Rooting for good

Finding the goodSometimes the doctor’s call isn’t good news.

I can’t imagine physicians like calling their patients with life-changing diagnoses. A woman I know got such a call yesterday. Cancer. Breast cancer. When I spoke with her today, she shared her news with me very candidly. As I listened and mentally noted what her next steps were, my subconscious began to process what it would be like to receive such news… partly because I just had my annual mammogram on Monday of this week. I have no reason for concern. (But then there’s never reason for concern… until there’s concern. See, I told you I’m a pessimist!) 

Back to my friend… (it’s not all about me. really.)

While my mind strayed to her children, her husband, the carnage of chemotherapy and how her health might decline, she spoke a steady stream of positive words:

  • They caught it early.
  • I’m confident in my doctor.
  • I’ve got many friends who’ve been through this and will walk the road with me.
  • God’s been faithful to me so many ways; I know I’ll see Him in the midst of this, too.

She gave me the facts of her diagnosis, but everything else she shared with me was expressed with great optimism about her circumstances. No, she didn’t claim “victory” where uncertainty lies in her life. But she did choose to see what good there is to see.

Because there is something good to see.

[Tweet “No matter the reality of the circumstances, some cause for optimism exists. Find it. Think on it. #thinkonthesethings #write31days”]

ThinkThis post is part of a 31 day series entitled “Think on these things: Learning optimism.” For a full catalog of all the posts, visit the first page in the series by clicking here.

 

 

Posted in Faith, Learning Optimism and tagged , ,

14 Comments

  1. Tara Ulrich on October 17, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    What a powerful witness! I have a friend who lost her husband to cancer a few years ago and now is battling it herself yet she seems to still find the positive and hang onto that hope!



  2. Tara Ulrich on October 17, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    What a powerful witness! I have a friend who lost her husband to cancer a few years ago and now is battling it herself yet she seems to still find the positive and hang onto that hope!



    • Kirsten Holmberg on October 20, 2014 at 8:02 pm

      I agree, Tara! It was such an impactful conversation for me. Hoping that each of our friends battle victoriously.



  3. Tara Ulrich on October 17, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    What a powerful witness! I have a friend who lost her husband to cancer a few years ago and now is battling it herself yet she seems to still find the positive and hang onto that hope!



  4. Tara Ulrich on October 17, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    What a powerful witness! I have a friend who lost her husband to cancer a few years ago and now is battling it herself yet she seems to still find the positive and hang onto that hope!



    • Kirsten Holmberg on October 20, 2014 at 8:02 pm

      I agree, Tara! It was such an impactful conversation for me. Hoping that each of our friends battle victoriously.



  5. Tara Ulrich on October 17, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    What a powerful witness! I have a friend who lost her husband to cancer a few years ago and now is battling it herself yet she seems to still find the positive and hang onto that hope!



  6. Tara Ulrich on October 17, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    What a powerful witness! I have a friend who lost her husband to cancer a few years ago and now is battling it herself yet she seems to still find the positive and hang onto that hope!



    • Kirsten Holmberg on October 20, 2014 at 8:02 pm

      I agree, Tara! It was such an impactful conversation for me. Hoping that each of our friends battle victoriously.



  7. Think on these things: A 31 day series on learning optimism | Eight Twenty-Eight on October 20, 2014 at 9:37 am

    […] /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism Rooting for good Guarded Just /jəst/ […]



  8. Think on these things: A 31 day series on learning optimism | Eight Twenty-Eight on October 20, 2014 at 9:37 am

    […] /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism Rooting for good Guarded Just /jəst/ […]



  9. Think on these things: A 31 day series on learning optimism | Eight Twenty-Eight on October 20, 2014 at 9:37 am

    […] /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism Rooting for good Guarded Just /jəst/ […]



  10. Think on these things: A 31 day series on learning optimism | Eight Twenty-Eight on October 20, 2014 at 9:37 am

    […] /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism Rooting for good Guarded Just /jəst/ […]



  11. Think on these things: A 31 day series on learning optimism | Eight Twenty-Eight on October 20, 2014 at 9:37 am

    […] /pyo͝or/ Expecting the worst Synonyms? Closer to Center Honorable /ˈänərəb(ə)l/ Pollyannaism Rooting for good Guarded Just /jəst/ […]