Books/ Cancer Journey/ HEALTH/ Love/ Spiritual

Quiet Closing Moments of 2011

{Elaine & I, during our fight with breast cancer}

I am so excited to introduce you to one of my favorite writers and people, Elaine Olsen of “Peace For The Journey.”  I have never met her in person, but our hearts are entwined despite.  We both were diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2011.  She was a gift to me, walked with me and is still by my side with her words. Her words got me through and lifted my head so many times during the fight.  Her mouth speaks truth, the type that shoots straight to the heart.  This post she wrote did exactly that, I am so thankful to have her words (despite her lack of voice, as you will see,}here at New Nostalgia!


{from Elaine}
My voice has been silenced in the last twenty-four hours. Literally. Sickness has claimed my vocal cords. This has never happened to me before, not completely in the way it has happened for me this time around.


My whispered shouts for the attention of others are met only by their silence. Not because they don’t care about me, but rather because they can’t hear me. Their listening isn’t prone to my whispering, so mostly… I’m ignored. Probably a relief to most of those in my household, but to a woman who’s used to being heard… a great frustration indeed. 

And I’m thinking…

About my voice. About my words. About needing to be heard. About what I will say when I am, again, able to say. 

And I’m thinking…

About quietness. About the value of forced silence. About going inward with my thoughts instead of outwardly displaying every single one of them. 

And I’m thinking…

About God. About his voice. About his needing to be heard. About his willingness to keep company with silence… with his thoughts, instead of outwardly displaying every single one of them. 

And I’m thinking…

About how very connected I feel to Him in all of this. About how my inability to speak amplifies the volume of God’s witness. 


How many times has the Father whispered my name in the midst of my chaos, only to be ignored because of the noise surrounding my life? My hearing isn’t prone to his whispering. But in silence—in this period of fewer, personal words—I more clearly hear the phrases from heaven.

Beautiful, peace-filled, stilled expressions of understanding from God’s heart.

My ninth grade English teacher once wrote in my yearbook, “Elaine, if silence is golden you can forget it.” Apparently, I was destined for poverty. Thirty years ago, I hadn’t a clue what she’d meant, and I couldn’t have cared less.

Today, I have a clue. Today I care more, exceedingly more. Today, silence really is golden, because silence has given me access to the whispers of home. And whenever that happens, friends, I’m the richest person alive. 

I’m so glad I know Jesus. I’m so glad he knows me. And I’m exceedingly glad for those moments when I am able to clearly hear his voice. What tender grace is mine as a daughter of the King! I pray that you know him, hear him, worship and celebrate him in the quiet, closing moments of 2011. I believe that God has something vital and important to whisper to each one of us. I’ll be anxious to hear from you in coming days. As always…

Peace for the journey,
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Elaine is also author of the book: Peace for the Journey.  You can learn more about this amazing guide book to peace below.


I’m so pleased to be able finally tell you that “peace for the journey: in the pleasure of his company” is now available in an e-book format through:

Winepress (DRM free version, allowing you to read it on all popular readers)

Nook
Sony 

In addition, “peace for the journey” is available in paperback from many online retailers, including:

Winepress
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Lifeway

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  • elaine @ peace for the journey
    December 31, 2011 at 4:53 am

    Thanks for this, Amy. You are a blessing my life. I hate the way we met, but I’m grateful for the bond we share as survivors and as sisters in Christ. Praying God’s blessings over you and your family as you move into the promise of a new year!

    peace~elaine

  • Patricia
    December 30, 2011 at 7:28 pm

    Amy. Words cannot express how I feel at this moment. The power I can feel between you and Elaine. The power of Elaine’s voice, and the power of your desire to share Elaine’s words with us humble beings.
    Thank you, both.
    Patricia

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