Love and Butterflies-for Debsincornwall

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I am devastated by your news. As we have learned to do with this breast cancer thing, we look at the next thing! The way forward.
That is not to say that people are not desperately praying for the miracle of time Debs!!

However we have had miracles. We have had the miracle of you and everything you have been through, still making us laugh and offering support and reassurance on our individual journeys!

However what I am asking for are messages of hope for a future time, a different life and way of being.

I know you have a faith Debs as do I. You have to take comfort in that, think of Deidre and her conviction and comfort in her belief.

As you know AnneTh died in the Summer. My super intellectual research scientist, who was adamantly agnostic until the months before her death. At the end she was convinced she was being cared for by something other, that she was happy to call God.

I heard of her death before our holiday, to cornwall as it happens!

I was in bits until on the 2nd day of the holiday, the sun shone and i was totally mobbed by white butterflies. They just would not leave me alone. I thought it was odd but put it down to my shower gel!!

It was some months later that i inadvertently came across an article citing butterflies, white in particular, as being the ultimate symbol of the spirit and life after death.
I know it sounds stupid and I have not told many people (until now).
However i am convinced it was some sort of sign or symbol.I think Anne was letting me know!!
The white butterfly in particular is a symbol of the afterlife and resurrection. It has been a Christian symbol for centuries.

Anyway I just wonder if anyone else out there has any messages of hope or inspiration to offer to Debs and others who are reaching the end of treatment options??

Julie xxx

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i cant think what to say but just wanted to say your post was lovely xxx

Prayers

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Hello Julie,
I have been very moved by your post. I haven’t ‘got to know’ Debs as I have only been posting for a few months, but I have been struck by the beautiful humanity that has shone thro’ her posts.
I’m not well versed in theology or anything but have a strong instinctive faith that has shown me some wonderful insights from time to time.
I was with my mum when she went off on her ‘long journey’ and I know that she went somewhere good, my sister and brother and I could all feel it in the space within the curtains, on a hospital ward.
Many years ago, I was frightened about the future - I had just been diagnosed with bc, my kids were 9 and 11 (I was 38) and one night I was praying and my body was filled with light and I knew, on a deep level, that I would have the 10 years I had prayed for, and that things would be fine. They have been, and although bc has come back, I know things will take the path that is right.
I have no idea whether this is helpful, I just feel that there is something out there that takes care of things, and that after all our times, rivers will still flow into the sea. We are all small parts of something wonderful, and somehow, thats OK.
sorry if i’ve hit the wrong note - I wrote from the heart
monica x

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Hello, here are some small poems by Piet Hein that keep me calm and smiling. I hope they are helpful for Debs in Cornwall.

LIKE A TALL, SOLID BEECH TREE

I’m sitting here with my back against
a tall, solid beech tree,
feeling time flowing
in a strong, cool stream,
feeling life rising
like a tall, solid beech tree
emerging from Eternity’s
unending dream.

TIME AND ETERNITY

Where the woods and ploughlands
of tradition and modernity
run into the never-ending
deserts of eternity,
there I have my daily task,
while time smoothly passes,
spooning the eternal sands
into hour-glasses.

FORM AND MATERIAL

I see myself and what I write enclosed in
an hour-glass’s uppermost retort.
The very stuff my patterns are composed in
must fall away, and crumble down to naught.

Yet stubbornly, and in despite of reason,
I still believe that what is fashioned there
will, when the sands run out in destined season,
remain unchanged, suspended in the air.

THE UNATTAINABLE IDEAL

We ought to live
each day as though
it were our last day
here below.

But if I did, alas,
I know
it would have killed me
long ago.

WHO AM I?

Who am I
to deny
that maybe
God is me?

THE ME ABOVE THE ME

Giving in is no defeat.
Passing on is no retreat.
Selves are made to rise above.
You shall live in what you love.

xBuckwheat

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Thanks Buckwheat and Monica, your posts are lovely!

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Thanks everyone what a beautiful gift.
Our garden here is full of white butterflies in the spring and until late summer.
Love Debsxxx

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The Oceans Shore
By Cookie

As I walk along the oceans shore…
The feeling of peace, longing for more…
As I sit upon soft wet sand…
The gentle waves, touch my hand…
This Aura of wonder and tranquility…
Stretching as far as my eyes can see…
Watching the reflections move with the flow.

Feeling the comfort, of its inner glow…
Oh how I wish, this feeling would stay…
As I know I must walk away…
Wish I could leave all the hurt, pain and tears…
Behind me along, with all my fears…
Wouldn’t it be nice, if we could leave on that shore…
Feelings that keep in our hearts, ever more…
If I wrote them in the sand, would they be swept away?

By the waves crashing in, Gone on their way…
Leaving us free, of DOUBTS and DESPAIR…
The ocean will handle them, then we won’t care…
The ocean can be such a beautiful place…
As our minds wonder in and out of space.

I think that I already know…
We reap whatever we did sow…
I will keep looking, forever more…
But not what I wrote,on that OCEANS SHORE…

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Debs,

I haven’been on the site much recently as I’m back at work and have pretty much returned to me"Real Life". I just wanted to say that I’m thinking of you and wish you “all the best” (a Glasgow saying). Your posts have always been very inspiring and amusing.
Luv’n’stuff
Tricia

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God is love - to have so much love in your life is to know God.

Dx

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butterflies white feathers all signs of our guardian angels l am a breast cancer survivor but if this disease was to ever come back for me id know that my time was up here and there was a greater need for me to be by the side of loved ones who are in the other world .When l was first admitted into hospital following my fourth chemo l had become neutrapenic christmas eve l was in a very bad way l lay waiting in a room whilst my son and husband went outside to get me some food l said out loud l hope my grandad john and my good friend angie are watching over me, half an hour later l was taken to the ward and then told l would be moved to a private room so after having been moved to a private room l got into my bed and my son said mum look what l have found it was a laminated small card with a lucky shamrock in it with the words above saying l loved you then and l love you now and l always will my friend and my grandad were lrish from that moment on l knew that was a sign that l was not alone that l was being watched over and felt very comforted l believe our journey continues into the next life as guardian angels we are the chosen ones to look over our loved ones and friends this is not it why would it be what a waste it would be l hope my word leave peace in your hearts much love to all that are battling cancer and your loved ones who give there unconditional love and support much love to you all and keep the faith gina x

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Hi all,
My mum died in July and I haven’t been on here for a while. Tonight I checked in to the new look forum and couldn’t help but notice the title of this thread. Before mum died I posted on here about how to prepare my five year old boy. When mum died, he coped remarkably well. I didn’t keep anything from him. I’d read about white feathers and was looking out for them. But my mum had asked for my son to send a balloon up to her when she died. He said he wanted to pick one with a butterfly on it because his nanna was now a butterfly. We put pictures of butterflies on the funeral order of service because if what he had said. A few weeks later we went on holiday and my son spotted a white butterfly on the beach shouting “look mummy it’s nanna” before chasing it up the hill. Every time he saw one afterwards he said the same thing. So this post has amazed me and comforted me. He is so certain that he can still hear my mum and that she is happy and I never once mentioned butterflies to him until he mentioned them to me. So however cynical people may be I’m going to choose to believe what he believes- that my mums spirit is flying free in those beautiful white butterflies. Thanks all . Mals x