I wrote a post several weeks ago on Journey Thoughts about thankfulness being a choice. It’s not dependent on your circumstances, but being thankful in spite of circumstances. This week I also posted on InScribe another blog post with the same thankfulness theme. I guess I need the reminder to be thankful as much as anyone else. I need to celebrate and be thankful for the big victories, like being cancer-free…Yahooooo!!!, as well as celebrating the smaller, daily victories.

Being thankful is a continuing struggle for me especially when cancer has turned my life upside down. It’s hard to give thanks when chemo thunder has wrecked havoc on my body, and left me with lingering nerve damage. When sleep continues to elude me, and nausea and tummy upset is a constant companion, giving thanks is the last thing I want to do. Yet, that is what I’m told to do: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I sometimes spend more time thinking about what I can’t do than being thankful about things I can do. So today I looked in the mirror and let out a little squeal of excitement. Instead of focusing on my bald head, as I have been doing for months now, I noticed I am sprouting eyebrows! I never knew how much I missed my eyebrows until I had to draw them on myself. Unfortunately, chemo has left me with what I hope is not a permanent hand tremor. Other than being a nuisance for the most part, it’s a bit challenging trying to write legibly and having a steady enough hand to draw eyebrows that look somewhat linear and precise. One day an unexpected tremor made me draw one eyebrow so I looked like Mr. Spock on Star Trek. It was not a good look for me!

My husband was chatting with his sister on the phone today and he had the audacity to complain to her about his receding hairline and graying hair. I couldn’t help but laugh at him and point to my bald head. He knows I am a little sensitive when it comes to my lack of locks. I am looking forward to my first bad hair day, and praying it happens in the not too distant future! Bless his heart though, he’s participating in Movember, growing a moustache and raising money that goes towards men’s health. He has grown a wonderful moustache in just two weeks. Oh, that I could grow some hair on my head as quickly!

So today I’m celebrating eyebrows. No perceptible eyelashes yet, but am anticipating another little celebration when they sprout.