weren’t only written for Martha, but also for you and for me.
I can only tell you these things with this kind of boldness because this is the part of her story Martha so desperately wanted people to remember. Martha’s story is not HER story if we pass it down without naming Jesus as her Savior and Deliverer and source of all good things.
So my recounting this part of Martha’s story to you is my way of telling Martha thank you - thank you, Martha for sharing our God’s promises so that we can know Him and love Him better. Thank you, Martha, for making God real and tangible to so many of us. Thank you, Martha, for showing us that any goodness we have is only from the gifting of God.
And it is also a gentle reminder to all of us of Martha’s very own words. As she said, “Remember where the good stuff originates.”
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Her last gentle breath
Martha took her last gentle breath on earth and her first joyous breath in Heaven today, March 24, when her Lord Jesus came to take her to the place He has prepared for her, His perfect healing and eternal LIFE in His presence. Rejoice with us in this victory!
Thank you so very much for your prayers for Martha and her family during this journey in which our Lord has so clearly shown His awesome grace and faithfulness through her testimony.
Still Waiting...
Our deepest gratitude to all of you who continue to bear our burden with us, experience our pain, and uphold us with your prayers for this seemingly long journey with Martha as she anticipates the joy of being with Jesus.
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us (Martha!) an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” 2 Cor. 4:17.
Martha has seemed very close to Heaven for several weeks now and the medical people continue to be amazed that she is still with us. These recent days have been more difficult as her body systems are shutting down and her brain chemistry is changing with the build up of toxins. She is sedated and resting peacefully.
We are impressed with how often our Lord brings some kind of relief: an angel of mercy hospice nurse coming to the house at night, after one nearly sleepless night here when one of her brothers appeared to sit by Martha’s side and calm her until a new medication arrived and more surprise bouquets of flowers on our doorstep. Certainly not least, we continue to be impressed with the extent of God’s mercy and grace to us as the stretching definitely continues!
All of her vital signs have been diminishing daily. Yesterday morning the hospice nurse could not hear her blood pressure with the cuff, or get an oxygen reading in her finger, and heard only slight air movement in her lungs. She has had no fluid input or output for almost a week and her breathing has been very irregular for days. She looks so very peaceful that I regret having to disturb her every three hours with medication that tastes terrible and is uncomfortable to receive.
So, dear intercessors, thank you again for persevering with us in this journey and may our Lord bless each of you abundantly!
In His love, Martha’s parents
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Loving wounds-Reflections by Martha's Dad
Proverbs, Chapter 27, Verse 6 tells us: ‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful’.
An enemy’s kisses are a clear contradiction; enemies seek not our good with kisses. Think Judas Iscariot. But why would friends wound? One song of worship reminds we have a friend in Jesus, the Son of God. Yet scripture assures ‘He was wounded for our transgressions' by His Father, ‘smitten by God’ as Isaiah 53, verse 4 tells us, because of the Father’s love for us and for Him also.
Jesus satisfied our need; perfectly covering our sins and showing His fallen creation the infinite mercy of God. Both expressed together in the Father’s sacrifice of His Son on the cross and the Son’s acceptance of wounding by the One who loved Him from before the foundation of the world.
The Father wounding His own Son for the love us; the Son accepting wounding for the love of us as well. The Father faithful to fulfill His plan to release us from our sin must wound the Son for the love of us. The Son faithfully serving as our substitute, our Lamb, wounded for His love of us as well.
Loving wounds continue among the creatures of God bringing merciful cleansing that draw us to Him. Thomas experienced this when he beheld the wounded hands and feet of Jesus and put his hand in His side confessing belief with conviction where doubt had been, ‘My Lord and my God’; John 20, verse 28.
The Sovereign One, the All Faithful One, wounds His own thus evidencing ownership, great purpose and mysterious lovingkindness. Jacob’s chronic limp was not accidental but deeply intentional in remembrance as were the woundings of Job and Stephen.
God has assured Martha her terminal cancer is a continuation of her pilgrim journey with her Lord Jesus, not an unplanned interlude or an unfortunate shortening of her earthly life. Neither has it been so for the connected hundreds brought near and mentored by the Holy Spirit in the matters of The Creator of all and life eternal. Each one lovingly wounded directly or vicariously, each one experiencing His faithfulness, each one hearing and seeing more clearly new outlines of the Infinite, now drawn closer where blindness and deafness had formerly prevented.
Continuing to wait...
Psalm 27, which Martha calls “my cancer psalm” concludes with:
“Wait for the Lord;
Be strong, and let your heart take courage;
Wait for the Lord!”
And she continues to wait, courageously, graciously, gratefully, and usually with remarkable patience toward the challenges of the cancer and her very great weakness now. In the beginning she prayed to “be able to do this cancer thing well” and she is doing it so very well for His glory.
And all of us continue to be profoundly thankful for abounding grace and peace to our Lord Jesus and to each of you who continues to pray so faithfully for us and to send such loving messages, emails and other encouragements, like the very cheerful bouquet of flowers we discovered on the front porch Monday morning and a beautiful gerbera daisy another dayJ. We pray God’s many blessings on each of you!
In His immense love, her parents.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Waiting...
We continue to find it a great privilege to be caring for Martha here, in the anguish of watching her body become increasingly frail and weak, in the joy of knowing that she will soon be with her Lord, and in the experiencing of grace and peace to all three of us which truly passes all understanding.
We are very grateful that she has been able to remain in her own home here and we are also immensely grateful for your prayers and many expressions of love and comfort. Please continue to pray that our Lord will bring her very soon into His healing presence and for grace and peace while she waits.
In His grip, her parents
We are very grateful that she has been able to remain in her own home here and we are also immensely grateful for your prayers and many expressions of love and comfort. Please continue to pray that our Lord will bring her very soon into His healing presence and for grace and peace while she waits.
In His grip, her parents
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Tears from Two Rivers-Reflections by Martha's Dad
Standing behind Him weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, Luke 7, verse 38. Whenever the Lord draws close, we respond with awe and wonder falling down as did John on the Isle of Patmos. More often than not we respond also with weeping as did the woman forgiven when the Spirit comes and Jesus is present. We sense anew that our Rescuer and Defender is near. Tears of gratitude flow as a great river of joy and thanksgiving.
So it is for us when our love for Martha consciously mingles with the sight of her disabling symptoms of cancer, both within the Holy Spirit’s palpable embrace and reassurances. Sweet destructions within the Sovereign’s intentions for Paradise soon to be realized for another of His own.
All His breakers and waves wash over, Psalm 42, verse 7, Martha and each of us holding her hands…some of us physically present, others a thousand miles distant. All caught in the love enabled purposes of God as His waves wash over.
A second great river of tears has its source in watching the destruction of Martha’s body: more feeble mobility, progressive weightlessness and energy loss and words and expressions that grow scarce, barely connecting us together. A grain of wheat dying into the ground wrapped and safe in the Jesus promise of new life and greater fruit bearing, John 12, verse 24.
This river also remembers a little blonde girl with a big smile and enough spunk to climb toy shelves six feet from the floor wiping them clean of all they possessed. Not to be forgotten however are the scores of lives drawn into the Savior’s loving embrace by her recently exercised gifts of bold love, transparency and words of courage ‘It is what it is’, as she trusts the One who was the first grain of wheat to go into the ground and die that others might truly live.
Two rivers, one of gratitude and thanksgiving born under grace given by our only Rescuer and Defender; one river born of the earth and our humanity, made up of grief, mourning and transient loss. Rivers that mingle and join, flow into one and take us to the very gates of the City of God
Friday, February 25, 2011
Coming Softly-Reflections by Martha's Dad-Friday, February 25, 2011
Almost imperceptibly, silently and singing songs of praise they come softly among us bringing their message of His holiness and comforting assurance. How many are you? Do you carry, or are you creating, a faintly heard sound of familiar hymnody?
Resting in the promises of the One who is all in all; resting and listening for His next orchestrations, we wait.
Love you and love you too exchanged with whispers and tender cheek brushings; these the bold sounds and highest expressions in the surrounding silences we inhabit and rest in as we attend always to the gentle words of Jesus.
Gathered in retreat mode to pray, we listen and read His eternal Words aloud, enriched by His imperative to be still and know that He is God, the Awesome One among us by His spirit, ever attentive to our needs spoken and unspoken as we journey together with Martha from this world to the door of the next.
We drop our busy hands, still our doubting hearts and listen for His words of true and perfect healing for the diminishing one we keep vigil with. Martha’s thin spoken ‘Moms’ in the darkness of the night, monitor whispers of her love needs, soon satisfied by the alert one who gave her birth, alert even then to her first whispers and now the more. Behind her ministrations of love and service stands Jesus whose grace strengthens and encourages.
Coming softly, coming faithfully, the heavenly host will soon carry Martha home. Expectantly, all eyes are turned heavenward from whence cometh our help, from the same Lord and Father of all the saints who promises that ‘blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city’ Rev 22, verse 14. Maranatha.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Updates: Etsy and Me
Okay, I don’t feel right about posting updates about my Etsy shop on here, so my siblings developed a public Facebook page for me that will be a good way to keep in touch with what is going on with the shop and when new artwork is posted.
My siblings have been hard at work and they have been posting new artwork on a regular basis.
Ways to access the Etsy shop:
---You can click on the orange Etsy button on the right side of this page, while you’re on the Etsy page you could add it to your favorites list so you don’t “lose it.”
--- If you are on Facebook already, you can go HERE, sign in, and then “like” my page. After you like my page, it will show you in your news feed when new art is added to the Etsy shop.
For His children and for those who are ministering to them.
Martha
P.S. I am getting very, very weak and I think Jesus is coming for me very, very, soon. Thank you for all of your love and prayers and support for me and my family and friends.
My siblings have been hard at work and they have been posting new artwork on a regular basis.
Ways to access the Etsy shop:
---You can click on the orange Etsy button on the right side of this page, while you’re on the Etsy page you could add it to your favorites list so you don’t “lose it.”
--- If you are on Facebook already, you can go HERE, sign in, and then “like” my page. After you like my page, it will show you in your news feed when new art is added to the Etsy shop.
For His children and for those who are ministering to them.
Martha
P.S. I am getting very, very weak and I think Jesus is coming for me very, very, soon. Thank you for all of your love and prayers and support for me and my family and friends.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Praise God for your Prayers and encouragement! EDITED
Here are two updates, one from my parents, and a short one from me.
Parents:
Thank God for your continued prayer support and many expressions of love and encouragement!
This past Sunday was glorious. Martha’s pastor gathered a small group from her church to come to her home.
It was a very special time to sing the music which Martha chose in (Jan. 2010) for her memorial service, hear encouragement from Hebrews, and administer the membership vows to her for joining the local church (she had never been able to complete the membership class due to scheduling and illness conflicts), and to take Communion.
How lovely it was to hear this precious bride of Christ say “I do,” again, and again, in response to her vows of commitment to Jesus and to His body in this local church! And what a joy to be reminded that she belongs to Him and not to us (much as we love her)!
Martha has been significantly weaker and sleepier each day, and communication is taking more effort. Please continue to pray for her relief from various discomforts and soon perfect healing in His presence.
On Sunday, in the early morning hours, probably around 4:30-5 am, Martha called us because she was extremely cold and could not stop shaking, so we wrapped her in more blankets, held her and prayed and read Psalms for probably an hour before she was warm enough to sleep again…she has had many challenges with her internal thermostat before but never for so long. Several hours later she was too warm.
Sunday night’s testimony makes it ever clearer that Jesus is using Martha for His kingdom purposes and, though she is in the midst of this ‘story’ right now, it is ultimately not about her, us or her church but all about our all-sufficient and only God, our Savior, “who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy.” (Jude 24-5).
Rejoicing in His grip and Love! Martha’s Parents
From Martha:
My wonderful nurse said today that she would not be surprised if she got "the call" from my family any time now because of physical symptoms that she can see clearly by looking at me, and because of these crazy symptoms I’ve been having. I'm ready.
I had a startlingly difficult experience last night that indicates tremendous progress of the cancer.
Meanwhile my caretakers with Hospice and my parents continue to be just incredible.
Meanwhile God, even in times like last night’s difficulty, is keeping me in His peace and protecting me with His grace.
In His grip, Martha
Parents:
Thank God for your continued prayer support and many expressions of love and encouragement!
This past Sunday was glorious. Martha’s pastor gathered a small group from her church to come to her home.
It was a very special time to sing the music which Martha chose in (Jan. 2010) for her memorial service, hear encouragement from Hebrews, and administer the membership vows to her for joining the local church (she had never been able to complete the membership class due to scheduling and illness conflicts), and to take Communion.
How lovely it was to hear this precious bride of Christ say “I do,” again, and again, in response to her vows of commitment to Jesus and to His body in this local church! And what a joy to be reminded that she belongs to Him and not to us (much as we love her)!
Martha has been significantly weaker and sleepier each day, and communication is taking more effort. Please continue to pray for her relief from various discomforts and soon perfect healing in His presence.
On Sunday, in the early morning hours, probably around 4:30-5 am, Martha called us because she was extremely cold and could not stop shaking, so we wrapped her in more blankets, held her and prayed and read Psalms for probably an hour before she was warm enough to sleep again…she has had many challenges with her internal thermostat before but never for so long. Several hours later she was too warm.
Sunday night’s testimony makes it ever clearer that Jesus is using Martha for His kingdom purposes and, though she is in the midst of this ‘story’ right now, it is ultimately not about her, us or her church but all about our all-sufficient and only God, our Savior, “who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy.” (Jude 24-5).
Rejoicing in His grip and Love! Martha’s Parents
From Martha:
My wonderful nurse said today that she would not be surprised if she got "the call" from my family any time now because of physical symptoms that she can see clearly by looking at me, and because of these crazy symptoms I’ve been having. I'm ready.
I had a startlingly difficult experience last night that indicates tremendous progress of the cancer.
Meanwhile my caretakers with Hospice and my parents continue to be just incredible.
Meanwhile God, even in times like last night’s difficulty, is keeping me in His peace and protecting me with His grace.
In His grip, Martha
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Nearing LIFE
Well, my body appears to be well into the last stages of “life” and it’s definitely preparing to Transition to Life sometime soon.
If you read the Hospice info (http://www.hospicenet.org/html/preparing_for.html) on end stages of physical shut down, you know that sleeping a whole lot more is one of the stages, as is not having energy to talk much or to participate in conversations, as is saying goodbye to people--for the last time before we meet again in Heaven, as is decreased food and water intake....
I am easing peacefully into lying in bed drifting in out of being awake and asleep for most of each day. This is a new change as of the last couple days. I like it.
If you asked me what I did all day, I’d say hang out with my parents who are helping me tremendously, take medicine, sleep, and lie in bed. I either lie in my own bed or in a nice hospital bed that moves up and down by a handheld controller.
I only really get up to use the restroom or to move locations... Since I wretched so hard that something low down in my spine popped, walking has been very painful and difficult, as has changing clothes and a lot of other things. But I'll be done soon and I'll be able to walk perfectly in what will have seemed like the blink of an eye.
It is hard to find energy to write a blog post. I don’t know how many more I will be able to write, as much as I would like to continue to demystify this process by documenting it for other people.
There is a very clear sense of God’s peace in my home, with my parents, and with me. It is a precious treasure and we are very thankful for it.
God is keeping me in His grace during this waiting time... But I am still very curious, and have a strong feeling of excitement and anticipation, about what my Transition, Heaven, and Jesus will be like.
In His Grip, Martha
If you read the Hospice info (http://www.hospicenet.org/html/preparing_for.html) on end stages of physical shut down, you know that sleeping a whole lot more is one of the stages, as is not having energy to talk much or to participate in conversations, as is saying goodbye to people--for the last time before we meet again in Heaven, as is decreased food and water intake....
I am easing peacefully into lying in bed drifting in out of being awake and asleep for most of each day. This is a new change as of the last couple days. I like it.
If you asked me what I did all day, I’d say hang out with my parents who are helping me tremendously, take medicine, sleep, and lie in bed. I either lie in my own bed or in a nice hospital bed that moves up and down by a handheld controller.
I only really get up to use the restroom or to move locations... Since I wretched so hard that something low down in my spine popped, walking has been very painful and difficult, as has changing clothes and a lot of other things. But I'll be done soon and I'll be able to walk perfectly in what will have seemed like the blink of an eye.
It is hard to find energy to write a blog post. I don’t know how many more I will be able to write, as much as I would like to continue to demystify this process by documenting it for other people.
There is a very clear sense of God’s peace in my home, with my parents, and with me. It is a precious treasure and we are very thankful for it.
God is keeping me in His grace during this waiting time... But I am still very curious, and have a strong feeling of excitement and anticipation, about what my Transition, Heaven, and Jesus will be like.
In His Grip, Martha
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Etsy Store Opening and Update : )
I have something I am very excited about to share. Several people in my life have been encouraging me to market my artwork for years... but I’m not the marketing type. My brother Ben masterminded the idea of starting an Etsy store to sell fine art prints of my paintings and some of my drawings. He has done an amazing job photographing my artwork with his super high quality professional camera. Another sibling will administrate the store for me and all of the proceeds will go to Arts For Life, and Doctors Without Borders.
Ben just opened the shop today, and more artwork will be added soon, please check back for more artwork over the next few weeks.
It feels really good to have artwork for sale that will help these organizations in their work to relieve suffering and bring hope to so many people.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarthaDepp?ref=pr_shop_more
As for me, my time feels shorter and shorter and I am living with greater and greater excitement about finding out what Heaven will be like. I wonder what Jesus will look like when I see Him? I wonder many, many things, all kinds of things, with a heart filled with hope and peace, thanks to His overwhelming grace.
In His Grip, For His Glory, Martha
Ben just opened the shop today, and more artwork will be added soon, please check back for more artwork over the next few weeks.
It feels really good to have artwork for sale that will help these organizations in their work to relieve suffering and bring hope to so many people.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarthaDepp?ref=pr_shop_more
In His Grip, For His Glory, Martha
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Mercy???
For the last few weeks I have been struggling deeply with the Mercy Promise that God made me.
It hasn’t been feeling like He’s being merciful. It felt to me like He wasn’t keeping His promise. His promise wasn't making any sense.
For nearly two years I have been trying to guess what the fulfillment of this promise would look like in my life, and at times I thought I knew, but I was wrong.
This morning, I was talking with my wise (and wonderful) hospice nurse and God used our conversation to show me what the fulfillment of His mercy promise will look for me. (And if I’m wrong, He will forgive me for thinking I know, but this time I’m sure that this is something He has shown me).
This morning my nurse and I had our usual reporting/reflecting/question session. Toward the end of our conversation, I said that based on how dramatically my body has changed just in the last week, and how fast my body is deteriorating, I can’t imagine that it will be more than a few more weeks, or a month at most, before I go Home.
She responded by agreeing that things are happening rapidly and said she didn’t know how long my body will tolerate it’s current condition, she said she didn’t know if my body will try to tolerate it because I’m so ready and because I’m so at peace with “dying.”
As I was reflecting on her comment, which I found very encouraging, I felt like I finally understood what the Mercy Promise means.
It means that because of the work God has done in my spirit, mind, and body over the last two years, my parts are all unified. So as I continue to deteriorate physically, my mind and spirit won’t fight my body and cause all of the physical chaos that people with terminal illnesses so often experience.
Instead, as my body deteriorates, it will be free to do it in a gentle and peaceful way, with permission from and my mind and spirit.
I picture myself moving with ease and grace from life to Life. I don’t see a huge “fight,” or a horrendous “struggle,” I don’t see any massive issues to be afraid of, and I am not afraid—I’m not afraid to wait for the right time and I’m not afraid to Transition.
And yes, I am suffering. Yes, I am in pain. Yes, last night I wretched so hard it made my something in my lower spine/right hip (the one that already hurts a lot) crack or pop so loudly I both heard it and felt it, and the pain was so excruciating that I had to get help lifting my legs onto my bed.
Yes, my physical situation is grim, but it is not nearly as grim as many of those with terminal cancer. Yes, it could be infinitely worse.
It is such a huge gift to understand this.
It is, in itself, such a miracle to be given such a clear idea of what His promise to me means.
And, as always, thank you so very much for all of your thoughtful and encouraging comments, and for your prayer for me and my family. We are very thankful.
In His Grip, Martha
It hasn’t been feeling like He’s being merciful. It felt to me like He wasn’t keeping His promise. His promise wasn't making any sense.
For nearly two years I have been trying to guess what the fulfillment of this promise would look like in my life, and at times I thought I knew, but I was wrong.
This morning, I was talking with my wise (and wonderful) hospice nurse and God used our conversation to show me what the fulfillment of His mercy promise will look for me. (And if I’m wrong, He will forgive me for thinking I know, but this time I’m sure that this is something He has shown me).
This morning my nurse and I had our usual reporting/reflecting/question session. Toward the end of our conversation, I said that based on how dramatically my body has changed just in the last week, and how fast my body is deteriorating, I can’t imagine that it will be more than a few more weeks, or a month at most, before I go Home.
She responded by agreeing that things are happening rapidly and said she didn’t know how long my body will tolerate it’s current condition, she said she didn’t know if my body will try to tolerate it because I’m so ready and because I’m so at peace with “dying.”
As I was reflecting on her comment, which I found very encouraging, I felt like I finally understood what the Mercy Promise means.
It means that because of the work God has done in my spirit, mind, and body over the last two years, my parts are all unified. So as I continue to deteriorate physically, my mind and spirit won’t fight my body and cause all of the physical chaos that people with terminal illnesses so often experience.
Instead, as my body deteriorates, it will be free to do it in a gentle and peaceful way, with permission from and my mind and spirit.
I picture myself moving with ease and grace from life to Life. I don’t see a huge “fight,” or a horrendous “struggle,” I don’t see any massive issues to be afraid of, and I am not afraid—I’m not afraid to wait for the right time and I’m not afraid to Transition.
And yes, I am suffering. Yes, I am in pain. Yes, last night I wretched so hard it made my something in my lower spine/right hip (the one that already hurts a lot) crack or pop so loudly I both heard it and felt it, and the pain was so excruciating that I had to get help lifting my legs onto my bed.
Yes, my physical situation is grim, but it is not nearly as grim as many of those with terminal cancer. Yes, it could be infinitely worse.
It is such a huge gift to understand this.
It is, in itself, such a miracle to be given such a clear idea of what His promise to me means.
And, as always, thank you so very much for all of your thoughtful and encouraging comments, and for your prayer for me and my family. We are very thankful.
In His Grip, Martha
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Another Update
I guess it’s update time again.
There isn’t a ton to say. My body continues to deteriorate, I continue longing to go Home, my energy continues to decrease, I continue to struggle with which medications to take when, I continue to pray for a clot—a quick and easy way out....
There is one thing that I crave more than almost anything else; to gulp down a giant glass of ice cold water. I’m thirsty all the time but can’t drink more than sips of water. If I drink more than two medium size gulps at a time, it makes me nearly vomit.
Crushed ice tastes better than any ice cream ever did, and it is cold, and it slows down my intake, so I’ve been able to enjoy ice chips.
I’ve been sleeping terribly every night, partly because of lower back pain, I have almost no energy during the day, it takes effort to talk in the late afternoon/evening, and the nausea gets a lot worse throughout the day—even with anti-nausea meds.
I’ve lost interest in a lot of things, little things like checking http://www.craftgawker.com/ each day, as I have for months. Small tasks often seem overwhelming and it’s often hard to find energy for them.
Really, I just want to be done. This cancer thing has gotten a lot harder in the last week, and I desperately want to be done.
In a sense I suppose it’s like being in the last few weeks of a pregnancy (speaking on the basis of observation only), only I’m waiting to be delivered into Life, Joy, His presence, and Perfect Healing.
Please pray for me. It is excruciating to wait. I often find myself opening my eyes hoping to see Jesus coming for me.
Please pray for my dear family who I’m visiting and who are bringing me ice chips and Ensure, reading to me, and being very loving.
Please pray for mercy.
Thank you very much, Martha
There isn’t a ton to say. My body continues to deteriorate, I continue longing to go Home, my energy continues to decrease, I continue to struggle with which medications to take when, I continue to pray for a clot—a quick and easy way out....
There is one thing that I crave more than almost anything else; to gulp down a giant glass of ice cold water. I’m thirsty all the time but can’t drink more than sips of water. If I drink more than two medium size gulps at a time, it makes me nearly vomit.
Crushed ice tastes better than any ice cream ever did, and it is cold, and it slows down my intake, so I’ve been able to enjoy ice chips.
I’ve been sleeping terribly every night, partly because of lower back pain, I have almost no energy during the day, it takes effort to talk in the late afternoon/evening, and the nausea gets a lot worse throughout the day—even with anti-nausea meds.
I’ve lost interest in a lot of things, little things like checking http://www.craftgawker.com/ each day, as I have for months. Small tasks often seem overwhelming and it’s often hard to find energy for them.
Really, I just want to be done. This cancer thing has gotten a lot harder in the last week, and I desperately want to be done.
In a sense I suppose it’s like being in the last few weeks of a pregnancy (speaking on the basis of observation only), only I’m waiting to be delivered into Life, Joy, His presence, and Perfect Healing.
Please pray for me. It is excruciating to wait. I often find myself opening my eyes hoping to see Jesus coming for me.
Please pray for my dear family who I’m visiting and who are bringing me ice chips and Ensure, reading to me, and being very loving.
Please pray for mercy.
Thank you very much, Martha
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Update
Well, I had a meeting with my wonderful nurse yesterday morning.
The bottom line is that:
-I’ve lost three more pounds since last Friday.
-I’ve lost three more pounds since last Friday.
-I find my heart beating fast after minimal exertion; this is probably because my body is breaking down, including my muscles, my body is already using its reserve resources, and my heart is trying to compensate.
-I have something vascular and very painful going on in my left arm. Whatever it is makes me unable to straighten my arm all the way, is causing veins to hurt, and seems like it could be The Clot. The Clot= the one that could take me home. I’m hopeful about this one because not only is it bigger and more extensive than the others I’ve had, but it’s also in my left arm, which is closer to my heart than any of the others I’ve had.
-With the potential bowel obstruction that is building and the potential clot, please pray that the clot will win; it would be so much easier.
Meanwhile:
-I’m hanging out with my family right now.
-I am very tired and very weak.
-I have learned how to make yarn out of t-shirts, something I’d never heard of before seeing it on HERE and finding THIS tutorial. Note: The first link is a site that puts up new crafts every day, so the t-shirt yarn thing may be several days back... The resulting yarn is very soft and seems like it should be very nice to crochet with... Making t-shirt yarn is very easy and fun, and a great way to recycle t-shirts.
-I am glad to be in the actively deteriorating physically stage rather than the facing months and months of ambiguity stage.
-Please keep praying for grace and wisdom and comfort.
In His Grip, Martha
Monday, January 17, 2011
Thank You VERY Much....
I’m afraid to post this because I’m afraid people might stop praying and I’ll start feeling horrible immediately : )
Not only is the 102.5 fever/body temperature regulation issue from yesterday error gone, but so are the cold chills, the nausea, and the pain—at least for now... And I was able to take my pain med without having any nausea from it, which was awesome.
In addition, I slept for four hours straight for the first time in at least a week, and I only woke up a total of three times—as opposed to five to seven times. It was AMAZING.
The variability involved in this process is unbelievable.
I just wanted you to know that I feel way better than I did yesterday and I believe it’s because of Divine intervention. Thank you very, very, very much for your prayers for me.
But please, please, please don’t stop praying.
Not only is the 102.5 fever/body temperature regulation issue from yesterday error gone, but so are the cold chills, the nausea, and the pain—at least for now... And I was able to take my pain med without having any nausea from it, which was awesome.
In addition, I slept for four hours straight for the first time in at least a week, and I only woke up a total of three times—as opposed to five to seven times. It was AMAZING.
The variability involved in this process is unbelievable.
I just wanted you to know that I feel way better than I did yesterday and I believe it’s because of Divine intervention. Thank you very, very, very much for your prayers for me.
But please, please, please don’t stop praying.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Please Pray
I need prayer for wisdom. I’m having new symptoms and old symptoms which are making me feel pretty weird.
I’m having sets of symptoms I can’t treat with meds because, for example, the pain med I would take would increase the existing nausea. Therefore, the whole comfort care thing is not working for me right now.
I’m having pretty rapid symptom changes too, the most bothersome is waking me up every hour all night long, preventing me from getting any halfway decent sleep, which is making me fatigued, which is increasing my other symptoms.
I really need some relief.
Last time I asked for prayer, I was amazed by how God moved. Please pray again.
Thanks, Martha
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Some Pretty Things
Some friends gave me these lovely tulips this week.
My Favorite part is the four color spiral at the top, where I began the hat. If you want to know how to start a multicolor spiral, check out THIS LINK.
I also like the border because of its subtle picot pattern.... This picture also shows the colors most accurately, except the darker purple is a true dark violet-purple and what looks like black is actually a deep indigo blue....
Here is a similar hat in progress: You work each of the colors for so many stitches and then repeat, repeat, repeat, so you have the ends of each color hanging loose until you’re finished. I may try one with six colors, just for fun.
I’m still having mostly good days, tinged with the digestive crud. The hip pain is still pretty terrible—and much worse later in the day.
It’s really hard to know what’s going on with this stuff. There is definitely enough crud to make me think the partial bowel obstruction is a reality, and I am definitely only drinking water and Ensure, but the whole thing is variable enough that it’s hard to get a grasp on.
Trying to understand this physical process is kind of like trying to catch a slippery fish with your hands; you can feel it and see it but you can’t quite get a hold of it.... : )
I’m still praying for a clot instead of the bowel obstruction (and every time I type that, I type “bowl” and then imagine of all the ways a bowl of cereal could be obstructed—cheerio dams etc).....
I treated myself to two humidifiers today (two because I don't want to have to move one back and forth between the front of my house during the day, and my bedroom at night). I’ve been coughing and coughing, to the point where I almost vomited several times a few nights ago... My wonderful nurse brother suggested that my house is very, very dry and the dry environment could be causing the coughing. I never thought of that; it’s a knee jerk reaction at this point to blame everything on the cancer... I can’t wait to see how the humidifier works...
Also, I’ve gotten a huge number of very, very, very encouraging, kind, and thoughtful emails and comments on here recently—they are really super awesome and I really appreciate them. Thank you!
Peace, Martha
This is a hat I crocheted. It’s the magnum opus of my crocheted hats. I made about ten other hats along the way and learned something from each one that added to the skill set I needed to make this one. (The colors in this image are not accurate... I'm not quite sure what happened)
My Favorite part is the four color spiral at the top, where I began the hat. If you want to know how to start a multicolor spiral, check out THIS LINK.
Here is a similar hat in progress: You work each of the colors for so many stitches and then repeat, repeat, repeat, so you have the ends of each color hanging loose until you’re finished. I may try one with six colors, just for fun.
It’s really hard to know what’s going on with this stuff. There is definitely enough crud to make me think the partial bowel obstruction is a reality, and I am definitely only drinking water and Ensure, but the whole thing is variable enough that it’s hard to get a grasp on.
Trying to understand this physical process is kind of like trying to catch a slippery fish with your hands; you can feel it and see it but you can’t quite get a hold of it.... : )
I’m still praying for a clot instead of the bowel obstruction (and every time I type that, I type “bowl” and then imagine of all the ways a bowl of cereal could be obstructed—cheerio dams etc).....
I treated myself to two humidifiers today (two because I don't want to have to move one back and forth between the front of my house during the day, and my bedroom at night). I’ve been coughing and coughing, to the point where I almost vomited several times a few nights ago... My wonderful nurse brother suggested that my house is very, very dry and the dry environment could be causing the coughing. I never thought of that; it’s a knee jerk reaction at this point to blame everything on the cancer... I can’t wait to see how the humidifier works...
Also, I’ve gotten a huge number of very, very, very encouraging, kind, and thoughtful emails and comments on here recently—they are really super awesome and I really appreciate them. Thank you!
Peace, Martha
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Consternation
This is a post mostly about stuff I really do not want to write about, but which I feel like I have to write...
I have been hearing a lot of direct questions about why I’ve chosen to be in my own home while I’m dying, and I’ve been hearing second hand consternation from people who aren’t talking to me directly, and I’m tired of defending myself.
So, of the million reasons why I’ve chosen to be in my home, and the hospice home if need be, while I’m dying, here are a few:
-This is where I want to be.
-This is where I feel peaceful and right about being.
-I have not only bent over backwards, I’ve twisted in circles, tied myself in knots, and stood on my head trying to make this process easier for people around me, and trying to be available to spend time with people for the last two years. So if this last part of the process is inconvenient for some people, so be it.
-Dying is very hard work mentally/emotionally/physically, so now I am making myself available to myself and God to do the work that needs to be done. Time alone has always been crucial for me, as an introvert, and now it’s absolutely critical as a dying introvert.
-Here is a quote from http://www.hospicenet.org/ on the well-researched end of life stages of relationships, which can start happening long before the last few weeks of “life”:
"Decreased Socialization
The person may only want to be with a very few or even just one person. This is a sign of preparation for release and affirms from whom the support is most needed in order to make the appropriate transition. If you are not part of this inner circle at the end, it does not mean you are not loved or are unimportant. It means you have already fulfilled your task with your loved one, and it is the time for you to say Good-bye. If you are part of the final inner circle of support, the person needs your affirmation, support, and permission." (LINK)
If you have more questions, please use this hospice site as a resource. I’ve shared it many times but I don’t know if people are using it....
It is what it is. If you’re not involved any more/right now, don’t take it personally, this is normal.
-I am making this decision for myself, after praying about it. It’s not a question of making people happy or making things easy for everyone else any more (although I do try when I am able to). If people are happy, that’s wonderful. If people aren’t happy, take your unhappiness to God and let Him help you with it.
I am dying and my needs as I die are a higher priority than making people happy.
-This city has been my home for over three years, and it’s the first place that has felt like home to me in fifteen years. My community is here, my church is here, and my ministry is here. This is my home and this is my space.
-This is where my spaces are for creating art, it is where I feel best making art.
-This where all of my earthly possessions are.
-This is where my hospice care team is. I am NOT going to move somewhere that is not my home and try to summon the energy to form the kind of relationships I already have with my current hospice team.
I have spent over four months forming relationships with my team here, including communicating my philosophy of dying and end of life care with my team and answering questions from them about what my wishes are.
Why would I want to do that all over again when it’s already done? That would be foolish and an absolute waste of the small amount of energy I have.
-Along the hospice care lines: I need my family to love me and support me and affirm me. I need my hospice care team to support me and care for my physical needs. It is not my family’s job to wipe my rear and bathe me. Over my dead body (Ha ha, get it?). I think separating those areas of responsibility is very healthy and I think it will make everything easier for all of those involved.
-I have safeguards in place—two friends with keys to my house who my nurse can call to let her in, in case of emergency, a bed (and extra tea bags) for my parents if they need to come up here at any time of day or night, people who can do errands etc for me if needed, people lined up to take care of my wonderful dog... Etc.
-I don’t feel like I should have to defend my position, so here it is for the whole world. I hope this is the last time I have to go over this.
-The bottom line is that you can take a pancake tortoise out of it’s desert habit and put it in the ocean, or you can take a sea turtle and put it in the desert, or you could even set up terrariums with the right environments for each of them, but it won’t be RIGHT, it won’t be the real thing, and they won’t thrive in the wrong environment or a synthetic environment.
I’m going to choose where I will be while I’m dying, and I’ll let you choose where you would like to be while you are dying.
__________________________________________________
One last thought, while I’m on consternation:
Over the last few weeks, mixed in with all of my super-encouraging, helpful, loving, thoughtful, amazing communications from people (for which I'm very thankful), I’ve gotten a few emails from people who are contacting me for the first time in many years simply because I’m dying and they feel like terrible friends.
I haven’t really known how to respond.
Part of me wants to say that they should have been living all of that time without regrets, and if, at some point along the way, they felt they should have communicated, then they should have.
Part of me wants to say that God used the vast majority of my female friends who got married or moved away and fell off the face of the earth to teach me that friends come and go, and that I need to hold relationships loosely—and that is very helpful to me now.
What I have been saying is thanks for your letter, no worries, peace be with you.
The point of all of this is to say if your path naturally or unnaturally diverges from a friend’s path, either do whatever it takes to fix it or make sure things are healed and move on at that point, not way down the road.
We all need to live with no regrets.
We need to live so we could die tomorrow and not leave anyone in pain.
We need to do what we need to do to keep things right with people.
We need to take care of our own issues/needs/etc and not put them on someone else.
It is also true, as you know if you read the above hospice information on relationships at the end of life, that the circles of people who I have the energy and need to communicate with, or be with, has gotten smaller and smaller and smaller. It isn’t anything personal toward anyone; it’s what has to happen when your resources are limited in every way.
If I died tomorrow, or right now, I would not have any regrets about anyone who has been in my life at any point: God has gone over the things I know of that needed to be healed and they are healed. So if you’re reading this, please know that I hold/held nothing against you, and that I died in peace toward you. That goes for every single person who reads this.
____________________________________________
Meanwhile, I must be in the quiet part of the intermittent bowel obstruction because my digestive tract has been relatively peaceful since Friday or Saturday.
My parents came up this past weekend and we got a two year burden off my shoulders—in the form of sorting, throwing, and giving away all of the excess stuff in my house, so my house will be easy to deal with after I am Home. I even got through all of my paperwork. It was amazing and it was the first time I’ve had energy to do anything that physically intense in at least three months. It was incredible and it feels incredible to know it is done.
The trade off on the organized and cleaned out house is intense hip pain. My right hip flared all the way back up to where it was LAST JUNE and it is/was unbelievable. At this point, I don’t think the pain is going to go all the way away but if I rest it and don’t stress it, it’s mostly bearable.
My understanding of this break from the bowel obstruction mess is that it’s a reprieve God has given me to get things done—like the house sorting and finishing a bunch of paintings I’ve been struggling to finish.
I’ll take it for as long as it lasts and ask for grace for whatever is next.
Which reminds me, speaking of what is next.... It struck me as stupid to be praying for a clot to take me home gently, quickly, and easily while taking aspirin daily to thin my blood, so I’ve stopped taking it. If you have a bone to pick with this, talk to God, not me.
Okay, I’m exhausted and going to sleep.
Please don’t feel any need to defend me etc, I’m done with this.
I hope this isn’t my last post because I really don’t enjoy dealing with this stuff.
Peace and love to everyone, everywhere. Martha
I have been hearing a lot of direct questions about why I’ve chosen to be in my own home while I’m dying, and I’ve been hearing second hand consternation from people who aren’t talking to me directly, and I’m tired of defending myself.
So, of the million reasons why I’ve chosen to be in my home, and the hospice home if need be, while I’m dying, here are a few:
-This is where I want to be.
-This is where I feel peaceful and right about being.
-I have not only bent over backwards, I’ve twisted in circles, tied myself in knots, and stood on my head trying to make this process easier for people around me, and trying to be available to spend time with people for the last two years. So if this last part of the process is inconvenient for some people, so be it.
-Dying is very hard work mentally/emotionally/physically, so now I am making myself available to myself and God to do the work that needs to be done. Time alone has always been crucial for me, as an introvert, and now it’s absolutely critical as a dying introvert.
-Here is a quote from http://www.hospicenet.org/ on the well-researched end of life stages of relationships, which can start happening long before the last few weeks of “life”:
"Decreased Socialization
The person may only want to be with a very few or even just one person. This is a sign of preparation for release and affirms from whom the support is most needed in order to make the appropriate transition. If you are not part of this inner circle at the end, it does not mean you are not loved or are unimportant. It means you have already fulfilled your task with your loved one, and it is the time for you to say Good-bye. If you are part of the final inner circle of support, the person needs your affirmation, support, and permission." (LINK)
If you have more questions, please use this hospice site as a resource. I’ve shared it many times but I don’t know if people are using it....
It is what it is. If you’re not involved any more/right now, don’t take it personally, this is normal.
-I am making this decision for myself, after praying about it. It’s not a question of making people happy or making things easy for everyone else any more (although I do try when I am able to). If people are happy, that’s wonderful. If people aren’t happy, take your unhappiness to God and let Him help you with it.
I am dying and my needs as I die are a higher priority than making people happy.
-This city has been my home for over three years, and it’s the first place that has felt like home to me in fifteen years. My community is here, my church is here, and my ministry is here. This is my home and this is my space.
-This is where my spaces are for creating art, it is where I feel best making art.
-This where all of my earthly possessions are.
-This is where my hospice care team is. I am NOT going to move somewhere that is not my home and try to summon the energy to form the kind of relationships I already have with my current hospice team.
I have spent over four months forming relationships with my team here, including communicating my philosophy of dying and end of life care with my team and answering questions from them about what my wishes are.
Why would I want to do that all over again when it’s already done? That would be foolish and an absolute waste of the small amount of energy I have.
-Along the hospice care lines: I need my family to love me and support me and affirm me. I need my hospice care team to support me and care for my physical needs. It is not my family’s job to wipe my rear and bathe me. Over my dead body (Ha ha, get it?). I think separating those areas of responsibility is very healthy and I think it will make everything easier for all of those involved.
-I have safeguards in place—two friends with keys to my house who my nurse can call to let her in, in case of emergency, a bed (and extra tea bags) for my parents if they need to come up here at any time of day or night, people who can do errands etc for me if needed, people lined up to take care of my wonderful dog... Etc.
-I don’t feel like I should have to defend my position, so here it is for the whole world. I hope this is the last time I have to go over this.
-The bottom line is that you can take a pancake tortoise out of it’s desert habit and put it in the ocean, or you can take a sea turtle and put it in the desert, or you could even set up terrariums with the right environments for each of them, but it won’t be RIGHT, it won’t be the real thing, and they won’t thrive in the wrong environment or a synthetic environment.
I’m going to choose where I will be while I’m dying, and I’ll let you choose where you would like to be while you are dying.
__________________________________________________
One last thought, while I’m on consternation:
Over the last few weeks, mixed in with all of my super-encouraging, helpful, loving, thoughtful, amazing communications from people (for which I'm very thankful), I’ve gotten a few emails from people who are contacting me for the first time in many years simply because I’m dying and they feel like terrible friends.
I haven’t really known how to respond.
Part of me wants to say that they should have been living all of that time without regrets, and if, at some point along the way, they felt they should have communicated, then they should have.
Part of me wants to say that God used the vast majority of my female friends who got married or moved away and fell off the face of the earth to teach me that friends come and go, and that I need to hold relationships loosely—and that is very helpful to me now.
What I have been saying is thanks for your letter, no worries, peace be with you.
The point of all of this is to say if your path naturally or unnaturally diverges from a friend’s path, either do whatever it takes to fix it or make sure things are healed and move on at that point, not way down the road.
We all need to live with no regrets.
We need to live so we could die tomorrow and not leave anyone in pain.
We need to do what we need to do to keep things right with people.
We need to take care of our own issues/needs/etc and not put them on someone else.
It is also true, as you know if you read the above hospice information on relationships at the end of life, that the circles of people who I have the energy and need to communicate with, or be with, has gotten smaller and smaller and smaller. It isn’t anything personal toward anyone; it’s what has to happen when your resources are limited in every way.
If I died tomorrow, or right now, I would not have any regrets about anyone who has been in my life at any point: God has gone over the things I know of that needed to be healed and they are healed. So if you’re reading this, please know that I hold/held nothing against you, and that I died in peace toward you. That goes for every single person who reads this.
____________________________________________
Meanwhile, I must be in the quiet part of the intermittent bowel obstruction because my digestive tract has been relatively peaceful since Friday or Saturday.
My parents came up this past weekend and we got a two year burden off my shoulders—in the form of sorting, throwing, and giving away all of the excess stuff in my house, so my house will be easy to deal with after I am Home. I even got through all of my paperwork. It was amazing and it was the first time I’ve had energy to do anything that physically intense in at least three months. It was incredible and it feels incredible to know it is done.
The trade off on the organized and cleaned out house is intense hip pain. My right hip flared all the way back up to where it was LAST JUNE and it is/was unbelievable. At this point, I don’t think the pain is going to go all the way away but if I rest it and don’t stress it, it’s mostly bearable.
My understanding of this break from the bowel obstruction mess is that it’s a reprieve God has given me to get things done—like the house sorting and finishing a bunch of paintings I’ve been struggling to finish.
I’ll take it for as long as it lasts and ask for grace for whatever is next.
Which reminds me, speaking of what is next.... It struck me as stupid to be praying for a clot to take me home gently, quickly, and easily while taking aspirin daily to thin my blood, so I’ve stopped taking it. If you have a bone to pick with this, talk to God, not me.
Okay, I’m exhausted and going to sleep.
Please don’t feel any need to defend me etc, I’m done with this.
I hope this isn’t my last post because I really don’t enjoy dealing with this stuff.
Peace and love to everyone, everywhere. Martha
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
End Almost in Sight
I’m having a hard time organizing this post, so please bear with me.
It’s a “heavy” post, and I’m trying to be gentle and concise...
I met with my hospice people today.
We went over my symptoms from the last two weeks.
The Bottom Line:
-They feel quite certain that all of the symptoms I am experiencing are because of a bowel obstruction. Bowel obstructions are the leading cause of actual “death” in women with ovarian cancer. HERE is a link to brief information on bowel obstructions.
-I have lost five pounds since December 17th, which makes me now only 112 pounds. This is, as the math people out there know, a large percentage of my body weight. My body is already using its reserves, even with all of the Ensure it is getting...
-We have a care plan in place, and I have family and friends in place, to take care of my needs between now and when I go Home. For this, I feel abundantly blessed and loved and incredibly thankful.
***A cool story about God’s involvement in the details:
I need some stuff from the store.
I decided to call a friend to see if she could go to the store for me.
Within an hour, before I got anywhere close to calling her, she called me.
We haven’t talked for a month or so, so this was pretty amazing.
Said friend is going to get my stuff for me tomorrow.
How cool is that?
The Long Version:
In addition to the above...
-This bowel obstruction stuff was described to me as real, end stage, disease process.
-It may be intermittent for a while and the symptoms may come and go.
-Based on how fast all of the superficial cancer is growing in my upper body, it’s likely that the internal cancer in my abdomen is also growing fast.
-Right now, this moment, I feel okay. Earlier today, I felt terrible. This symptom stuff is highly variable.
-Based on all of the above, I am reminding myself of what I know to be true of God so I don’t slip into fear and terror of what a bowel obstruction could do, and I am exhilarated by knowing that there is an end somewhere in partial sight—it feels kind of like seeing the sun glowing through haze on an overcast day... I can’t wait until it comes radiating through and burns all of the haze and clouds away, forever.
-I am also reminding myself that my hospice team will make sure I suffer as little as possible.
-I am also reminding myself that there are many people praying for me, that He is hearing you/them, and that He doesn’t turn a deaf ear to our pleas.
-Our care plan is for me to be at my home for as long as I can be here comfortably, and then when my symptoms become more severe, I’ll go into the hospice home where I will get care twenty-four hours a day, anytime I need it.
-Most people, by the time they would go into the hospice home with symptoms like I will probably have, don’t have any desire to eat.
-I have already chosen not to have IV fluids or IV nutrition: I want to go Home ASAP.
-Hospice will make sure that I am comfortable.
-Most people who are not eating or drinking die within two weeks.
-For me, it may be longer because I am young and my heart is strong.
-For me, it may be shorter (hopefully it will be shorter) because I am already losing weight and weakening, and my system is very compromised.
Meanwhile, when I first heard “bowel obstruction” this morning it hit me like a freight train because of what I know about them, because I thought God’s promise of mercy precluded a bowel obstruction, and simply because even though the thought had occurred to me several times in the last few weeks, two medical professionals were quite sure that I’m beginning one.
Then, and I don’t pretend to understand this completely, I was given peace as I thought about all of the ways God could show mercy, even with a bowel obstruction. I haven’t had time to really reflect on this but,
1. He could show me mercy by making this all happen rapidly and not allowing the dying process to get long and drawn out.
2. He could/and has already show/shown me mercy through the medical care He has provided that has helped ease my symptoms.
3. He could do something miraculous, such as letting a clot loose somewhere to give me an easy, instant “death.”
So I’m feeling relatively centered and peaceful at this point. I am still feeling somewhat jarred by the information but it’s settling in and being processed.
If you are praying for me, I can’t express how much I continue to need, feel, and appreciate your prayers. I felt them Sunday night after I posted my last post—in an obvious, peace-filling, mind-calming, body-helping way.
Thank you so very, very much.
On another note, a picture from my Thoughts and Stuff post came back to me today:
“As I’ve watched my life and the path God has brought me down, which has always seemed unusual to me, this cancer thing makes perfect sense as an end goal for this section of my life—the part I’m living here on earth, right now.
Sometimes I sit back and think about the things in my life that have made the least sense, the things that were the most excruciatingly painful, and they all fit together like pieces in a puzzle. This cancer thing is just the final piece. If I view my life outside the framework of this life, and instead view it within the framework of eternity, the puzzle looks perfect. Crazy sounding? Yes. But true. “
It occurred to me that here I am, exactly a year later, almost seeing Jesus finish my life puzzle. Here I am, watching as He puts this last piece of my life in its place. It’s amazing.
IN His grip, Martha
I almost forgot, I’ve had this song echoing through my head for several days now. God keeps playing it for me to remind me of what is true and to comfort me.
Stick with it for the first few seconds, while the previous song ends. Also, bear in mind that it's live performance. It is a beautiful and comforting song.
It’s a “heavy” post, and I’m trying to be gentle and concise...
I met with my hospice people today.
We went over my symptoms from the last two weeks.
The Bottom Line:
-They feel quite certain that all of the symptoms I am experiencing are because of a bowel obstruction. Bowel obstructions are the leading cause of actual “death” in women with ovarian cancer. HERE is a link to brief information on bowel obstructions.
-I have lost five pounds since December 17th, which makes me now only 112 pounds. This is, as the math people out there know, a large percentage of my body weight. My body is already using its reserves, even with all of the Ensure it is getting...
-We have a care plan in place, and I have family and friends in place, to take care of my needs between now and when I go Home. For this, I feel abundantly blessed and loved and incredibly thankful.
***A cool story about God’s involvement in the details:
I need some stuff from the store.
I decided to call a friend to see if she could go to the store for me.
Within an hour, before I got anywhere close to calling her, she called me.
We haven’t talked for a month or so, so this was pretty amazing.
Said friend is going to get my stuff for me tomorrow.
How cool is that?
The Long Version:
In addition to the above...
-This bowel obstruction stuff was described to me as real, end stage, disease process.
-It may be intermittent for a while and the symptoms may come and go.
-Based on how fast all of the superficial cancer is growing in my upper body, it’s likely that the internal cancer in my abdomen is also growing fast.
-Based on that, and the fact that as the tumors in my abdomen grow they will shift things around, push on things, squash things etc, I should expect my symptoms to be unpredictable—right now my major symptoms are pain, nausea, and substantial digestive crud.
-Right now, this moment, I feel okay. Earlier today, I felt terrible. This symptom stuff is highly variable.
-Based on all of the above, I am reminding myself of what I know to be true of God so I don’t slip into fear and terror of what a bowel obstruction could do, and I am exhilarated by knowing that there is an end somewhere in partial sight—it feels kind of like seeing the sun glowing through haze on an overcast day... I can’t wait until it comes radiating through and burns all of the haze and clouds away, forever.
-I am also reminding myself that my hospice team will make sure I suffer as little as possible.
-I am also reminding myself that there are many people praying for me, that He is hearing you/them, and that He doesn’t turn a deaf ear to our pleas.
-Our care plan is for me to be at my home for as long as I can be here comfortably, and then when my symptoms become more severe, I’ll go into the hospice home where I will get care twenty-four hours a day, anytime I need it.
-Most people, by the time they would go into the hospice home with symptoms like I will probably have, don’t have any desire to eat.
-I have already chosen not to have IV fluids or IV nutrition: I want to go Home ASAP.
-Hospice will make sure that I am comfortable.
-Most people who are not eating or drinking die within two weeks.
-For me, it may be longer because I am young and my heart is strong.
-For me, it may be shorter (hopefully it will be shorter) because I am already losing weight and weakening, and my system is very compromised.
Meanwhile, when I first heard “bowel obstruction” this morning it hit me like a freight train because of what I know about them, because I thought God’s promise of mercy precluded a bowel obstruction, and simply because even though the thought had occurred to me several times in the last few weeks, two medical professionals were quite sure that I’m beginning one.
Then, and I don’t pretend to understand this completely, I was given peace as I thought about all of the ways God could show mercy, even with a bowel obstruction. I haven’t had time to really reflect on this but,
1. He could show me mercy by making this all happen rapidly and not allowing the dying process to get long and drawn out.
2. He could/and has already show/shown me mercy through the medical care He has provided that has helped ease my symptoms.
3. He could do something miraculous, such as letting a clot loose somewhere to give me an easy, instant “death.”
So I’m feeling relatively centered and peaceful at this point. I am still feeling somewhat jarred by the information but it’s settling in and being processed.
If you are praying for me, I can’t express how much I continue to need, feel, and appreciate your prayers. I felt them Sunday night after I posted my last post—in an obvious, peace-filling, mind-calming, body-helping way.
Thank you so very, very much.
On another note, a picture from my Thoughts and Stuff post came back to me today:
“As I’ve watched my life and the path God has brought me down, which has always seemed unusual to me, this cancer thing makes perfect sense as an end goal for this section of my life—the part I’m living here on earth, right now.
Sometimes I sit back and think about the things in my life that have made the least sense, the things that were the most excruciatingly painful, and they all fit together like pieces in a puzzle. This cancer thing is just the final piece. If I view my life outside the framework of this life, and instead view it within the framework of eternity, the puzzle looks perfect. Crazy sounding? Yes. But true. “
It occurred to me that here I am, exactly a year later, almost seeing Jesus finish my life puzzle. Here I am, watching as He puts this last piece of my life in its place. It’s amazing.
IN His grip, Martha
I almost forgot, I’ve had this song echoing through my head for several days now. God keeps playing it for me to remind me of what is true and to comfort me.
Stick with it for the first few seconds, while the previous song ends. Also, bear in mind that it's live performance. It is a beautiful and comforting song.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Hell and High Water
Okay, so I’ve had what I consider to be a pretty damn hellish last couple weeks. It’s been bad, to the point where what’s going on with my body is so overwhelming and distracting that it’s hard to see around it, past it, or through it...
It’s been really hard to maintain hope, a halfway decent attitude, or to even cling to the belief that God really is still watching me, feeling my pain with me, or paying attention to my suffering.
Basically, it started with my losing the ability to eat solids, after which my body stabilized and was doing fine on an Ensure/water diet, then I thought it would be good to try to transition back to some solid food, which put me in the bathroom for the better part of several days and in a ton of abdominal pain, after which my body stabilized again for about five or six days, so I said to myself, “I’ll eat a damn pistachio if I want to.” and did...
In fact, I ate three whole pistachios (the ones that are about half an inch long) in one day. I felt okay, so the next day I ate three peanuts.
The next morning I woke up in agony, with abdominal pain so intense that it made me feel nauseous and faint and restarted all of the digestive drama (is that discreet enough?), except it was worse this time. I spent all day that day lying in bed half awake and half asleep, wishing I could be Done.
Then, a few days later, I really started to feel better, except for some reason I almost vomited when I was brushing my teeth in the morning. Well that night, after taking my previously-miraculous-and-wonderful pain killer, I got out of bed at about 3am and vomited all over the place. It was so bad it took me thirty minutes just to clean it up.
Since then, I’ve had a lot of nausea—even though I haven’t taken the pain meds again, weakness, no-energy-ness, abdominal drama, and problems sleeping because of all of the above.
So, no solid food will ever come into my mouth again if I have anything to do with it.
The three (3) pistachios were last Monday and the three (3) peanuts were last Tuesday, it’s now Sunday, and I’m just now feeling un-nauseated, almost re-hydrated, and somewhat stable.
The pain medicine issue is something I and my hospice team will need wisdom for fixing.
I know that’s a lot of detail and complaining; the point is that when my body gets that incredibly distressed, it’s really hard to maintain a strong grasp on God’s love for me, and that He is in this with me.
In an effort to get my attitude/focus somewhat back together I read Psalms 120-130 this morning. I just decided to read Psalms and those chapters are where God took me as I read.
Anyway, it was extremely helpful because it reminded me who this God is who has my life in His hands:
He is the God who answers me.
He is the God who delivers me.
He is the One who helps me.
He made Heaven and Earth.
He keeps me.
He does not slumber or sleep.
He is my Keeper.
He provides shade for me.
He will keep me from all evil.
He will keep my life now and forevermore.
He will have mercy on me. (Even when it doesn’t feel like it)
He is on my side.
He will not hand me over to what seeks to overwhelm me.
He surrounds me now and forevermore.
He does great things for me.
He is the source of all my blessings.
With Him is steadfast love and faithfulness.
With Him is abundant deliverance.
(A possibly irritating side note: If your god can’t do all of this, she/he/it/you is/are too small, you may want to consider this One)
Then, I finally re-read my own post, Eucatastrophes and Thank You, and this part of it was helpful for me to remind myself of:
“If I were going to be really honest, I’d say that I’ve never experienced anything so horrifying and grotesque as having cancer. I can’t possibly describe how shocking and disgusting some of its effects on my body have been. I can’t describe how painful cancer is on an emotional and psychological level.
If I were going to be really honest, I’d say that this time while I’ve had cancer has been the time in my life where I’ve most tangibly felt the presence of God, where I’ve heard His voice speak to me for the first time in my life, where He has met me over and over in so many specific ways through people, conversations, scripture, and reading, and where I’ve experienced so much of life so much more fully than ever before. And all of this—this is the part of this process that has been breathtaking in its beauty.”
True, right now the first paragraph feels more accurate right now, but it’s also true that the second paragraph continues to be true right now as well, even though/when it doesn’t feel like it.
I guess this whole post is a request for your prayer...
For the ability to keep what God has shown me to be true in focus no matter what is going on with my body.
For grace to be gracious and others focused and not just a whiner focused only on myself.
For wisdom for what I should be doing and where I should be living.
For God to take me Home as soon as He possibly will/can.
Thank you for all of your love and support and prayers.
In His Grip (even when it doesn’t feel like it), Martha
It’s been really hard to maintain hope, a halfway decent attitude, or to even cling to the belief that God really is still watching me, feeling my pain with me, or paying attention to my suffering.
Basically, it started with my losing the ability to eat solids, after which my body stabilized and was doing fine on an Ensure/water diet, then I thought it would be good to try to transition back to some solid food, which put me in the bathroom for the better part of several days and in a ton of abdominal pain, after which my body stabilized again for about five or six days, so I said to myself, “I’ll eat a damn pistachio if I want to.” and did...
In fact, I ate three whole pistachios (the ones that are about half an inch long) in one day. I felt okay, so the next day I ate three peanuts.
The next morning I woke up in agony, with abdominal pain so intense that it made me feel nauseous and faint and restarted all of the digestive drama (is that discreet enough?), except it was worse this time. I spent all day that day lying in bed half awake and half asleep, wishing I could be Done.
Then, a few days later, I really started to feel better, except for some reason I almost vomited when I was brushing my teeth in the morning. Well that night, after taking my previously-miraculous-and-wonderful pain killer, I got out of bed at about 3am and vomited all over the place. It was so bad it took me thirty minutes just to clean it up.
Since then, I’ve had a lot of nausea—even though I haven’t taken the pain meds again, weakness, no-energy-ness, abdominal drama, and problems sleeping because of all of the above.
So, no solid food will ever come into my mouth again if I have anything to do with it.
The three (3) pistachios were last Monday and the three (3) peanuts were last Tuesday, it’s now Sunday, and I’m just now feeling un-nauseated, almost re-hydrated, and somewhat stable.
The pain medicine issue is something I and my hospice team will need wisdom for fixing.
I know that’s a lot of detail and complaining; the point is that when my body gets that incredibly distressed, it’s really hard to maintain a strong grasp on God’s love for me, and that He is in this with me.
In an effort to get my attitude/focus somewhat back together I read Psalms 120-130 this morning. I just decided to read Psalms and those chapters are where God took me as I read.
Anyway, it was extremely helpful because it reminded me who this God is who has my life in His hands:
He is the God who answers me.
He is the God who delivers me.
He is the One who helps me.
He made Heaven and Earth.
He keeps me.
He does not slumber or sleep.
He is my Keeper.
He provides shade for me.
He will keep me from all evil.
He will keep my life now and forevermore.
He will have mercy on me. (Even when it doesn’t feel like it)
He is on my side.
He will not hand me over to what seeks to overwhelm me.
He surrounds me now and forevermore.
He does great things for me.
He is the source of all my blessings.
With Him is steadfast love and faithfulness.
With Him is abundant deliverance.
(A possibly irritating side note: If your god can’t do all of this, she/he/it/you is/are too small, you may want to consider this One)
Then, I finally re-read my own post, Eucatastrophes and Thank You, and this part of it was helpful for me to remind myself of:
“If I were going to be really honest, I’d say that I’ve never experienced anything so horrifying and grotesque as having cancer. I can’t possibly describe how shocking and disgusting some of its effects on my body have been. I can’t describe how painful cancer is on an emotional and psychological level.
If I were going to be really honest, I’d say that this time while I’ve had cancer has been the time in my life where I’ve most tangibly felt the presence of God, where I’ve heard His voice speak to me for the first time in my life, where He has met me over and over in so many specific ways through people, conversations, scripture, and reading, and where I’ve experienced so much of life so much more fully than ever before. And all of this—this is the part of this process that has been breathtaking in its beauty.”
True, right now the first paragraph feels more accurate right now, but it’s also true that the second paragraph continues to be true right now as well, even though/when it doesn’t feel like it.
I guess this whole post is a request for your prayer...
For the ability to keep what God has shown me to be true in focus no matter what is going on with my body.
For grace to be gracious and others focused and not just a whiner focused only on myself.
For wisdom for what I should be doing and where I should be living.
For God to take me Home as soon as He possibly will/can.
Thank you for all of your love and support and prayers.
In His Grip (even when it doesn’t feel like it), Martha
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)