Dear Kitten (Cathy)
Once again we just want to say, we miss you and we remember your many postings encouraging us to keep the faith and not give up. We've had a lot of victories to share with you since we last talked. We know that as long as your body has strength that you will be "dancin' in the rain".
We had an uninvited guest this past week. She blew in with wild 75mph winds, ripped roofs, crushed cars, snapped power lines, closed roads, swept houses into the sea in NC, closed schools, created havoc, caused car crashes, flooded fields and homes, swelled the tides, and stranded a huge barge on the beach. She finally left after dumping 7.5 inches of rain. Although they called her "IDA", I think her name might really have been "Chemo". Seems like that describes the "rain that some others on this site have been deluged with lately". We will always remember you in our prayers and remember your exhortation about Life.
"It's not about waitin' for the storm to pass--it's about learnin' how to dance in the rain!"
Actually I believe many on this site have taken your lesson to heart and they, too, have learned to "dance in the rain".
You lifted up hurting hearts even when your own was aching. Your spirit soared even as you sometimes surely despaired of life. Yet you never gave up. Not only are you the "Cat With 9 Lives", often you have been the "Wind Beneath Our Wings". Oh yes, we know the real wind beneath our wings is God, but he uses humans here on Earth to do His bidding. They are "angels unaware". Cathy, you're one of those angels. But even earthly angels need to come in out of the rain and allow someone to "dry their wings" once in a while. All of us on this site are lifting you up in prayer. We do pray that the peace of God that passeth all understanding will "flood" your soul. We pray He will "dry your wings".
In Isaiah 40:28 thru 31 we learn that often when we are at our weakest, God sweeps in like an Eagle and picks us up, often just before we hit the ground. Loretta and I draw great comfort from passages such as these found in the New Living Translation. We've actually watched an Eagle soar. The verses read like this:
"Have you never heard?-----Have you never understood?-----The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.-----He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.-----Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.-----But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.-----They will soar high on wings like eagles.-----They will run and not grow weary.-----They will walk and not faint."
Kitten, we believe that God has used you, like an angel, to pick us up with your encouraging words. We all long to soar like an eagle, but often have tried to fly when our wings were clipped and our energy drained from coping with cancer and chemo.
Often we despaired of life, then you would sweep in with an encouraging word, even when your wings and feet were soaked from "dancin' in the rain". You lifted our spirits. We watched you endure one setback after another. We decided, if Kitten can dance in the rain, so can we!
Though weary we were, we prayed that God would sweep down like an Eagle, just in the nick of time and give us hope to trudge on. Yes, at times we were weary, fainting and lame. Truly God put you here on this site to be the "Wind Beneath Our Wings". Since it's a favorite of Loretta's and mine, I'll just leave the lyrics here and dedicate them to you from all your friends on this Esophageal Cancer Discussion Link. We pray that something we say will lift your spirits as you continue to "dance in the rain".
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THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way,
you always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name -- for so long,
a beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it,
I would be nothing without you.
Fly, fly, fly away,
you let me fly so high.
Oh, fly, fly,
so high against the sky, so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you, thank God for you,
the wind beneath my wings.
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God bless you Kitten,
William W. Marshall (& Loretta & all "our gang" here on this site)
AKA "William66"
Virginia Beach, VA 23464
