Ordinary women who love an extraordinary God. Clinging to Him, following Jesus so closely, getting the dust of their shepherd on them because Jesus walks with us in every season of life.
“My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:8
“I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
How can it be I began this series of posts almost five years ago? While this blog has remained quiet for 2019, I can’t seem to let it go, writing continues to be something I love to do, feel called to. This post on Daphne Stowe has been a year in the making. Her husband, Bruce became one of our church elders in January, I’ve wanted to put a face to his wife, because of her cancer she is unable to attend worship services, which she misses terribly, but would do well if we offered a service at 1 pm.
I’ve spent time with Daphne over this year and was happy to ride along with her last week to medical appointments in Rochester. What finally follows is my interview with her, my next installment of Dusty Women.
I’ve known Daphne for a long time, but since her cancer diagnosis of stage 4 Neuroendocrine cancer, we’ve spent more time together. I spent a glorious day with her last week, traveling first to Canandaigua NY where we ate lunch at a crepe cafe. Who knew there was such a thing? Delicious!! Then onto her appointments.
Daphne is a God-loving, Jesus follower who is confident in the days God numbered for her before she was even born. While those days seem fewer with this diagnosis, she is comforted that God does not change and those numbered days remain the same. Words that I would use to describe her are self-less, others-oriented who loves her husband and children. Our conversation on a very cloudy New York afternoon often centered around what can she do for others, what ministries can we begin to help others, how can she encourage others while limited in energy and stamina.
On the rare days she wants to descend into the depths of despair and attend her own pity party, she told me she chooses, she decides how she is going to live each day. She doesn’t want to waste her days feeling sorry for herself. Two words we kept circling back to were ‘attitude and perception.’ We choose each moment what our attitude will be.
A few questions to get to know Daphne a bit better.
- Who has had the greatest spiritual impact on you and why? My mother, she had to be strong and always relied on her faith first in all things,(Daphne lost her dad when she was 11, so her mother was a single mother raising Daphne.)
- What are three simple joys? She couldn’t narrow it down…family, friends, sunshine, wholesome nourishing food, sewing, knitting, nature, days I’m doing better than the day before, loves spending time near the water
- What have been your consistent spiritual disciplines for every season of life? Prayer and thanksgiving, key Bible verses that specific significance to me, singing hymns, reading the Bible
- Favorite food? super easy question…fresh seafood. Daphne is from Maine.
