The Tide is Turning…

Dear Reader:

I am happy to announce that, as of yesterday, I rejoined the human race. Anne brought me some pasta and bread to try to get and keep something in my stomach and it worked. I have lost over ten pounds in the last two to three weeks.

The problem is trying to take the chemo medicines, along with congestion medicines without upsetting my stomach…not easy. Some days things work better than others. Over the weekend I experience a stomach “exorcism” where I think two weeks of “yuck” that had been stored came out any and every crevice. As bad as it was initially…it started the healing  through this ultimate “cleansing”process.

My biggest problem, however, has been my total lack of strength and stamina…with the white cell count so low…and my body trying to fight off the congestion crud…I have never felt  so completely depleted of energy.

I started thinking about the number of times I had read scripture asking for strength and I always took it to mean more emotional or spiritual strength than physical. This has changed. These days when I ask God for “strength” I mean physical strength to be able to walk from A to B without tiring.

Besides the pasta Anne was thinking about the book markers and name plates discussed in earlier blogs and as God’s Wink would have it this is the book marker she brought! The book marker reads:

May your spirits and strength be lifted by the wings of angels, your pathway guided by their hands, your heart made hopeful by their love.

I felt those old, almost forgotten stirrings of hope beaming back  as I ate some more food and actually tasted it for the first time in a long time. I felt myself interested in eating again…hallelujah!

I remember mother would always take us children (when we were little) to the beach in the late afternoon when the tide was going out leaving fun little pools for us to play in. Of course, as we got older…we decided it was more fun to go when the tide was coming in with all our floats…we could catch the best rides then.

The expression “the tide is turning” is fickle too…what once was… is now changing and for me…that is the best news every! I once was sick and now I am growing stronger each day and will soon be well! Thank you Father for Your strength in me. 

I prefer winter and Fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape — the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show. ~Andrew Wyeth

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Little tiny sun flowers are still trying to smile back at the sun…it is so fun to find them hiding behind rocks and fences…a lovely surprise on a rainy cool winter day.

 

 

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.”
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2 Responses to The Tide is Turning…

  1. Patty Knight says:

    Praying big prayers for you, Becky. We love you!! Love, Patty

    On Tue, Jan 28, 2020 at 6:05 AM Chapel of Hope Stories wrote:

    > Becky Dingle posted: ” Dear Reader: I am happy to announce that, as of > yesterday, I rejoined the human race. Anne brought me some pasta and bread > to try to get and keep something in my stomach and it worked. I have lost > over ten pounds in the last two to three weeks. ” >

  2. Becky Dingle says:

    Thanks Patty…this ordeal has definitely been a lesson in patience…Becky “Job” Dingle. It has been similar to trying to hold four corks underwater at the same time…stomach issues, coughing issues, cold issues and headache issues…two stay down and two pop up….but my primary doctor is calling in prescription cough medicine…hallelujah…I hope it is the kind that knocks you out…so much coughing at night I can’t sleep. I am ready for a good night’s sleep! Then everything looks more hopeful!

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