Dear Reader:
I received one of those very special email messages yesterday that truly touched me and brought reassurance that the path I am on is the path I was made to travel. Sometimes I seriously question my path…is it enough, is it too bumpy or too smooth, is it going in the right direction?…It is then a tiny shaft of light (from a church friend/ a blog reader) shines down upon me by the words of another to keep me walking the line. Thank you Michele Robertson!
It always amazes me when someone sees something in us we don’t see or even acknowledge to ourselves. So when we are told that our stories are affecting others lives positively…it makes the soul soar. What is the Mother Theresa saying…“If you can’t feed a hundred people, just feed one.”
Once I committed to writing one blog a day back in 2010…I made a secret pact with myself…I would keep writing until the day I had no viewers…if I even had one…then I would write for that one person out there in cyberspace. (The person perhaps who needed to hear the story I wrote on just that one particular day. And then that would be enough.) * I believe my thoughts echoed this poem below.
Not In Vain – Emily Dickinson
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain:
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Good morning Becky,
When I saw this, I immediately thought of you.
Being the gardener that you are, you have been sowing seeds of kindness and love, even long before you had an actual garden to plant.
I am so very grateful to be a daily recipient of your sowing- from your positive outlook, kind heart and the seeds of faith that you plant through your writing and commitment to God.
I am always fascinated by the growing process. In 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, Paul explains:
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
When I am faced with someone who uses the fact that science can explain everything, including the existence of the universe, I often challenge them with this concept. Even science cannot explain how something “grows”. Like Paul says, we can plant and we can water the plants, but it is God who makes things grow. I believe this to be true for us as well.
God planted this dream in you to (ultimately) write this blog, but I believe he planted so much more than a simple dream. He planted the seeds of hope and faith, which you are sowing in others as well. Once planted, God is taking it from there! My own faith has increased so much by reading about your life, your faith journey and reading your story each day.The hope that you have has strengthened my hope as well.
My 38 year old co-worker who was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer last month, who also has a 3 year old little boy, has been inspired by your story as well. This woman has faced many fears, challenges and mountains as a woman in the marines, who served actively in the middle east years ago. She is also an author, a wife and mother, and fierce advocate for veterans. But no fear was as great as the fear that she will not live to see her precious son grow up, maybe not even see 10 years old. I have shared your story-that you are surviving breast cancer each day, maintained by the medicines you take, constantly under a doctor’s care, since your diagnosis in 2008. Her cancer also is being “managed” with medication as well (they told her she will never be cured) and that she may not have to have chemo or radiation if the medicine arrests the growth of the tumors. Just this morning she arrived to tell me that her 1 month markers were moving in the right direction and it seems as though the medication is shrinking the tumors!!! Praise God!! Of course there are many hurdles to overcome, but with God growing this hope in her and all of us for her, she will continue to be uplifted by God’s hand.
Thank you for all your inspiration, your hope and demonstration of your faith in so many ways! You continue to water my seeds!
Peace and love,
Michele
How many times have I given God credit for all the growing plants in my garden and yard…yet never really fathomed the depth of that statement. Man can plant the seed, water, add dirt and fertilizer, pray for sun….but after that…only God can make it grow. The miracle of life.
I watch its miracle every time I see the grandchildren…and even after only days apart, I marvel at just how much they have grown. It is the most magical “God” act of all.
And for me the most magical thing of all is the spiritual growth that evolved out of a bad scenario (a treatable but not curable breast cancer diagnosis) with an unexpected gift of time allowed to delve deeper daily into this ever expanding frontier of God’s. (And Michele, this is my hope and prayer for your young co-worker!!!)
Yesterday I got to watch another miracle…Eloise. And is she ever growing…it is hard to keep her filled up…my new name for her is Peppa Piggie. She loves to stretch on the changing table so I always let her stay and play…while just watching her discover a little more of the world around her. This time it was the carved crabs and surfboard beside her…she was feeling texture and was so curious. The wonder and awe of life in small moments.
Yesterday our “Ya” Jackson ‘went under the knife’ again…because she “knee’ed” to! Sorry Jackson for the pun…just couldn’t resist. Actually Jackson had her second knee replacement surgery. She emailed to let us know it was over and that they had already started her on physical therapy. (That is one thing these days about modern medicine…no rest for the weary…physical therapy starts when they wheel you out of the operating room. *Next time pretend to be asleep longer!)
Seriously…so proud of you Jackson…you take everything in stride…just do it and move on…and that is what we hope and pray for you…that soon you will be, not only “moving on” but moving fast…with your two new “superhero” knees….ready to spring into action in a moment’s notice. So glad it is over and now you can talk about both procedures in the past and it will become a distant memory. Love you girl! Welcome back home today!
I thought this photo was too cute! It looks like “Big Red” the geranium has a halo…and in fact I think it does! Go Big Red!
Like this:
Like Loading...
About Becky Dingle
I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents
were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my
grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old
Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended
Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters
Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am
presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also
taught at the College of Charleston.
For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy
matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of
stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message
through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret
of success in teaching social studies is always in the story.
I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest
teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re
ripe you rot.”
ichaseferalcats
John Turner
Legally Ohm
Becky Dingle
Hi Becky… So glad to read Michele’s mail… Hope her coworker recovers soon…. And the thing about planting seeds, man plants and waters but only God grows… So very true… Do keep up and continue to shine for God’s glory…. Loads of love n prayers…
Ambika…what a delight to hear from you…especially now…this time in Holy Week. I hope you are feeling well through your pregnancy and all the family is excited over the new upcoming addition. You see life growing around you constantly through your children and pregnancy…don’t you?
The purple hedge is gorgeous. Wow!
It is beautiful…my town is enchanting in the spring.