We are a ministry rooted in the reformed faith that offers resources on grief, autism, alcoholism, terminal illness and life crises, as well as hope and help for daily life.

Before I realized it, the women of our church recognized that fighting breast cancer is a full time job for any woman, especially when the treatment includes aggressive chemo-therapy and/or radiation.

These special friends knew how much teaching Bible study meant to me and looked for ways to conserve my energy so that I could continue in that work. They also knew how difficult it was for me to accept practical help from others (I think that's a pride issue!). They told me that whether I liked it or not, they were going to organize household help and that I needed to make up a list of things that needed to be addressed! They also told me to leave the house when the cleaning crew arrived so that I would not feel compelled to help them. How good to know that my friends would not look at each other with dismay as they cleaned up the dirt of our family of six!

What a gift! Women from all walks of life descended on our home. I came back to sparkling windows, clean carpets, a crud-free stove and oven. The kids bedrooms were never so well organized.

Another friend dropped off a basket of toiletries, scented soaps, skin cream, bubble bath. Gifts of soothing music CD's calmed me when I couldn’t sleep.

Sometimes the treatment for a disease seems worse than the disease. I encourage you to prayerfully consider small ways to encourage a friend facing aggressive breast cancer treatment. Biblical encouragement is not complicated. Small gifts are often the best. Toasted zucchini bread and a cup of herb tea is still one of my favorite treats because of how soothing it was to my nausea-ridden body. Thank you, Lord, for the encouragement of Your daughters that helped turn my heart toward You!

For more encouragement ideas, see Treasures of Encouragement, Women Helping Women in the Church by Sharon W. Betters, P & R Publishing.