Helping Your Friend through the Storm
Understanding the Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Ways that You Can Help Others through the Difficulties in Their Lives
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“Is there anything I can do?” “What can I do to help?” Those were the most frequently asked questions as I went through brain surgery in November, 1999, and one year later found out I had breast cancer. Each time people felt at a loss. They felt there was nothing they could do, but they wanted to help in some way. This book was started a few days after my last chemotherapy treatment.
My sister Renae had gone with me. She lived three hours away, so when we talked on the phone, there was only time and money to talk about the highs and lows (this was before regular cell phones)! There was so much more I wanted to share with her. Did she fully understand what I was going through? Using her creativity, Renae had brought some fun things to help ease the time. A picture album with childhood memories, an uplifting book, and Scripture verses. As the chemotherapy started taking effect, however, I needed to rest.
I pulled out my “cancer journal” and allowed her to read. Soon tears started, followed by laughter and tears again. She called me two days later, “thank you for letting me read your journal -- I just found out a friend of mine has cancer, and I understand a little more the feelings that she is going through right now;” the shock, anger, fear, and sadness. She also understood more of her friend’s needs, and the ways in which she could help meet them. This book is to help you understand, and be aware of others needs as they go through difficult times, whether that be death, divorce, cancer, illness, loss of a job, or any other difficulties that we go through in our lives, and to help you look at yourself and see where God can use you to meet those needs in a special way.
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up.But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9,10
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About the Book
Helping Your Friend through the Storm offers new ideas to help you expand the ways that you help others. Debbie shares personal experiences taken from her cancer journal that delve into the emotional hardships she endured. She shares personal examples, expounding with practical and unique approaches to adopt as your own. Encouraging Scripture verses as well as biblical stories brought to life will inspire you to minister to others as they endure hardships.
While going through brain surgery to correct epileptic seizures, followed by breast cancer one year later, Debbie experienced physical, emotional, and spiritual struggles in her life. She soon experienced joy in talking to new cancer patients and saw how God was using her life experiences to help others. Debbie returned to college and got a degree in social work. While she was in her third year, she found out that she had breast cancer on the other side. Along with family and friends, she had a group of future social workers at her side. Debbie understands personally the needs that others experience as they go through difficulties in their lives. She has been touched by the love that God has shown her through her family and friends in different and unique ways. Debbie's prayer is that her personal experiences will help guide you as you help loved ones through the storm.
About the Author
Debbie and her husband, Tom, of thirty-five years have three grown children and enjoy being grandparents. They live in El Paso, a small town in central Illinois. In addition to helping and mentoring others, Debbie enjoys quilting, gardening and baking.