"Lent is the time of our lives where we are most especially called to reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves, how much do we thirst for an intimate relationship with our loving Jesus who is just waiting for us to respond to His love? It is the time that we must deeply ponder how much do we thirst for a life that is life-giving to others?"
A few weeks ago, my cousin Dana and her husband gave me a bracelet to wear that said "Just Keep Living." J.K. Livin' is a company created by Matthew McConaughey in 1996 to encourage people to make a living with their life. http://www.matthewmcconaughey.com/ The day that they gave me that bracelet something inside of me changed. I realized that I hadn't been living since my first tumor was found on August 2nd. I was paralyzed with fear, worry, anxiety and thoughts of negativity. I was just living from scan to scan...waiting for more bad news. That bracelet changed that. It made me realize that I was going to live and even better than that.........live out loud!!
Since that day, the bracelet has never left my wrist and has been a part of all the decisions I have been making. I have decided not to return to work this year. I will go in once a week to teach Lenten lessons, but the rest of this year will be used so that I can LIVE !! I have also joined my church's Pastoral Council and am participating in a weekly Lenten Bible Study. I plan on attending daily Mass as often as I can and also hope to take an online class at the University of Dayton about the Sacraments. I am currently leading a Lenten discussion group on Facebook too. I feel so alive for the first time since August! Why? Because I am not consumed with ME. I am living for Him. That became my focus again the minute my cousin Dana and her husband Brian gave me that bracelet.
What I really feel is amazing is that this all happened right before Lent. The perfect time for me to LIVE...40 days to live and not to be consumed with my tumors! (especially since my next scan isn't until May 20th!) It is almost as God had this all planned. The timing was perfect. I can hear Him saying to me, "Just Keep Living, Kim. I'm not done with you yet!"
I want to have a faith that is life-giving to others. So, today, I promise to JUST KEEP LIVING AND TO LIVE OUT LOUD!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVLHTqdkwZ0
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