Oorah Marine

She woke up "ready", tired of constantly running her fingers through her hair and pulling out more each time. Tired of seeing the mound of hair get bigger after each brush.

In this world we store up boxes and boxes of mental "life moments". In this one I see tons of presents under the Christmas tree when I was a child. Over here is high school, complete with the pains and joys that followed me, the last picture in that box is graduation night. Then I have the one of our children being born, both were in the middle of the night and it was cold. But then over here is a black box full of snapshots since late September 2010...not all are painful, here's the one of Allison "floating" on Lorazepam and eating a chocolate milkshake. But most aren't as enjoyable...the one of the doctor saying "I hate to tell you this but...", the one of Dr. Christman saying "and that's why I'm recommending chemo"...and yesterday I added a new one...walking into the bathroom to see Allison holding the scissors with a sad but determined look on her face.

It started with her holding the back and in less than 3 seconds her long hair was gone and a "bob" was born. She cut for a while with the scissors, she looked like a kid cutting gum out of her hair. Then she picked up the trimmers, selected the lowest blade guard and began. We didn't talk. A single tear fell down her face as she removed what God had blessed her with. When she cut all she could reach she handed the trimmers to me and I finished the job that any Marine barber would have been proud of. Yeah, this is one picture I wish wasn't in the box.

But afterward a strange thing happened...relief. It was now behind her. It was over. God's Grace was all over the moment. Dear Cancer, is that all you got??? You can't beat this lady so stop trying!! She's a member of the few, the proud...the forgiven.

Father, continue to give Allison the grace she needs. Give her self confidence and help her to realize that she's beautiful, even more beautiful now than she was before yesterday. May she feel Your arms around her and help me to be a source of strength when she needs it. We continue to love and trust, in Jesus' name...