Last month, I interviewed 12 people in LIVE INTERVIEWS, 12 days in a row. Yes it was a lot, but I had a good reason for it.

Friends come to me regularly with questions about how to live with chronic illness. Sometimes, they have a fear that they just need to talk through. Sometimes, they are feeling alone or isolated and they know I understand. Sometimes, they just need to be told what they already know is true, that God is with them, they are not forgotten.

It is a privilege to be the person people come to for encouragement and I believe this is part of my job as I steward the story God has given me. There is real delight in being able to say to my friends, “This is hard and I’m sad you are going through it. God loves you and I’m with you. You are not alone.”

But sometimes, I look at the person sipping coffee across the table from me and I think, “If she only knew how many people feel the way she feels.” In time, that became my prayer. “Lord, how do I show my friends that they are not alone?”

This video series is my attempt to show you. Starting today, I will post one video each week, here on the blog. They will stay here forever so feel free to return here or point your friends here. This is my gift to you because I truly believe we are not meant to live this hard life alone. Let me introduce you to some new friends who are walking the road of chronic illness and doing it with faith in a good God, just like you.

(PS. I am not posting these in order. Instead, I want to walk you through these conversations based on things that were said, things I want to highlight for you.)

Marissa Henley:

Angiosarcoma (rare cancer) & Motherhood

I’ve already introduced you to my friend, Marissa, here on the blog as author of Loving Your Friend Through Cancer. She’s a lovely woman with a soft and steady way of living our her faith. You may be wondering why I chose to interview her again. Well, there were a few reasons.

1. I have two friends who are battling cancer. Last week, they both had surgery. One is younger than me and recovering in a different country. One is older than me and recovering at home. Both need constant encouragement that they are not alone. And they aren’t! Marissa’s story is uplifting, just what they need right now.

2. Marissa shares her story with humility and consistent faith. I LOVE talking with her. Sometimes, we just need to go back to the people who lift us up to Jesus best. For me, Marissa is one of those people.

In this video conversation, we spent most of our time talking about being moms with life-threatening illness. Friends, it can be scary, that’s the truth. But also, God is so good. There are so many little displays of his goodness, especially as we see him work in our kids as a result of our sickness.

We chat about:

• God's faithfulness

• being a mom while being very sick

• the hidden blessing of knowing your mortality

• ways our friends can support us by helping our kids have fun

This was my favorite line? What’s yours? Leave it in the comments.

“My prayer was that the Lord would help me be aware of that risk of recurrence just enough to be really intentional and not waste the time He was giving me, but not so aware that I lived out of fear.” - Marissa Henley

I’ve got 17 Quick Resources to encourage you. These articles and podcasts will take you from discouraged to hopeful in 0-30 minutes (depending on what you pick).

I’ve been where you are. These resources will help you find hope, right now.