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24 November 2016

BE THANKFUL by Teresa S. Mathews

For all our followers who may not know, I have had a pretty tough year, of course losing my sweet husband Carlton to cancer in May 2015 and then I had to have surgery this past July. Surgery went well except I had complications and was back in the hospital twice in less than 6 weeks after the surgery. With all that was going on, I had put off having my mammogram done for about 2 years, thankfully I didn't put it off this year. 

I went in October and a couple days later I received a call-back that they had found an area that required a closer look. I went back in and after another mammogram the Radiologist came out to tell me what he saw was going to require a biopsy. On Oct. 13th I had the biopsy and on the 14th I received a call telling me I had DCIS; Ductal Carcinoma In Situ. Some doctors call it a cancer contained in the duct or ducts, others consider it pre-cancerous. Either way it requires a lumpectomy and afterward it requires radiation treatments and an estrogen blocking medicine to be taken for approximately 5 years, perhaps longer.  

On October 21st, when the surgeon took out the DCIS and he also took out a small margin around it to make sure there was no invasion cancer. This was sent to the pathologist and when he looked at it under the microscope he saw a very small (1.3mm) area that was found to be HER2 a very aggressive and fast growing cancer. 

Fast forward to the Oncologist visit, she said I had not one but two very different cancers that needed to be addressed. Since HER2 was the more aggressive type she addressed it first. She told me she had NEVER seen this type cancer found so tiny before.  All I could say was Praise God! She wanted to take a few days to decide if we needed to go the traditional route of aggressive chemo with an added medicine called Herceptin. She held my hands and prayed with me before she left the room for GOD to give us wisdom and if there was anything we couldn't see in my body for GOD to put it under the Blood of Jesus. What a wonderful blessing to have a Christian doctor that first and foremost consults with the Great Physician.

After a couple days she called me back and asked if I would be agreeable to her saying no to the chemo but yes to the radiation. I told her I was at peace with her decision because of how she took the time to consider if the risks outweighed the benefits with the chemo. So I will be starting radiation treatments sometime in the next couple weeks. 

Right in the middle of the cancer scare, I got the call that my mom had passed away.  It was a shock but I am at peace knowing she is now enjoying the splendors of Heaven. All of this has made me think about a lot of things but most of all I have thought of the goodness of GOD and how all of this could have been a lot worse. I try everyday to thank Him for all He has done for me and my family. Below is a poem I wrote as a reminder to myself to always be THANKFUL!!

BE THANKFUL

When there comes a time that life gets hard, 
Or troubles come your way.                                                                                  
When everything seems to close in on you                                                                  
And you don’t know what to say.

BE THANKFUL

When the doctor gives you that dreaded news,                                           
You never want to hear.                                                                                    
No matter that it makes you afraid,                                                               
And you shed many a tear.

BE THANKFUL
                                                                                                                        
When life gets hard and things go wrong                                                                 
And you don’t know what to say.                                                                               
Hold your head up high, take a breath,                                                                     
And tell Him “Lord, I thank you for this day.”
                                                             
BE THANKFUL

Thankful His love, Thankful for His Son,                                                          
Thankful for His kindness to each and every one.

Thankful for His Blessings that come every day.                                                 
Thankful for the things that come to brighten up our way.

Even be thankful for the things that you don’t understand,                                   
Those are the things that make you hold more tightly to His Hand.

©Teresa S. Mathews 2016


In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 
1 Thessalonians 5:18

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE
OVERCOMING WITH GOD
BLOGGERS!

31 comments:

  1. TERESA, thank you for sharing your testimony and lovely poem with us. Yesterday was a particularly rough day for me (had some tests done) and I'm still feeling the aftereffects. I don't know whether I'll be able to do Thanksgiving today with extended family or not. But I am thankful God enabled me to fix food for it in spite of. And I'm thankful for Hallmark Christmas movies in case I can't go! Lol And if you can write a poem on being thankful with all you have been through, I can certainly BE THANKFUL! I love you and have a very blessed Thanksgiving!

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    1. DIANA GOD was surely good to give me a twin! You are on my Top Ten List Of Things I'm Thankful For!! :-)

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    2. Aww, thank you, Teresa! You're the best! :)

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  2. Thank you DIANA It's so very hard to be thankful when we are sick or bad things come our way but if we can find one thing to be thankful for it seems GOD will open our eyes to more things along the way.

    I'm thankful for you my sweet friend, and I'll continue to pray for your healing and that you will be able to enjoy some family time today. HAPPY THANKSGIVING

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    1. Thank you for your prayers, sweetie. I'm so thankful the Lord saw fit to put us together years ago. You're the best twin ever!

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  3. You have a powerful testimony Teresa, and it's only going to get more powerful! And your thankfulness and love for the Lord in spite of your hardships is a part of your testimony that really shines. The Lord knows you and knows your spirit and I believe has counted you worthy. I love your poem too, it's a great reminder for us all to be thankful regardless of our circumstances. You're an amazing inspiration Teresa. Love you so much!!

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    1. NOELA, thank you so much! I do long to be found worthy by the LORD!

      I would love to be like Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." I want HIM to always receive GLORY AND HONOR from my Life. Without HIM, I am nothing!!

      I love you sissy, you are on my top ten list for things I am thankful for!!

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  4. Teresa, thank you for sharing your testimony with our readers! You are so brave and have your eyes so fixed on God, and I applaud you for that. You're stomping on the devil for sure! Happy Thanksgiving my friend! You've been through too much, but God is good and faithful. Hugs and love!!!

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    1. CARRIE I'm so glad I was able to share. I love that no matter what happens we can still say that GOD IS faithful and he will never leave us nor forsake us, HE's with us forever!

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  5. Teresa, thank you for sharing your testimony and beautiful prayer with us! You are an inspiration to me and so many. I love your heart for God and your life is a witness to that love...His love for you and your love for Him! Have a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. Love and blessings, Tina

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    1. Thank you so much TINA! I just love sharing the blessings the Lord has given me. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! :-)

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  6. Teresa, thank you for sharing this post. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless you.
    Marilyn

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    1. MARILYN thank you so much for the prayers, I so appreciate knowing others are praying for me!

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  7. Your story brought tears to my eyes. God bless you! I have been praying for you, and will continue to do so. God bless you!
    Susan in NC

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    1. SUSAN, thank you so much for your prayers. I so appreciate them. :-)

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  8. You inspire me!! I think of you often and your incredible courage and strength.

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    1. Thank you dear SUSAN! I give GOD the glory as it's only through HIM I'm surviving! Love you friend!! :-)

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  9. Love you and love your beautiful poem, Teresa - thank you!! You're not only an inspiration to me now, but have been as long as I've known you - continued prayers for your total body healing!! Hugs!!

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    1. BONNIE I have to say I have been greatly blessed to have you as a friend! Thank you so much for the prayers! :-)

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  10. Teresa, I'm covering you in prayer! ((((HUGS))))

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    1. Awww....thank you so much for the prayers! There is no better feeling than knowing someone is praying for you!! (((HUGS))) :-)

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  11. Teresa, I love your strength, I love your courage, and I love your poem. Hard is not easy but hard is a lot easier when we talk to God . Thank you for sharing and thank you for being you.

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    1. MELANIE, thank you for your sweet words of encouragement. You are so right, hard is so much easier with GOD's help! I couldn't do this without Him! I am forever thankful for wonderful parents that introduced me to Him as a child! :-)

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  12. Thank you Teresa for this post. It really inspired me and reminded me how thankful I should be for the blessings in my life ! God Bless you!

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    1. LYNNE so glad this post touched you! There is always something we can be thankful for but when we go through rough times it's easy to not see them. Thank you for dropping in OWG!! :-)

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  13. That was beautiful, my dear mom! :) I'm thankful to know you! Love you!

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    1. MARIAN, my beautiful daughter, you are another precious thing I am grateful GOD sent my way! Much love and (((HUGS))) are being sent your way!!

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  14. Beautiful.....hugs, sweet lady. Know that you are in my prayers.

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    1. Hi CHAPPY!! Thank you for the prayers and hugs!! Great, Big (((HUGS))) back to you!!

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  15. What an amazing testimony! Thank you for sharing it. I will pray for you.

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    1. ALEXA thank you for coming by and thank you so very much for the prayers!! :-)

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