Typically, when someone wants to break up with someone, the cliche used is: "It's not you, it's me."
Well, not in this case.
Dear Cancer,
It's time we had a talk. It's over. This "relationship" we've shared, we're finished. And this time, it's you, not me.
You showed up unexpectedly.
You settled into my life, my home, my family, and my body. You were unwanted here.
You took away my security and my peace.
You wrecked my sanity.
You caused me to question my faith.
You had me take time away from a job that I love.
You caused me to need medicines that made me sick.
You took my hair away from me.
You canceled vacations.
You made me unable to sunbathe this summer. You made me hate mealtime.
You crushed my self-esteem.
You made me lose time with my children.
You denied me kisses from my children when they were sick.
You hindered my ability to hug my kids, my husband, or anyone else who wanted hugs.
You gave me scars.
You hospitalized me for the first time in my life for an illness.
You put me in an operating room three times.
You made me have blood transfusions.
You have made my family cry.
You have caused financial hardships.
You made me scared of the future.
Despite our inability to get along, you did cause me to learn some things and make changes in my life for the better. So thank you for the following things:
You strengthened my marriage.
You reminded me to hug and kiss my children every chance I get.
You taught me to not take the little things for granted.
You have forced me to book vacations that wouldn't ordinarily have happened.
You're helping me write my bucket list - a real one this time.
You've taught me who my real friends are.
You pushed me toward God and prayer more than any other time in my life. Take that Satan.
You've restored my faith in human kind.
You helped me lose the rest of my baby weight, and then some. (There have to be some perks, right?)
You've rekindled friendships that I thought were gone forever.
You've brought back family members who were lost.
You've allowed me to appreciate the little things.
You let me play in the rain with my boys and not worry about getting wet.
You've taught me how strong I really can be.
You've allowed me to learn how to ask for help.
You've taught me that spending time with my kids is more important than a vacuumed house.
You're teaching me that beauty and strength are found on the inside.
You've made me promise to "pay it forward" for all the kindness we've been shown.
You're causing the stirrings of ministry opportunities for me to start.
So Cancer, I leave you with the lyrics to a song. If you didn't get the message before, perhaps Kelly Clarkson can sum it all up for you. Good-bye.
"What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)"
You know the bed feels warmer
Sleeping here alone
You know I dream in color
And do the things I want
You think you got the best of me
Think you've had the last laugh
Bet you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'd come running back
Baby you don't know me, cause you're dead wrong
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone
You heard that I was starting over with someone new
They told you I was moving on, over you
You didn't think that I'd come back
I'd come back swinging
You try to break me, but you see
Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the broken-hearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinking about me
You know in the end the day you left was just my beginning
