I asked many times, how much more Lord?
This Thanksgiving I shared the story of Beverly Morris, who spent $2000 preparing a Thanksgiving meal to feed and entertain 65 people. A great many of whom she never met.
What I didn’t tell you was the day of that post, a surgeon biopsied a lump in Beverly’s breast.
And now my tough stuff friend finds herself navigating a breast cancer diagnosis.
Those who love Beverly know she will knock out this foe as easily as she takes those dang 25 lb dumbbells from my puny arms.
When she approached me about helping her to chronicle her journey to wellness on my blog, I was honored and readily agreed. I want to help share her story or stories. This is a lady who only weeks after being knocked unconscious by 220 volts of electricity received the news no parent ever dares to imagine — her youngest son had committed suicide. And how in the midst of unthinkable tragedy, she planted a seed of hope for those suffering from mental illness and depression.
I know from sharing my life through columns in a small town paper, magazines and blog — human experience is universal. We all have dreams, things that terrify us. We fiercely love our children. Hold passionate opinions on football teams and the political process.
Sometimes we find ourselves so low that walking out the back door seems just. too. much.
Then there are euphoric moments when the earth and all that is in it is nothing but blue sky.
Beverly wants this to be a positive, honest look at her life the next few months. We plan on her sharing weekly posts. It is our hope that this will touch people, right where they might need a hand.
If you think you’ve have a year of struggle, let me tell you about Beverly’s 2014. No. I’ll let her do that . . .
Here we go. Raised on a dairy farm in Virginia, I learned what hard work really was.
Up at 4 every morning, maybe that’s why I still get up early and ready to see what God has for me.
I was always taught to work hard and you will get good results. At age 57, I am a full time personal trainer. In life, I have done many things. I worked in the bank trying to get through college. Worked in the restaurant business. Opened up my own real estate office.
I sit here thankful for all the things God has brought me through:
The emotional trauma of the death of my mom who was one of the toughest ladies ever. She is the one who taught me to fight.
My dad’s death three years later.
Last year, there was surgery on my leg in which I developed a blood clot. And spent many months living with that threat.
Oh . . . then on Good Friday this year, I was cooking and 220 volts went through me knocking me unconscious.
A few weeks later, I received the news that my young son had committed suicide.
I asked many times, how much more Lord?
I remind myself over and over, my God said that he would not put anything on me that I could not handle. That he has good plans for my life and my boys’ lives. I have always believed that my God is in control.
I went through all the anger.
The why me? The yelling at God saying I don’t want it anymore.
And now just told that I have breast cancer. I have asked myself, I’m doing something wrong or maybe something right?
All I can say is that he must think a lot of me. Because I’m still here.
So how about a vacation Lord…?
Each week, we’ll update her journey and tell you more about all that is good in the midst of trial. And all that is tough.
And so many other great things she is doing in hopes of reaching out to others who are suffering with or have family members suffering with mental illness and depression to honor the life of her son, Jonathan.
For now, we’ll leave you with Beverly’s song for the start of this journey.
Leave her a shout out in the comments.
As Beverly loves to say at the beginning of a workout. “Here we go!”
