I went with my husband to a routine medical appointment and instead of sitting in the waiting room I wondered around outside. I came across this lovely garden area and was immediately intrigued by the decorated wall.
I was curious and decided to take a closer look; and of course, take some photos to share with you. I think the display speaks for itself, so browse and enjoy.
Celebration of Life Mural
June 1995-June 1997
The mural was created to honor those surviving the disease of cancer.
The mural’s tiles are inscribed by cancer survivors and represent the continuous flow of life.
Why a butterfly on a thistle?
Invasive thistles are noxious to livestock or other plants, but native species are harmless and even helpful to the environment.
Blooms on thistles attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Thistles host hungry caterpillars of painted lady butterflies, provide seeds as food for sparrows and finches, and attract insects that other animals feed on.
Native thistles are a largely misunderstood and wrongly maligned group of wildflowers. Many species of bees, butterflies and other wildlife rely heavily on native thistle flowers… monarch butterflies visit native thistle flowers more than any other wildflowers in some regions during their migration back to Mexico.
Despite the significance of native thistles to our ecosystems, these plants are often targeted for eradication along with the more widely recognized invasive thistles. Many native thistles are now threatened with some species at risk of extinction.
Xerces.org
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
“Expect a miracle”
“Love isn’t Love until you give it away.”
Celebration of Life
The butterfly and thistle sculpture is made possible through the generosity of the “Just Say Ho” Clown Alley.
Photographed by Dr. Aletha at the Troy and Dollie Smith Cancer Center, Integris Baptist Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
“God is Good.”
“We don’t choose how we die but we do choose how we live.”
exploring the HEART of health through art
I’m honored you joined me to celebrate these cancer survivors’ lives and thankful for their willingness to share their journey with us.
Take time to enjoy the sunshine and don’t forget to smile.
Butterflies symbolize a deep and powerful representation of life. They are beautiful and have mystery, symbolism, and meaning and are a metaphor representing spiritual rebirth, transformation, change, hope, and life.
The magnificent yet short life of butterflies represents the process of spiritual transformation and serves to remind us that life is short.
Gardens with Wings
Book recommendation
If you or someone you know is facing a cancer diagnosis, this book may help. Here is my review.
How families can face cancer with confidence and hope-a book review
Together they wrote this book to help cancer patients navigate the journey with both personal and professional guidance. Joining them are other families dealing with cancer who candidly share their experiences and what they have learned along the way, both positive and negative.
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Dr. Aletha
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Oh, the wonderful things we can find when we set out on an adventure, even just stepping out of a waiting room. Thanks for sharing these inspiring thoughts from inspiring people. None of us know what will eventually take us out, but we can find encouragement from each other while we’re still here.
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Thanks Lisa, that is so true. This is only one of my many unexpected discoveries; my byline “exploring the heart of health” proves true often. I love sharing them here.
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What a beautiful way to encourage those facing the cancer journey to live hope! The thistle and the butterfly symbolize that hope – when my husband found out he had lung cancer – discovered during pre-surgery testing for a heart-valve replacement at 59 years old, my husband never prayed he didn’t have cancer. He trusted God had the “all is well” (2 Kings 4:26) solution. Keeping our eyes on our Father during the journey has made all the difference – a thistle and butterfly difference!
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Thanks for sharing, I’m so glad the symbolism speaks to your heart. Praying he continues to do well.
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What a beautiful tribute to hope and endurance. My best friend is a cancer survivor and her life is a testimony to God’s healing and the power of prayer.
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Thanks for the comment and sharing your friend’s testimony.
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Prayers for all who have had to suffer that terrible disease. Beautiful tribute memorial.
http://peabea.blogspot.com not wordpress
Can I ask if there’s a reason those of us who come from blogger can’t post our site? Just curious. 🙂
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Thanks for the comment abut the post.
Peabea, Regarding the site posting, I’m curious too. It’s nothing I am doing on purpose, it must be a WordPress glitch. I will investigate and see if I can give you a real answer.Thanks for telling me about this, and thanks for sharing your site link.
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This is a beautiful tribute as well.as.a.huge encouragement to anyone in a struggle!
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Thanks Michele, I was so glad I found it. He doesn’t need to go to that facility now, so I’m glad I found it.
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Such a beautiful way to honor those who have persevered through cancer and its treatments. It is also an inspiration for those who will need to yet go through the journey.
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I thought so too Joanne; and I just happened upon it, having no clue it was there. Although my husband wasn’t there for cancer, his condition is serious and long term, so it encouraged me in facing our challenge.
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Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. We appreciate your shares. They have been Tweeted Pinned. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
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Stunning tribute to those who fought to make it through the grueling process of cancer treatments, surgeries etc. I work in hospice and palliative care and see many cancer sufferers and their resiliency is inspiring.
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I agree Donna; I have a friend who now is undergoing treatment for a rare cancer with a poor prognosis. Her positive attitude and hopeful outlook inspire all of us who know her.
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What a beautiful tribute this work of art is to those who have bravely fought and those who have fought and survived!
Thank you for sharing your post at Inspire Me Monday at Create With Joy.
It’s my honor to feature you this week. #476
xoxo
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Thank you for featuring me and those who the provided the inspiration for the art.
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I love this. As a survivor of 2 different cancers some 40 years apart, I applaud efforts to remind people that there is life before, during, and after cancer.
Thank you for this. It’s inspiring. And thanks, too, for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2021/02/more-from-last-weeks-peek-at-cedar-creek.html
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You’re welcome, and congratulations, I love hearing success stories like yours.
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