The Healing Connection

"Other people are going to find healing in your wounds.  Your greatest life message and  your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts" ~ Rick Warren

Stand up and testify, our story is our testimony.  Owning our stories is one of the most powerful things we can do for our own personal development.  It is how we learn, grow and esteem ourselves.  It is through our testimony that we have the opportunity to share God’s blessings as an inspiration to others.  From our greatest burdens come our greatest blessings.  God gives us our stories to be used as our testimony here on earth so we might show others strength, courage and wisdom through the power of God’s will.  Healing ourselves is connected to healing others.  By loving others we aspire them to a higher level.  Love is infectious and is the greatest healing tool.

Recently, I had the opportunity to take a road trip with my good friend Vicki who in every sense of the word is a survivor.  This road trip happened on the one year anniversary of Vicki’s stem cell transplant.  Vicki was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in September of 2013.  Prior to this Vicki was an active runner, running several 5K, 10K, ½ marathons and even completing two marathons (which is a testimony to Vicki’s ability to “survive”).

I first met Vicki at our church’s annual women's retreat several years ago.  There was definitely a divine intervention in Vicki and I being placed in the same cabin group for the weekend.  You see, the multiple myeloma diagnosis was not Vicki’s first experience as a survivor.  Vicki and I shared the common experience of being survivor’s of failed marriages (read my story here).  As God will do, he placed us together to encourage one another, to help each other heal.  In sharing our stories it was quickly evident the common struggles we had shared in our marriages. This connection fueled our friendship and our path to healing.

So yes, Vicki had experience as a survivor, however;  she was yet to face another battle, the battle of being diagnosed with multiple myeloma.  

The reason for our road trip was to visit a friend of Vicki’s, a friend she met while hospitalized in preparing for her treatment.  Pam was also facing a stem cell transplant and Vicki’s doctor suggested that she visit with Pam.  They quickly became friends and relied each other for daily encouragement.  Again, God was at work here placing Vicki and Pam together to encourage one another and offer support through their trials.  To help each other heal.

As I sat in their company and listened to them catch up on each others progress, it gave me opportunity to reflect on the importance of connection and how God will use our greatest burdens to show us His love through the gift of friendship.  He uses each of us to strengthen one another during our journey here on earth.  Human connection provides us with an energy that fuels our soul.  Our soul is our spiritual feelings, thoughts, and actions that ignite our passions and give life to our body.  We are drawn to people who spark a flame in our souls.  Following is a message Vicki posted on her 1 year stem cell birthday:

So today is my birthday! I'm a year old today. Last year on this day I received my new stem cells. So this year has been interesting. What have I learned from going to deaths door and back? Live in the moment, really live in that moment. ..love myself and others (God does), everything happens for a reason, and don't take anything personal, let it go! Happy birthday!

Once again, Vicki is a survivor, choosing to live in the moment and to live fully alive!  We should all learn to wake up and enjoy each day, connect, and spend time with those who fuel our soul.

Who is your healing connection?