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10BODYOFCHRISTNEWSAPRIL2014IrememberapoemIoncereadcalledTheDash.AnexcerptfromthepoemreadsIreadofamanwhostoodtospeakatafuneralofafriend.Hereferredtothedatesonthetombstonefromthebeginning...totheendHenotedthatfirstcamethedateofbirthandspokethefollowingdatewithtearsButhesaidwhatmatteredmostofallwasthedashbetweenthoseyears.Forthedashrepresentsallthetimethattheyspentaliveonearth.Andnowonlythosewholovedthemknowwhatthatlittlelineisworth.WiththatbeingsaidIRhondaCarolWilliamsbornonDecember141968standbeforeyoubyGodsgraceandmercythankfultobelivingthedash.Youseethedashthisgiftcalledlifeseemsespe-ciallyprecioustomesincetherewasatimeinmylifenotlongagowhenoneofmyfriendscouldhaveeasilybeenstandingtospeakatmyownfuneralandreferredtothedatesonmyowntombstonefromthebeginning...totheend.AfteryearsofenduringendometriosiswhereIexperiencedchroniccrampsonesurgeryinmy20sandanotherinmy30sIfinallymadethedecisiontohaveapartialhysterectomy.Thiswasntaneasydeci-sion.BecauseasfarbackasIcanrememberplayingwithmydollbabyNancyshairIalwayswantedtohavechildren.HeckIwassupposedtobemarriedat25andhavemyfirstchildat27.Iwantedthreekids.ThenastimepassedwithnohusbandinsightIdecidedIwouldsettleforhavingonechildofmyown.Howeverthiswasnottobe.Justoverayearagoattheageof44whenthepainfromtheendometriosiswassounbearableandnoneofthedoctorsprescribedtreatmentswereworkingIdecidedtohavemysurgery.IwentintothehospitalonDecember212012.Iwasonlysupposedtobethereovernight.MymomhadplannedtocomestaywithmeforaweekwhileIrecuperated.IrememberatmybedsidebeforesurgeryIwassurroundedbymymomandmytwogodmothersfrommychurchandbycellphonespeakerIcouldhearmypastorsayingaprayeroverme.IfeltblessedtoknowthatIwasinGodshandsandthatIwaslovedbythosewithme.Iremembercomingoutofsurgeryfine.Theyhadmeupandwalkingthehallslaterthatday.Iremem-berthedoctortellingmethenextdaythattheyweregoingtokeepmeanextradaybecausetheywantedtomonitormykidneylevels.Ihavehadtopiecetogetherwhathappenednextbylisteningtothesto-riesfromotherslaterandreviewingtextmessagesIhadsenttofriendsgivingupdatessuchassayingitwasntlookinggoodandthattheyweregettingreadytowheelmeintoICUonChristmasEve.Irememberthedoctortellingmethatifmysituationworsenedtheywouldneedtoputatubedownmythroattohelpmebreathe.NextIrememberthedoctortellingmethatitwastime.AstheywereputtingthebreathingtubedownmythroatIkeptsayingtomyselfIamtherighteousnessofGod.IamtherighteousnessofGod.Therestisprettyfuzzy.YouseeIwasputintoacomaandonabreathingtube.Ialsohadabloodtransfusion.WhenIcamearoundIfirstsawmydadwhohadflowninfromTacomaWAtobewithmeandoneofmybestfriends.Thedoctortoldmymomthatweneededamira-cleandwegotone.Thatwasaprettypowerfulstatementcomingfromadoctor.WouldntyouagreeItwasseveralmoredaysbeforeIcouldleavethehospitalbutatotalof13daysinall.Ihadsuf-feredcompleterespiratoryfailureaconditioncalledAdultRespiratoryDistressSyndromeARDS.Theysayitcouldhavebeencausedbythefluorpneumonia.Butthecauseisnotknown.WhenIgotoutofthehospi-talIhadtofollowupwithmyfamilydoctor.ShetoldmethatmostpeopledontmakeitthroughwhatIwentthroughandthatIshouldfeellucky...Hmmm.LuckyDefinitelynottherightword.HowaboutblessedAccordingtothedoctorIamalivingmiracleafterall.Iamblessedandthankfultostillbelivingthedash.IrealizethatlifeisagiftfromGod.IamstilltryingtounderstandGodspurposeformylife.IbelievethatHesavedmeforareason.IwillcontinuetoexploremytalentsanddevelopthislifeGodhasgivenme.Iwilltouchlivesandchangehopelesssituations.Iwillliveoutmypassionsandmydreams.InlivingthedashasthesayinggoesIwillacceptmypastwithoutregrethandlemypresentwithcon-fidenceandfacemyfuturewithoutfear.AndeverystepofthewayIwilltakeGodwithme.Iamthankfultobelivingthedash.RhondaWilliamsIamblessedandthankfultostillbelivingthedash.IrealizethatlifeisagiftfromGod.LuckyorBlessedTESTIMONYByRhondaCarolWilliams