Rarely has a movie touched me so deeply. Rarely has a movie brought tears to my eyes. Rarely have I seen such quite determination. I watched Soul Surfer last night. My story is different from Bethany Hamilton’s but the conversations that she had with her parents in the movie were some of the exact ones I have had with mine. There is so much food for thought right now in my brain. By the grace of God she overcame. She worked hard and didn’t let the challenge stop her. I want to be like that. Do you have pain or a seemingly insurmountable challenge? I pray that you may overcome it. Not in your strength but God’s. I don’t fully know what my next “wave” might be but I want to meet it head on with the confidence of a girl who knows where her worth truly lies. In being a child of God… I have a very full heart right now and I am extremely grateful for the way that God uses our pain and turns bad into beauty.
I watched that movie last night, too! I have to admit, I cried. Best line in the movie: “I wouldn’t go back and change what happened to me because then I wouldn’t have this chance to embrace more people than I ever could have with two arms.” Tears definitely fell. 😉
We’ll we both cried then. 🙂 I LOVED that line! I wanted to quote half the movie in my post but refrained…
I almost watched Soul Surfer Friday night, too! But I’m going to watch it next Friday instead. I am really looking forward to seeing it though–everything I’ve heard about it so far sounds excellent.
Overcoming has been something I’ve been thinking about lately, as well–so often it is extremely difficult, but I know it’s well worth it when we succeed. And there are a lot of verses in the beginning of Revelation that talk about overcomers, too…they make me want to be one all the more.
BTW Elaini, I love your white dress! 🙂
I really was very touched and inspired by it. Yes overcoming is never easy but so very worth the effort. May you be an overcomer Melody!
I love this dress too! 🙂
oh my stars, I love that moive so much. Bethany is such a great testimony of how God uses the bad in our lives for good!
Yes and Yes God has used her in some amazing ways!
I was so blessed to see it last night with my younger sister who is recovering from two subsequent brain surgeries after discovering she had brain cancer early this summer. She has to wear an eyepatch and is still dealing with other side effects…the movie was so applicable to her even though her situation is very different. I was drawn to tears as so many parts in the movie reminded me of what my sister has been through, what it is like to go through a life changing, tragic situation as a family, and re-living my mission trip this summer when “Bethany” participated in the Thailand mission trip. God is so good to give us a movie like this to remind us!
Oh, and so excited about the individuals who organized the yard sale and raised money! I am so glad you did not stop at the 100 day mark, but continue on, allowing God to work. God Bless!
Wow just wow. I am grieved to hear of your sister’s cancer and suffering as well as your own. I can’t imagine the pain you must have felt and still have to deal with. Is she doing any better?? My family and I stopped and prayed for you and your family after I read this. May Jesus give you all the strength and comfort you need. So thankful he holds you. Psalm 119:76 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. God bless you dear.
Elaini,
Thank you for you & your families prayers…God has been soooo faithful to meet our family during the past few months, and now, His glory is on display! We just found out that my sister will not be needing radiation treatment on the remaining cancer that could not be removed from the delicate brain stem! After a lot of mixed feelings from doctors as to what type of cancer she has, they were able to get a better idea after the second surgery. It is not an invasive type that will grow, and hopefully, my sister will only need to be monitored from now on. She is doing wonderful, but just wants a normal life again. She is struggling with facial palsy as well as double vision which is causing discomfort and awkwardness.
I have been so blessed to come through this a stronger christian. When I turned 17 this May, I would have never thought that within a week my sister would be undergoing brain surgery on a cancerous tumor. I had the expectation of a busy summer with a new job, school, and a mission trip; but God had even more planned for me! Now that I look back on all the tears shed, all the times spent on my knees in prayer, all the physical exhaustion, I can truly say that God used it to bring me to utter dependance on Him. To God be the Glory!
Thank you for the scripture, encouragement, and prayer. I feel like I know you personally already…I mean, I have seen your lovely face every day for the past 109 days 🙂
Of course dear! I am very happy that your sister is doing so much better. 😀
Wow that must be incredibly hard for her to have to deal with that. My heart just puddles when I think of her having discomfort and awkwardness.
You both are very young to have gone through something like this but I see Jesus in you! It is amazing how close we can get to the Lord if we are willing to trust him when we go through difficult times. Does it make the pain any less real? NO but there is grace and comfort in the midst of it. Yes. To God be the glory.
Blessings to you sweet girl! And a big hug!!!
Yeah-I watched that movie too!It is really an inspiration.
By the way I love the one dress for a hundred days thing!That is so cool!!!
Yes it is extremely inspiring and encouraging. How blessed we are and how much we take for granted…
Glad you like the 100 days! Still trying to raise the $50,000 so please spread the word!!! 😀
Love the white dress! It’s the complete opposite of the black one… and so pretty! 🙂
Thanks and yes it is! Someone teased me and asked if I had bleached the black dress… 🙂
Oh my goodness! I also watched soul surfer for the first time recently, but I watched it a mere 2 days before you did (Friday night)! How cool!
Katrina-I know somewhat how you are feeling….about 4 years ago (about Christmas time) we found out that my Dad had a brain tumor. It was apparently kindof rare, so we were pretty worried. I didn’t see my Dad for over 2 weeks, which was pretty bad for me, I was about 10. I saw Mom once during that (over) 2 week period. All this to say, I know somewhat how you are feeling and I am praying for you and your family.
In Christ,
Katie Joy 🙂
Glad we have all been watching it!
Katie thank you for sharing your story with us. I am very grateful. Sounds like you have been through some very difficult trials. That would be very scary to have your dad going through that. I hope that your dad is doing well. Makes me want to go hug my dad.
Katie,
Yes, Thank you for sharing your experience. Hearing of others experiences is encouraging to me…knowing that God has orchestrated each and every tumor for a purpose. I can imagine the circumstance would be very hard and emotional for you as a 10 year old…especially since it involved a parent. It has been hard enough for me and I am in my late teens! Is your Dad cancer free now? I thank you for your prayers, and lift up your family in mine.
May God bless you.