by: Lynn Dove

I chugged around the track for the twelfth time. My pace was steady; I wouldn’t set any track records, but it was a little more of a brisk walk than I had attempted before. My face was flushed, the sweat droplets on my brow were definitely noticeable, and I knew I had pushed myself hard today. Well, at least harder than the day before when I’d only managed ten laps.

“Slow and steady wins the race!” I said to myself, only to be lapped by a sweet, little, lady at least ten years older than me. She smiled and gave me a thumbs up. I had shared some of my cancer journey with her several months previous, so she encouraged me with an exuberant, “Keep going! You’re doing great!” while strutting past me at rabbit speed compared to my tortoise speed.

In 2001, I battled breast cancer. Then in 2019, I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer. It was a shock to have to face the diagnosis, surgery, and the treatments a second time. Fighting cancer in my forties was bad enough; confronting it again in my sixties was brutal.

When I got home, I checked the step counter on my phone, and was visibly disappointed. I thought for sure I had walked much further. Stepping on the scale was an even bigger disappointment. Two months of walking five times a week, watching my diet, limiting sugar intake, drinking more water – all those things doctors tell us to do – and not one pound lost. It was hard to take.

I could feel the discouragement starting to weigh me down, but I congratulated myself instead. “Remember how far you’ve come!” I let positive self-talk drown out my negativity, and climbed into a bath of hot water. With over a year of recovery, I was back on the track and setting new health goals again. This was something to celebrate!

“Ahhhhh…” I sighed into the lavender scented soap bubbles washing away my workout aroma. As the water soothed my aching muscles, I became well aware of my body’s scars that I’ve come to consider as God’s “marks of ownership” on me. These scars remind me daily that I am His. I wear them proudly. I’ve earned each stripe.

Since living and fighting cancer, I have become more introspective.

I understand with more clarity what it means to be thankful in all circumstances. I’ve learned to appreciate each day as a gift from God, to cherish the memories made in each day, and to applaud the little victories. I used to stress about wrinkles and gray hair, now I giggle at the curls that have sprouted haphazardly on my head, another gift from God after chemotherapy rendered me bald for a year. Even circling a walking track, at a slow but steady pace, has given me a sense of great accomplishment over these past few months.

He was present in each operating room, calming my fears, hearing, and answering the prayers of the faithful, who prayed before, during, and after each cancer treatment. He allowed me to go through cancer to accomplish His good and perfect purposes. He has always been my ever-present source of help, strength, and comfort throughout my adult life. I definitely could not have gone through it without God, my family, and friends encouraging me every step of the way.

I love this quote: “Remember how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go. You may not be where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be.” I have come a long way, and I have grown to love Him even more in these hard-fought battles.

Lynn Dove is an award-winning author and blogger with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner. She lives in Cochrane, AB with her husband and dotes on her grandbabies every chance she gets!

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