{"id":17586,"date":"2025-11-05T12:26:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T18:26:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandiherron.com\/blog\/?p=17586"},"modified":"2026-07-21T08:13:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T13:13:45","slug":"survivor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sandiherron.com\/blog\/survivor\/","title":{"rendered":"I Am a Survivor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"2025<\/span><\/div>
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\u201cEven broken seasons carry seeds of hope waiting to grow.\u201d\u00a0Sandi<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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Faith. Hope. Love<\/h2>\n

\u201cAnd now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love\u201d<\/em> 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV).<\/span><\/p>\n

When our family moved to Chelsea, three generations had a hand in building our barn\u2014my husband, his father, and our son. A local sawmill cut the wood for us, and even though our son was just a little boy at the time, he worked alongside his dad and grandfather, hammering nails and learning the value of hard work. Today, that barn stands as a testament to our family\u2019s labor and love.<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Through the years, the barn has withstood storms. At times, the tin roof rattled with the force of strong winds but was held securely because of the way it was constructed. Because of the storms, the wood changed and became weathered. Our barn took on a timeless beauty.<\/p>\n

In 2016, when we added a workshop to the side of the barn, we carefully removed and preserved some of the original barn wood. Later, that old weathered wood found a new purpose\u2014it became the frame for a special photograph.<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The photo inside that frame was of a gladiolus blooming in our Bird Garden, a space designed by our oldest granddaughter. It is a place of peace and beauty for me, but especially during my treatments and recovery from breast cancer in 2018. I am thankful to say, \u201cI am a survivor!\u201d<\/o:p><\/p>\n

In 2019, we donated the framed print to our local Winn-Dixie (we sure miss our store!) as part of a raffle they sponsored for Breast Cancer Awareness. I don\u2019t know who won the print, but I hope they know they have a true \u201cone of a kind.\u201d<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Through the breast cancer journey, I learned a great deal about nutrition and the importance of caring for our bodies. I firmly believe that health is deeply connected to what we eat, how we manage stress, and exercise.<\/p>\n

But more than anything, leaning into the Word of God and grasping the full meaning of His promises carried me through those difficult times. The hope we have in Christ can carry anyone through their challenges. Through Him, we can all be survivors no matter the outcome or how the world defines our journey. In Christ, we have hope because of our living Lord.<\/o:p><\/p>\n

When we feel broken, useless, or like \u201cold weathered barn wood,\u201d God takes what we offer Him and turns it into something beautiful. Our lives have purpose in His hands. Our journey becomes a mission guided by His plan. He takes our brokenness and transforms it into a testimony that helps others. He makes all things new\u2014even old, weathered barn wood.<\/o:p><\/p>\n

#breastcancerawareness #Iamasurvivor<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

Reflective Questions<\/h2>\n