Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas;
star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
worship we our Jesus,
but wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token;
love be yours and love be mine;
love to God and others,
love for plea and gift and sign.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Came_Down_at_Christmas

Written by a beautiful poet, Christina Rossetti (1830-1894), this piece is evidence of a heart devoted to what truly mattered the most. At a young age, health became an issue for Christina. Educated by her parents, and with artist siblings, Christina allowed her words to speak the deepest parts of her. In her later decades, Rossetti suffered from a type of Grave’s disease diagnosed in 1872, suffering a near-fatal attack in the early 1870s. In 1893, she developed breast cancer. The tumour was removed, but there was a recurrence in September 1894. She died on December 29th, 1894 and was buried on New Year’s Day, 1895 in the family grave. (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Rossetti)

When it’s all up in the air ~health, wealth, attitudes, belongings, uncertainties, misunderstandings, doubts, worries, and unknowns ~love comes down. It’s the true Spirit of the season that gives all year. 💚

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Humor, Holidays, & Health

A missing mailbox (only to be discovered “stuck” on an Amazon driver’s lift gate), wrong pronunciation at a procedure, a tasty and interesting side sauce only to be called, “gravy”…perhaps I need to get out more? Holiday seasons, health, mishaps, and circumstances might drain the spirit, wallet, and humor. I’m so thankful for laughter and reasons to smile. Being human is the easiest thing to do. Doing the hard things~loving and laughing in the worst of it~requires a much greater power than me.

An update to my newsletter ~Last week I had the opportunity to meet a fellow NET patient by phone. For the first time I talked with someone who speaks the same “language” and had a similar health path. She was diagnosed at 54, 6 years ago. She was shocked at how many tumors I have and where they are (distant metastasis). She was fortunate to have surgery for removal of the tumor, but sadly, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She has many battles. Unfortunately she could only complete one radiation like the one I’m receiving (many blood transfusions were required and she was sick from February to summer). Will you pray for my new friend, Ingrid? Thank you, Jane, for introducing us.

Have faith💚

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