THE BIG PINK ELEPHANT

Hello Friends,  Most of us have heard the phrase "The Elephant in the Room"used in conversation to talk about a topic that most certain groups like to ignore.  but to me there's two perspectives or paradigms to "the elephant in the room" phrase.  There's the group that having an elephant in the room would be impossible to ignore and the group who completely overlooks it as if it doesn't even exist.  Falling into both of these groups can both hinder us from moving forward.  As most of you know My BIG PINK ELEPHANT is Melanoma cancer.  I kinda fall into both groups at times. There are days that Melanoma stares me in the face and it keeps me from thinking of the future and then there are days when I should be taking care of a new surgical wound but instead I ignore the issue and go to tough mudder training hehe.  Thankfully there are some days where I fall in the middle and I'm able to balance the beast.  I know a lot of you are dealing with huge Elephants right now.  Your BIG PINK ELEPHANT may not be Melanoma, it may be another form of cancer, a chronic illness of some sort, it may be divorce, abuse, a sick child, a sick family member, unemployment, failure and most of the time the BIG PINK ELEPHANT isn't  something any of us have a bit of control over.  We get to the point where we feel helpless because it's out of our control.  but friends don't ever feel hopeless because there is always hope.  While Aaron and I were having one of our late night car ride "dates" (with the kids sleeping in the back seat) these thoughts came to my mind as if this voice inside me was giving me a stern talking to:  Alicia, Don't let your circumstance keep you from dreaming!  If you can't dream you have no hope for the future.  So stop looking at the BIG PINK ELEPHANT in front of you while doing nothing but worrying about it standing in your way.  Dream. Imagine. Pray. and grab a ladder to climb over top of the beast.  And if it's keeping you from getting to where you want to go then grab a whip and whip it til you get to where your going.  Whatever you do DONT STOP! PRESS ON! and KEEP GOING!  Jesus is strong enough to carry me and MY BIG PINK ELEPHANT! Giving up is NEVER an Option!   Friends, there will be hard things we will face that will be beyond challenging but this is our HOPE: "I have told you these things so that you would find comfort in Me. In this world, you will suffer; but be courageous, for I have overcome the world!" (John 16:33)  There will be better days ahead, but while we're here on this earth don't just merely "pass through".  Stand tall... Make some noise... and make a difference in what your passionate about.  Don't sit back and wait for someone else to do the work.  God will equip and prepare you, just say "here am I LORD, Send me".  and ANy time I'm stressed when something seems too BIG to handle, my Hubby always says "HOw do you eat an ELEPHANT?....One bite at a time." I sure needed this little pep talk and I hope it helped some of you as well.  Friends, whatever ELEPHANT you are dealing with please know that my heart is heavy for you and I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.  If you are reading this and I don't know you personally know that I care and would love to pray for you.  It's gonna be a hot one this summer and most melanoma can be completely preventable by being sun smart.  Please remember to  Share the Love and Spread the lotion to all those around you.  Much love and God bless!!!