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Remember that by choosing to be brave you are empower others around you to be brave. Be each others cheerleaders and never give up!

I read this in an article this week. “Brave is a positive word — it’s something we aspire to be,” “Built into the word is the understanding that the person is scared and yet they are doing something anyway. Scared is here to stay. Anxiety is part of life. It’s not our job to vanquish these feelings. It’s our job to develop the resources we need to march forward anyway.” Doing life every day takes courage and bravery. I know that my strength comes from the Lord. He gives me courage, He makes me strong every day. And to everyone who chooses to be brave every day, I solute you. You are my inspiration!

Today I salute all the warriors fighting against cancer as well as those fighting alongside them. It is exactly a year since I was diagnosed and I am so grateful that I am cancer free today. But my heart is also so sad today for those still fighting this horrible disease and for those who have lost loved ones. Some days I feel so lucky and some days I feel – why me? My heart aches for the young mom who has to go again for another round of chemo and radiation; for the mom who lost her son way too young; for the kids who won’t know their dad growing up. It is so unfair! But today I choose not to let the unfairness of this life steal my joy. This is my journey and not one cancer journey looks the same. I am so grateful for every second I get to spend with my loved ones and for this opportunity to share my story.

I heard this week of a mom-to-be with a mental illness who took her own life. She didn’t talk to anyone about it and ended up feeling so lonely and lost that she couldn’t face this life anymore. This made me realise how important it is to connect with people around you. If you are feeling alone today or are in a place where you feel lost, reach out and connect. Surround yourself with people who love you and if you really don’t have anyone, connect with me. Doing life alone is not why we are here. We were made to connect with others, be there, uplift, encourage and love. Reach out and connect. Just do it! 

We have been talking a lot about our thoughts these past few weeks and that which we believe. When you plant your feet in the word of God, you are able to recognise lies and replace them with the truth. Choose every day to believe the truth and rebuke the lie. Stand strong and don’t give up. The lies from this world are that you are worthless, you are inadequate, you are alone, that nobody loves you and that you cannot do this. But God’s word says something very different. God says that you can do all things (Phil 4:13); He will never leave you (Heb 13:5); He has not given you a spirit of fear (2 Tim 1:7) and that He will give you rest (Mat 11:28-3). There are many more truths that He says over your life. The choice is yours which voices you believe. I have decided to listen to His truth. And I encourage you to do the same!

In order to teach our girls what true beauty is we need to teach it to ourselves. We need to accept that true beauty is not about what you see, but about who you are, how you make others feel and about how you can make life around you more beautiful. I am not saying don’t embrace your sexuality or your femininity, I am saying don’t focus on what you see or what you think you lack. I want my daughter to know that even if she as the hottest body, the most beautiful hair but she has an ugly heart she will never ever by truly beautiful. I want to raise a daughter who changes an atmosphere when she enters a room not only by the why she looks but by the way she makes those around her feel. A woman who can do that is one that has true beauty and that is what I want to instill in my daughter. 

Some days you will just be able to focus on you and what you need to do and you won;;t have the energy to do anything else. AND THAT IS OK! We are constantly striving to please everyone around us. No make everyone around us feel better that we often neglect ourselves and not focus on us getting better. Accept the fact that not everyone will like you. Accept the fact that you cannot make everyone happy all the time and you will feel your shoulders becoming lighter! 

Celebrate all the wins, not just the big ones

When you are living life and fighting battles, you may not win all of them but you will win some and those you have to celebrate. When your kids sleep well, when you get to have a date night, when your husband gets that job, when the results come back and the cancer is gone. Those are all wins! Celebrate with each other. The big ones and the small ones. Don’t let the small ones just slide by. It is the small ones that reminds us to keep on fighting. To keep on smiling. And to never give up! 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

These words of the psalm 23 has new meaning when you are actually walking through a valley of death. When you are fighting something that is bent out on destroying you. So when I read this I knew that even though it was difficult and lonely sometimes I never feared what was happening. I always always knew that I was taken care off and never alone.

If these words were true then surely the following would also be?

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and he will restore my soul……