A Tale of Two Believes

You never know what is going to happen in a day. My days used to be routine; now they are FAR from routine. I never know what is going to happen, who is going to come and visit, or what new person I will connect with. My cousin Penny told me last night that she felt that each day would be filled with divine appointments – I think she’s right. This 'tale' is a tale of Monday, Dec. 15, 2008....

It started out rather routine – couldn’t sleep, so got up and offered to feed baby Aiden and take care of him for a couple of hours so Natalie could go back to bed. Aiden is teething – he came with two teeth a month ago, and will probably go back to Manitoba with seven, so he’s having a bit of a struggle sleeping – just like me. We’re two peas in a pod. I wish I was teething.

I tried to go out for a short walk up the street, but only made it to Charlotte’s yard next door (C. is Doug’s cousin; although if you know Doug, EVERYONE seems to be his cousin). Janet White #2, another neighbor/friend, came over to see me at C.’s house. We talked for a good long time. Heather, our mail carrier friend arrived bearing gifts, and to give me a lecture about walking on the streets without studs or treaded boots on my feet. So I didn’t walk the street, just the yard back to my house again. I told H. she can be my weather monitor. We must remember to pray for Heather’s sister, Margaret Amos, who has cancer. I’ve mentioned her before. She and her husband live in the Miramichi. We must remember to pray for Margaret – that God would give her strength and tenacity to carry on. I’m praying for you, Margaret – your sister is awesome…

Brenda & Luke arrived bearing gifts (including Crest whitestrips for me – I figured that if I was going to lose my hair, at least I would have white teeth. Reminder to self: must email Crest and see if I can get some ‘freebies’ or something....part of my ‘Look Good, Feel Good’ program I’m instituting for myself). The OT director arrived with a project. We decided to fill the kitchen with all the leftovers and eat lunch before we started any project – need to have a full belly.

It was after lunch that the cousins started arriving. I’ve decided to deem this “Cousin Week” at our house. Cousin Wayne & Bev came (they live in Coldstream, wherever that is) – we had a kitchen party, eating clementines to our heart’s delight. I think my theme song should be Oh My Darling, Oh My Darling Clementine. We love clementines here at the MAC house. My mom arrived to join in on the party.

On their heels came cousin Greg (Nasonworth) and my aunt-‘pretend mother’ Viv (Cloverdale, wherever that is), bearing a beautifully wrapped package. I opened it up while they laughed hilariously – “Don’t break it!” they giggled, as I opened up a BELIEVE angel ornament broken into three pieces. Seems they bought it that morning, forgot what was in the bag, plunked it down and broke it as they took a break in their shopping spree for lunch. Didn’t discover it was broken til they went to wrap it up. Take note that they ate lunch around noon, which is important in the timing of this real story.

Anyway, knowing my personality and my sense of humour, they decided to give me the ‘broken’ Believe angel. I said that was OK, because I have a habit of breaking things, and that Doug’s father is an expert ‘gluemaster’ of all the things I have broken over the years. I’ll simply give it to him to fix for me (he already had to do this a couple of weeks ago…he’s going to wonder what’s going on in this house!). Anyway, as we visited some more, I told Viv & Greg that I wasn’t going to get him to glue it right now, but would later – after I’m healed – down the road – that’s when I would take it to him to be ‘restored.’ That the broken Believe ornament represented me right now – and God is in the middle of my situation, with angels watching over me…. We decided that was a good idea. Here’s a pic of their gift:



Isn’t it beautiful? A nice ornament, I thought…I have received many ‘believe’ signs this month, and this adds to my collection. I certainly need lots of reminders to BELIEVE that I will beat this disease.

Well, on with the story. We said our good-byes to Viv & Cousin Greg, thanking them for the wonderful gift, amidst much laughter and pictures (if you visit, you may have your picture taken). Thanks for the broken gift! Come again! LOL.

The next cousin arrives (I wonder to myself: did they plan this? To come on the same day?). Cousin Randi B., also from Coldstream. She just happened to be in Fredericton, too. We have some more laughs and more fruit. She gives me lipstick kisses. She always made me laugh when we were young (still does). I told her recently that I had always wanted to be like her (she’s a tad bit older, but I don’t hold that against her). I show her the broken BELIEVE angel ornament that Greg & Viv adorned me with – and we laugh some more. And I’m still thinking that Doug’s dad can glue it back together when I’m back together.

Lovely visit with Cousin Randi, and then it’s time to go to a party at D.’s house, where the women’s group I sing with (Sisters Act) is hosting a “Love Deb” party for me. We have a beautiful meal; my first night out of my house. We have Christmas crackers (you know, you pull them apart, they make noise and have tiny gifts hidden inside). My cracker has a tiny, tiny blue comb in it. I said I would use it to comb the tiny, tiny amount of hair I may have. We laugh some more. We need to laugh, right?

I proceed to tell my sister-friends (Janette, Penny, Jody, Dawn-Marie, Maxine, Doris, Marilyn, Carolyn, Brenda) about the broken BELIEVE angel ornament received that afternoon and how I was going to get Doug’s dad to glue it back together like Humpty Dumpty, AFTER I’m healed. Dawn-Marie gets all excited and goes out of the room, returning with a gift bag. This same day, at around 1 pm, she asked God in a store, “what should I get Deb as a gift tonight?” He showed her what to purchase. (Remember when Greg & Viv break their gift? Noon).

I delve into Dawn’s gift bag and pull out a beautiful fleece throw. THEN, a tissue paper wrapped ornament….could it be? YES, it is the same one! I begin to cry out – and hold it up in the air – “Oh, God, I’m healed already! I don’t have to wait to glue the other ornament! Look, Brenda (my sis, who is weeping), I’m healed already! WOW, God! I can Believe! I’m going to be restored! YOU did this today to show me that I’m going to be OK!” What an overwhelming moment it was. I took a picture of both of them today so you would see I didn’t make this up.



This was divine intervention, to say the least. I hope Greg & Viv read the blog, because they don’t know this yet. I thank them for following their heart and giving me the broken BELIEVE sign, or this day wouldn’t have had the impact it did on my life. It gave me and my sister hope. I thank Dawn-Marie for praying and asking God what to buy.

My sister friends continued to bless me with gifts of money, and a self-appointed “3-D” OT director (Janette), led a craft class on how to make 3D snowflakes. We all participated. Funny thing is, Dawn-Marie is preparing for her daughter’s wedding in January with snowflakes being the decoration of choice – so we made many snowflakes for her to take with her. Then the sisters blessed me again – with prayer. I love those girls; we’ve been together for years and years, making music and sharing each other’s struggles. They’re my family, too. Thanks, Sisters for the great “Love Deb” party. I truly felt your love. Thanks, D., for hosting the party. Thanks, J. for the 3-D. You're 3-D.

So there you have it – The Tale of Two Believes in one day, purchased in the same day, no doubt at two different stores by two different shoppers at two different times, for one person with cancer who is perhaps struggling with believing. But God showed me through a broken BELIEVE ornament and a restored BELIEVE ornament that there’s always room for belief.

BELIEVE – the song, the ornament, the attitude to believe. And isn’t Christmas a season of belief?

And now the verse: Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished! (Luke 1:45)…….deb x0