GOD WASN'T FINISHED WITH ME | Linda Plunkett's Miraculous Brain Tumor Survival | Sn4 Ep27

She survived a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball. But the greatest miracle wasn't just surviving it was discovering that God wasn't finished with her.

What do you do when doctors tell you there's nothing more they can do? How do you keep believing when pain, disappointment, and uncertainty become part of your daily life?

In this deeply moving episode of Life's Deceit Podcast, Jenelle Simpson sits down with Linda Plunkett—author, speaker, counselor, and founder of Hope for the Hurting—to explore a journey marked by childhood wounds, betrayal, chronic illness, brain surgery, and unwavering faith. Through every trial, Linda shares how God's presence became her greatest source of strength and why healing begins with surrender, forgiveness, and hope.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Why God isn't finished with you yet.
How childhood wounds can shape your self-worth and relationships.
The power of forgiveness in breaking cycles of pain.
What it truly means to be equally yoked.
How to trust God when doctors give discouraging news.
Why your diagnosis is not your identity.
Practical ways to choose faith over fear every day.
How your greatest pain can become someone else's greatest hope.

If you've ever questioned God's plan, battled fear, carried emotional wounds, or wondered if your best days are behind you, this conversation will remind you that your story isn't over.

Legacy isn't inherited. It's chosen.

Connect with Linda Plunkett

🌐 Website: https://lindasplunkett.com
📧 Email: hopeforhurting@aol.com
📚 Books: Supernatural Rescue: From Broken to Beautiful & Living Positive in a Negative World (Available on Amazon)

🎙️ Life's Deceit Podcast with Jenelle Simpson

Subscribe for honest conversations about healing, faith, identity, purpose, and building a legacy that transforms generations.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

What do you do when the doctors tell you there's nothing we can do for you? What do you do when a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball threatens your life? Today's guest refused to let her diagnosis define her destiny. She refused to let her diagnosis control her life or define her purpose. Dr. Linda Pluckett is a licensed counselor, ordained minister, and speaker with over 20 years of experience.

SPEAKER_00 0:31

When asked the question, was it difficult for me to share about my medical journey? Publicly, in my case, I would say no. And I realize many other people might say the opposite. But for 20 years I helped people as a counselor. And throughout my life, I've learned that what I have learned and what has benefited me will also benefit other people. And so from that point of view, I'm happy to share what has helped me during my medical journey.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

Helping the hurting and helping people to heal. She's the author of Supernatural Rescue and Living a Positive Life in a Negative World, where she shares her journey from brain surgery and chronic illness to healing, hope, and purpose. She's living proof that survival can become a legacy, your legacy. Welcome to Life's Disease Podcast. This is season four, Legacy by Choice. I'm your host, Jen Simpson. Please welcome Linda Pluckett to the platform with us. But our stories is to help other people in life. Our stories is to let people know that they're not alone. There's nothing wrong with them.

SPEAKER_00 2:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 2:14

And life is an experience and an experience so much so that we survive so much that we should be grateful to speak about the glory of God and sharing our experiences with other people to say, well, hell hello. I went through this and I got through it. You can get through this as well. And you're not alone in the moment. There are people here that have experienced things and that are willing to help you, that are willing to speak to your souls, that are willing to, even if you don't know about God, take baby steps to get to know Him.

SPEAKER_00 2:48

Very true.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

So I truly want to thank you for stepping into your calling and choosing to continue to live and grow. Because that's a choice we make every day. And that's why I call it this a legacy by choice, because we do the work. We have our careers, we're doing the work, we're writing the books, we have testimonies, but first we have to make a choice of what we're trying to give to people and why we're doing it, and how we want to show up and how we want to represent ourselves. And what type of legacy are you truly building? There's choices around it. And you made the choice, and you also made the choice to join us today. So thank you so much for and thank you.

SPEAKER_00 3:28

Thank you for having me. And um I want to reach as many people as I can because everything you're saying is true. And I think we have to be bold to try to make a difference, even though it's not easy. And I don't want anybody to think, oh, this is easy. You know, people look at your outside and they judge you. Oh, you know, she looks good for her age. She, you know, she does this, she does that, but they don't know what's truly going on inside of us that makes life so difficult if we don't share and we don't talk about it.

SPEAKER_01 3:58

And it's so interesting, you just said that people see us and they say we look good for our age, you look good on the outside. They think it's easy, but they have no idea what we're battling on the inside. And I think what you're doing, and I strongly believe that, you're showing people that you're human and that I may look good on, and we do it, we wear this mask. Sometimes we do it unintentionally. We get up, we put on our makeups, we put on our best dress, and we put on that smile. And we go out there and we try to give our best versions of ourselves and we show up on cameras, but nobody knows, hey, we're battling deep wounds.

SPEAKER_00 4:33

No, this is very, this is very true. And when I tell people last year was the worst year of my life, other than the year I had the brain surgery, they look at me and even though I tried to explain to them, you know, this is what's going on, when you're not, when you're not in someone else's shoes, you truly cannot feel their pain or understand it. And I guess we shouldn't expect them to, but then I'm not like you say, we try to do the best we can to encourage others. And I'm not one of those people that would go on Facebook and every day I have a bad day. Oh, I had a terrible day. I'm to the, you know, to the opposite, I'm trying to encourage people. Even in your bad days, God is with you, and with his help, you can get through it and you can still make a difference.

SPEAKER_01 5:19

Even in your bad days, God is with you. Yes. Even in your bad days, God is with you. And I have to repeat that because we forget that so easily. Wake up in the morning, we're rushing to get everything ready, go to work, get the kids ready, eat breakfast, whatever it is that you're doing on your daily basis, we forget that so easily. And you see it show up even in our responses. Somebody cuts us off when we're driving. We get upset and we carry that throughout the whole entire day. It ruined our day. And we're thinking about it. And we forget that God is with us even through that moment. And we should give thanks that that person that cut you off didn't write you off. You didn't get into a car accident.

SPEAKER_00 6:03

Exactly. Exactly. That's so true. And we also have to remember we're all human and we all mess up. And sometimes I feel like I'll have a bad day and then I'll really beat myself up. Why did I say that? Why did I do that? But honestly, we all occasionally are not gonna have a great day. We're gonna have a bad day. And so I felt like God was telling me not long ago, just forgive yourself. You try to forgive other people, forgive yourself, you're not perfect. And the truth is, if we were perfect, we wouldn't need God, would we?

SPEAKER_01 6:37

Exactly. If we were perfect, we wouldn't need God, and if we were perfect, there would be no growth. So true. That was that was a truth bomb I've been saying to myself. I'm like, if if I were perfect and I had everything, there would be no growth, there would be no elevation, there would be no page to turn. Everything would just be perfect. There's nothing else for me to do, no season for me to enter. And I love that you just said that. But I wanted to ask you before the tumor, before the surgeries, and before your amazing book that I absolutely enjoyed reading, and the companion book, of course, who were you? Who was Linda before all these things?

SPEAKER_00 7:16

Well, before those things, I ran a nonprofit called Hope for the Hurting, and I had a counseling practice. And so I attempted to help people, regardless of their ability to pay. I really wasn't trying to make a big salary. I was just trying to cover expenses. But I basically, I mean, I could go back a long way. I had my own issues growing up, and it took me many years to overcome certain issues. And because of that, I wanted to see other people also overcome issues. And so I went back to school when I was older in life, got my master's and PhD, and so really started that practice when I was older. I was close to 50 years old when I got my PhD. But it was something I always wanted to do is to go one step further to be able to help people. And I guess God has allowed me to do that. And, you know, like I tell people, unfortunately, no pain, no gain. We don't like to think in those terms, but God does teach us personal things through our own pain. So then in we can reach out to other people and also help them.

SPEAKER_01 8:25

You said something, and I just want to emphasize that just a tiny bit for our listeners. You said when you were 50 you got your PhD.

SPEAKER_00 8:33

I did.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

And the reason why I want to not only smile at you for doing that, but to really give you your flowers for making that step in your life. And I'm absolutely proud of you because a lot of times, especially as women, we focus on the age. And a lot of times we say, Oh, well, I'm this age, I'm too old. I can't do that now. My time has passed. I can't do that anymore. But I always say to people, Go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 9:01

No, I was just gonna say it's very unfortunate that people do that. Age is only a number, and at times I think, gosh, I don't know how long I'm gonna be here. My father lived to be a hundred, and I've had a lot of pain and negative health circumstances. I'm not sure I really want to live to 100, but you know it's up to God. But it the way that I feel, if I can wake up and I can help somebody else, and it doesn't have to be like a speaking con uh speaking engagement, a podcast. Sometimes I'm on an airplane, sometimes I'm in a supermarket, and you just have that opportunity to reach out and encourage somebody. God just gives you that opportunity, but you know, it really shouldn't have anything to do with age as long as I'm breathing and I'm walking and I'm better off than a lot of people. I yes, I may have health issues I'm dealing with, but I'm still I'm still able to do what I can do. And I really believe that's why I'm alive.

SPEAKER_01 9:59

I love that. I just wanted, I just wanted to replicate it so other, not just men, but women, especially women, understand that your age does not determine what you were able and capable of doing. Yes, your age does not determine your purpose. That's right. Very true. I really love that you you said that and you explained that you did it because you knew that you were able and capable, and there was purpose in you doing that. There was a reason for you being able to do that at 50 years old.

SPEAKER_00 10:30

God, you always have to remember if you wake up and you have another day, God is not finished with you. And at one point, I you know, I was feeling sorry for myself. I was going through a lot of pain. God, why me? And why am I going through this? And I really felt like later he said, This isn't about you, this is so you can help more people. And it it really brought me back in touch with this is why I'm here.

SPEAKER_01 10:54

I love that. You were a counselor and you chose to help the hurting, not only because of what you experienced, because you know, a lot of times people we do it for a reason, but you did it more than just for, oh, I'm just helping people. You did it because you had an internal, an internal being that wanted to see other people heal from the things that you've experienced and even different things. Yes, you were strong for other people, even when you were trying to be strong for yourself. And that's hard sometimes, being strong for other people when you're battling your own things in life. But what was that like for you internally? And were you always positive in your life? Like what was that pivot for you?

SPEAKER_00 11:35

Oh no. I mean, in fact, just to just to share a few of the negative things I went through. Um, you know, I grew up in a working family home. My parents were poor, they didn't have a lot. And right off the bat, before I say any more, I want to say I've forgiven my parents. We're all we all have faults, but there was a lot of negative um feedback that I was given as a child. Um, and again, I don't want anyone to think I don't truly appreciate my parents and my upbringing. I do, but you know, people basically are who they are, maybe because of their upbringing, and maybe they were told negative, hurtful things. And as a result, they passed those on to me. And so I felt like, you know, I'm not smart enough, I'm not pretty enough. Why would anyone want me? And those were the thoughts that went through my mind for many years, and then as I became stronger in my Christian faith, God and the love of God and his power and his caring for me helped me overcome all of that. And I realized, no, that wasn't true. And I have to forgive my mom and dad. But, you know, they grew up in homes that were far from perfect, and I can't expect them to be perfect. So they both passed away. I love them deeply, and I'm sorry they're not here. And um, through their lifetimes, you know, I saw them progress and change. But um, I also went through a very painful divorce, and I think I probably got married for the wrong reason. Maybe I was trying to prove my father wrong, you know, when I, you know, I didn't feel I was good enough. And so um I went through a marriage and it really was through no fault of my own. It was my my ex-husband, we were married for nine years, but um just very, you know, shocking to find out that um he was having an affair. And I had a at that time had a baby, a 13-month-old. Well, actually, I guess the baby would have been younger than that, um, would have been maybe six months old, and the other child was two and a half or three. And so I traveled to another state to start all over. I felt I needed a fresh start, which was very difficult for me, and then to put that behind me, which I was not expecting it. He traveled for his job. I never dreamed that, however, what was going on, um, until he told me, you know, until then it was it was really too late to do anything about it. So, you know, as a result, I I've really counseled in the past a lot of people how to improve your self-esteem, how you feel about each other, how well how God feels about you, that is so more important than what anyone says to you. It's it's God, how God sees us, but then also um relationship. I did a lot of counseling, a lot of marital relationship, individual and marital relationship over about 20 years. But I wanted people to have tools, maybe to deal with things a little better than what I did initially. Not that I really could have controlled my ex-husband or changed who he was, but you know, maybe I would have seen things earlier. I really don't know. But um, I feel that I've learned a lot. And through through my pain and my circumstances, then from what I've learned, I have able been able to help people to understand that God's love is most important. But there again, we don't live in a perfect world. And we try to have, we really have to try to listen to God and say, God, what would you have for me to do in these circumstances? And everybody's circumstances are very different. We have to be careful not to judge other people. God sits in the judgment seat, and there again, I grew up in a church and it was a little more um, I guess you'd say, rules-oriented. And until I read the Bible through, I didn't really realize all the doctrine wasn't quite biblical. But um, I urge everyone as a Christian, try to read your Bible through at least once. It's difficult, but find a version that speaks to you and you enjoyed. Do it as you can do it, maybe a little bit each day. But you will understand God's truth. But then also, if for some reason you've been taught something that might not be 100% biblical, you will understand that eventually. And that no church is a perfect church. We can't judge churches either.

SPEAKER_01 15:55

You just unpacked a lot. I absolutely love no, no, no, no. Do not apologize. I'm listening and I'm enjoying every single layer that you're laying out. I'm enjoying it and I'm repeating it back in my head as you speak. And I'm like, oh my gosh, that was a gem. That was a gem. That was something that I pray that people receive in this moment right now. And I say that because I want to go back to when you said, I've forgiven my parents. You said, I've forgiven my parents, and I feel that to the core of my soul. And I genuinely know in my heart that you truly have forgiven your parents, and you understand now more about your parents on a deeper level because of your relationship with God. So true. And I feel that a lot of people need to understand that forgiveness is not easy, it is hard, and it takes time. Yes, it takes time, it's a journey, it is your journey, and it's something that you should go through and enjoy it because forgiveness will peel off layers off of you.

SPEAKER_00 17:03

Forgiveness will it does, and it washes away all the bitterness. And I can, when I was the counselor, I could always tell if people have forgiven, by the way. They talked about things in the past, and what I would try to tell them this isn't about you letting it go. Like you, you feel like you can't let it go. It was too hurtful. But as you give it to God and ask him to help you forgive, it will heal your wounds, and you it won't cause, you'll know that you've gotten there because you won't feel that pain anymore.

SPEAKER_01 17:34

And you know, you said something else right after you said you've forgiven them. You also gave them grace. And I want people to understand that grace doesn't mean that you excuse the things that people do, but you have a different understanding and a different love. And I I said the other day, I said, you know, I was talking about my mom, and I said, I've forgiven my mother, but I'm giving her grace because, like you said, they didn't know any better. They used the resources that they had and the knowledge that they had at that time to do their best to raise us, to respond to things without it's just like us. We I was a people pleaser, so I would do things not to upset people, I would give a yes so I wouldn't make people angry with me. Right. So think about our parents who were doing things to not only please their children, but their family, their partners if they had a partner, and still be a homemaker, right? Right so I said to myself, Oh, I feel so sorry for my mom because I wish she knew. Like, yes, you go to church, yes, you're a Christian, but I wish you knew God on the level that I did and you experienced him the way that I did. Because carrying such a heavy burden.

SPEAKER_00 18:45

Right. Well, my parents, uh, my mother was not a homemaker. My parents were very much, I would call them workaholics. They worked, they were very successful with their business, but almost all their time went into their business. And at the same time, they did not have a good relationship. There was a lot of conflict. They were very both very strong-willed people. And there was a lot of conflict in the home, which for me as a child was somewhat detrimental. And what you're talking about, um, I think it might be borderline, like on saying yes, saying no, or having boundaries. But in my own relationships later, I really believe that I would say yes, just not to have a conflict because my parents were in conflict a lot. But as, you know, as Christians, we do ourselves a favor if we can speak the truth in love, and that's not easy. And also we cannot still say that the other person may receive it the way we intend it, but you know, we have to ask God, God, what would you want us to be? You'd want us to be honest, but to do it in a loving way, and then realizing it's still it still may not be perfect, it may not be a perfect answer, but you know, there again, God gave us mercy, grace, and forgiveness, and we still have to learn to extend those to others if we want to walk in the way God wants us to walk. And there again, that isn't gonna be perfect, and every day is a new day, and every day we may also need to just forgive ourselves for realizing that's why we need Christ, and he knows that too. God knows we need him, and so it's no surprise to God when we mess up, right?

SPEAKER_01 20:24

No surprise at all, because he knows we're going to come right to him, come knocking. God, what do I do? I messed up, and he is still loving. Yes, and he's never changing. What would you say that that type of environment did to your self-esteem?

SPEAKER_00 20:38

Well, you're talking about growing up in that type of home. Um, I felt I wasn't as good as other people, I wasn't as smart, I wasn't as pretty, and that basically it gave me, I if I'm perfectly honest, it gave me an inferiority complex. And um, you know, I I didn't date for a long time. I didn't do normal things um because I just I felt I wasn't attractive. I felt that, you know, people wouldn't want me. And I, you know, I'm not 100% sure I would have married my my first husband, but in a some small way I wanted to prove my father was wrong. Now, having said that, I have two wonderful sons, and in a million years I have no regret um that I was married before because I have two wonderful sons and I'm so grateful for them.

SPEAKER_01 21:26

You know, you said something. You said two things. One, you talked about how our childhood shapes the partners that we choose. It does for a lot for a lot of people because as a child, our parents teach us a lot of things, even unknowingly. Exactly. They shape our mindsets. Um, most of them shape our career choices based on them being workaholics. It shapes how we treat our own selves and how we see ourselves and the type of Partner we choose unknowingly, and that happened for you. But then you also said you probably wouldn't have married that person if you were a healed version of yourself, but also you honored that relationship because it wasn't all bad.

SPEAKER_00 22:17

No, it wasn't. And for like nine years, yes, he traveled all the time for his job, but I had no idea what was going on, you know, beside behind the scenes what he was doing. I was doing everything for him so he could have a better career. We lived all over the US and my children were born in two different locations, and then it wasn't till after the birth of the second child that I had any idea, you know, what was going on behind behind the scenes. But and there again, I like to think the best about people. I I don't feel we had a lot of problems or conflicts. So when you know, when he expressed shock, and there again it kind of came around the time that I was pregnant the second time, and like, why? You know, what I didn't get it because I felt like we were happy and like we never said we weren't gonna have another child, we weren't doing anything to prevent it. And but you know, but there again, um I do believe, you know, when he when I first met him and he expressed that he had faith, it wasn't the same type of faith that I had. And I maybe didn't go deeply enough into understanding what his faith was. I wanted, I think there's a part of me I was at that age, I wanted to believe he was the right person for me. And, you know, check, check, check, as we tend to do when we meet somebody, you know, good job, good looking, right faith, you know, check, check, check. Everything seems right, but are we being, you know, there's a term called being equally yoked. Are we really being equally yoked? Maybe or maybe not. And then sometimes people change during their lifetimes. They either get further away from God, they get closer to God, they, you know, it we none of us can really um begin not only to figure out our own journey, how our life is going to go, but someone else's. Only God, only God knows that. So there again, sometimes we have to have mercy and grace for ourselves. Yeah, maybe I made a mistake, but my children are never mistakes, and I have two wonderful boys, and my ex has since passed away. And um, you know, I I did pray for him, and I prayed, you know, I prayed for his future while he was still alive. But people make their own choices and decisions, and those choices and decisions will eventually rule our lives, especially in regards to giving God control or not giving God control.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

You said something, Linda, and I want you to, if you can elaborate on equally yoked, because as you were speaking, that's what came to my head, equally yoked, and you said it. Why don't you explain to listeners in your own words what does equally yoked mean to you? Because a lot of people will take it and be like, I don't believe in that equally yoked. You can be with somebody that's the opposite, and but what does equally yoked mean to you?

SPEAKER_00 25:07

Well, most importantly, I would say it's a spiritual tie that binds you together with God and also that other person. And there again, okay, my husband right now, we've been married for 36 years, but we have we have very um, I will say dissimilar, not unsimilar. That's not really a word, but um our our our interests are very different, but we still have a strong relationship. We worship together, we pray together, um, periodically, we do Bible studies together. That by see, I feel the spiritual being spiritually yoked and having those types of similarities are probably much more important than having different interests because we don't have to be together all the time doing the same things. That's not really necessary. But having that strong union with God, I think if you, you know, if and I'm not saying you can't have a good marriage if you're not, but I think God being in the center of it will always bring us back together in a special way that if we don't have that, it might be more difficult. I'll just say that it might be more difficult. Um, I counseled a lot of couples through the years, and everybody had different issues. And one thing I noticed as they became stronger spiritually, their marriage became stronger. And that was very exciting for me to see as a counselor.

SPEAKER_01 26:35

I like how you broke that down. I really enjoyed how you broke that down because you know, that alignment, that alignment and asking God. You know, when you're younger, you don't think to ask God, is this the person for me? And if it's not the person for me, please remove this person without harm. Because when people leave our lives sometimes, we don't even realize that sometimes we're fractured.

SPEAKER_00 27:00

No, it's true. And also, I think as you said that, it reminds me that people have fear, and a lot of times we're governed by fear. Oh, what if I ask God and he says no? Are we are we willing to accept no from God if we think we're in love with somebody? And quite honestly, I don't know that, you know, I don't think I asked God the first time, especially. The second time, I'm sure I did, but I learned from some of my mistakes. But I think it's probably more common than not that you know, you think you're in love with someone, and maybe we don't ask God.

SPEAKER_01 27:33

Yeah, a lot of times we don't. Maybe the second time around we do, we're more intentional, but the first time sometimes we just don't. We just we want what we want, the flesh wants what it wants. Right. You're cute, you have a good job. You you checked off all of these great boxes, right? So true. So true. You were diagnosed in 2012 with brain tumor, the size of a tennis ball. It's pretty big. Take us into that moment. What did the room feel like? What did your body feel like? And what did your spirit feel like in that moment when you found out?

SPEAKER_00 28:10

Well, for me, it was just it was almost disbelief because people say, Were you having headaches? Were you having pain? I had no headaches, I had no pain. And the way that I found out, I was having lunch with a dear friend who was a missionary friend, um, and my son, and we come back from lunch, and and they are telling my husband there's something not quite right with her. You need to have her checked out. And I remember my husband saying, No, she's fine, there's nothing wrong with her. I think sometimes husbands are the last ones to notice. But yeah, um, but you know, I but you know, even now, even when I went to my family doctor, who I saw regularly, she said, Oh, it's probably nothing, you know, but you know, you should probably have a CAT scan or an MRI. So had the CAT scan MRI, and lo and behold, I had that giant tumor. So it's it was almost like it was just disbelief in the fact that the fortunately the tumor was not cancerous, but on the other side it was the size of a tennis ball, it was very large and it had to come out. And then I had to interview brain surgeons, and it just like I it's hard to explain, but you when you're in disbelief, it's like, is this really happening? Maybe I'll wake up and it's just a dream. You know, that's what you're thinking. You're hoping maybe it's a bad dream, and it's not. And then you start interviewing surgeons, and they say some really strange things, which are scary. Like the first surgeon I um spoke with, he said, Well, sometimes tumors like this can be pulled through your nose. And I'm thinking, My gosh, this is the size of a tennis ball. Wouldn't that disfigure my face? So, anyway, we crossed him off the list, and then um the second surgeon, I guess the best news he could give me is that he'd done brain surgery and he'd never lost anybody. Because a lot of people don't make it. No, truthful, a lot of people just don't make it. And they're gonna cut my head open from ear to ear and then stitch it back. And and you know, maybe I'll make it and maybe I won't. But it happened, it all happened so quickly and it had to be done so quickly. I didn't really have a lot of time. It wasn't like, oh, you know, this is gonna be in six months, a year or two years, we're gonna watch it. And this is no, this has to happen, it has to happen now. And so it was just really um, really not being prepared for any of what happened, any part of it, and or the aftermath, not having any idea. And now that leads, you know, even up to this past year, I've had symptoms that came from the scar tissue from that surgery that caused me major problems this past year. And there again, none of us can be prepared, but the truth is that's just why we need God more. And last year was such a difficult year. It's like, God, I can't, I can't live without you. Because every year, if it gets harder and harder and harder, the one thing I know is I can't do it without Him. Now that's a good thing. That's a good thing for me, but it's also, you know, at the same time, I can't explain it. It makes me very emotional. The fact, yes, I have only God to depend on, you know, and I can share that with other people, but it had to get so bad for me to really say that I can't do any of it on my own, not one day. And all the years that, you know, there again, that was way back, you know, over 10, 12 years ago. But the transition of the things that happened, the longer you live, the more you realize how much you truly need God and you can't live without Him.

SPEAKER_01 31:41

I just want to allow myself to feel these emotions because I think when we talk about what we've gone through in life, we move so rapidly that we forget, like, oh my gosh, I went through that. I lived through that, I survived through that, I've thrived through that. I'm doing amazing all because of God's grace and love and mercy for me.

SPEAKER_00 32:04

That's so true. And whatever, whatever level or whatever place you are, and you know, every day, you know, this past year, there's been days that were really bad this past year, and but I woke up and I'm still better than someone else, or someone else that has it worse than I do. And also, I have the hope that God will provide answers and still give me a good future, like he's promised me, no matter what happens. He says, I know the plans I have for you for a hope and a future. Oh, there are people out there they don't have that hope, and we can be so grateful that we do have that.

SPEAKER_01 32:38

And I can see and I can feel God in you, and that's how you know the transformation and the purpose is there because he was not finished with you yet, and he's still not finished with you. So I am thankful for your children, your son, who picked up on that, who said, Hey, we need to get her checked out. They and connected to you in a way that they knew that something was not right about their mother, and I thanked them for that. I thanked them for going with their intuitions and not just saying, Oh, it's probably nothing.

SPEAKER_02 33:13

Right, right.

SPEAKER_01 33:14

But I but I I want to know what was did they ever tell you what it was that made them or him realize that there was something not right about you? What was that?

SPEAKER_00 33:23

Well, it just had to do with my general conversation. Apparently, the conversation was a little off. And I don't think they ever told me specifically, but they said she's just not herself. You know, they knew that it wasn't in tune with how I would have a normal conversation having lunch. That um I don't think they ever told me exactly, but they they it was off to the point they said there's something not right here, and and they noticed it wasn't right.

SPEAKER_01 33:51

And when you went to the doctors and they were kept telling you and brushing you off, saying there's nothing wrong, you know, don't pay attention to it. What did that do to your identity? And did you start questioning God at some point? Were you frustrated?

SPEAKER_00 34:04

Well, you know, like I said, things happen so quickly. Um, I think, you know, more of the frustration, I know this is gonna sound strange. God has taught me so much about dealing with frustration, but getting through the recovery process extremely difficult. And then about the time I was feeling better and I came down with the fibromyalgia. Um, and then even leading into this past year where I've had symptoms from scar tissue in my brain, I never dreamed I would be having those situations. But then God has addressed it and has improved it, and and through medical treatment, traveling back to Florida. And there again, three times now in the last 12 years, I've been told by doctors, we can't help you, it's only gonna get worse. And this year, this past year, I was told that again, and I came home and cried. And then the following week, I've still been seeing a certain doctor in Florida, and I have a had a follow-up, and he said, That's not really true. And it gave me hope and it has helped me. Um, the treatments I go and I receive in Florida have helped me. But we have to be careful when you say frustration, okay, and I don't want to tell anybody, don't believe what your doctor tells you. But what I do want to tell you, if it's not necessarily what you want to hear, or it's not good news, don't give up. Do your own research. I've done a lot of my own research online, but also talk to doctors and natural healers and acupuncturists and just a lot of different people and gotten a wealth of information. And there again, maybe my doctor just didn't know. I think doctors have a certain amount of training, they only know what they know, but they don't necessarily refer you to alternative medicine or something that you may need, and that's not really their fault. They just can't know it all. Um, but also you have to sometimes look outside of the box. But yeah, the frustration for me has been like, you know, why did it take me so long to discover what I needed to discover? But God was still there and he was still in that, and he gave me the brain power, he gave me the people outside of my immediate realm of people to help me that I didn't know existed. And so God, there again, there's a verse that says he can do immeasurably more in us than what we think or imagine. I believe that's in Ephesians, but you know, we can't limit God. We might limit how we feel or how we deal with it. And I do that with myself because I tend to be somewhat impatient with myself, but we can't limit God because God can do immeasurably more than what we think or imagine. That goes way beyond our little problems into the things where we're told, you know, you might as well give up, you might as well just forget it. There's nothing that you can do. And but we can't always believe that because God is so much bigger than that.

SPEAKER_01 36:53

We can't limit God, and God is so much so much more bigger than that. When we talk about health, we see it happening so much where people are misinformed or they give up. The first answer they take, they run with it and they start to panic. Oh my gosh, this is gonna happen, all the bad things are gonna happen, and they minus God, they minus God from the equation because they take that answer, they take those results, and that is it, that is the final for them. But you just reminded people, our listeners, that you don't need to take one result, keep digging and trusting God.

SPEAKER_00 37:34

Yes, because he can do yeah, he can do, he he definitely can do so much more, and you know, but a lot of that I think for me anyway, I feel like I'm too self-sufficient. I saw a doctor this past year, and this doctor said to me, You must be exhausted trying to manage or micromanage your own health. And I thought, you know, I don't mean to do that, I don't want to do that. I need to give more and more and more to God, which really is a process to let go and let God, but it's not easy either. So we can't completely trust one or two people, but also I think being careful not to put it all on ourselves. And this is a lesson that I'm learning to be, you know, more reliant on God. And and yeah, oh, some of the answers God has allowed me to find through my own reading and my research, but he's also put people in my past, but that's still been God, it's not been me. And so I can't take credit. I have to give more and more and trust God more and more, that he will provide and that he can do more, more than what we think he can do. Because there again, I think inside we we have fear, and so we want to limit things. And this fear can drive our decision making. We have to that, and that's a whole nother topic. But um, if we're all honest, to some extent, we're all driven by fear in one way or another.

SPEAKER_01 39:00

Yes, that is a whole other topic, but I agree. Fear does drive our decisions, fear can control our decision making, and fear can completely blindside us if we allow it to.

SPEAKER_00 39:15

You know what I've heard people say, and people, you know, people, and I realize not everybody has been through everything, maybe that you or I have been through, but you know, I've heard people in the church say, Oh, you just don't have enough faith. You wouldn't have fear. And I disagree with that. There again, we need God because we do have fear and we're human, but none of us are perfect when it comes to faith, and we're gonna fall short of God's glory or you know what his desires would be for us. And there again, that's why he sent Christ. That's why he strengthens us in our weakness because we are fearful, but we're not perfect beings, so don't feel bad if people say, Oh, you don't have enough faith, or you this you wouldn't be doing this or going through that, or you wouldn't feel that way. To me, there again, it just shows my need for God and my stronger relationship to lean on Him. And I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

SPEAKER_01 40:10

I agree with you on that. I've heard a lot of people say that, and it also can confuse people when you say, Well, God doesn't give the spirit of fear, and that is true. However, fear will show up because trusting God with everything and not trying to touch it and micromanage is fearful. Because think about it, you're sitting there waiting. Let's just say you have a bill to pay tomorrow, and that bill determines if you are going to stay in your rental property or not. And somebody says to you, Yeah, I'll give you a response if I can help you. Give me a couple of days. A couple of days come and you're still waiting for that response. You're waiting for them to show up, you're waiting for them to tell you if they can or cannot. That fear is trickling down because you're thinking, Oh my gosh, well, I'm relying on this person to help me out, I'm relying on this person to give me an answer and I don't have one yet. What if they don't show up? Then you start touching and you start calling other people and you start figuring out things on your own because you're like, well, I gotta figure it out. What if they tell me they can't? It's the same thing as putting your whole trust and faith in God because God doesn't tell you when, he just tells you, I am going to show up and I'm going to be there for you. But on God's time. And he does.

SPEAKER_00 41:20

And his timing, like you say, no, that's so true. And see, I I have some sleep issues sometimes, and sometimes I'm trying to nip it in the bud where for whatever reason at night I'll have worry or I'll have concerns like God, just tomorrow's another day. Just let it go and believe that it's going to be handled the next day, and I don't need to worry, or I don't need to be fearful about it. And I'm doing better. I have a little bracelet that I try to remind myself. It says let go and let God. But honestly, for me, that's just something I have to work on all the time. And God is there and He is faithful. So just let it go. Stop worrying about it. Take the thought captive and let it go. Give it to God and believe that the next day, one way or the other, it's gonna work out. But all that thinking, you might do it late at night, it doesn't serve any purpose. And there again, you're not truly giving it over to him. If I did, I wouldn't be thinking about it. So I'm I'm really trying to learn with God's help how to cut off those types of negative worries or concerns and realize he's been faithful before and he'll be faithful again. And I really shouldn't even entertain those thoughts. But it is, you know, like anything we learn to do, it takes time. And as a counselor, I would tell people, yeah, it takes 30 days to create a new habit. That's what the scientists say anyway. So for me to create a new habit, that means I have to keep working on it. And I have to say, God, I'm gonna submit this. Please forgive me. You know, I've been messing up, I submit this to you. But with your help, I make little reminder cards, I put scriptures on them or I put things on them that I'm trying to work on and put it in a place where I can look at it and it will remind me. But there again, you're only human. Trust the Lord, realize He will forgive you as you confess, and realize the growth process, it's a process. And, you know, one day in heaven we're gonna be like Christ, like I can't wait, and have a perfect body, a perfect healthy body, and not have any of the current concerns we have on earth. But the truth is the other thing, we're and we're on earth and there is a spiritual battle going on, and so there are things we can't see that are going on in the heavenlies, too. So that's more and more that's why we need to trust God because those things we can't see. God can see them, and God knows. And as we lean on Him, we're told the Holy Spirit and Jesus both intercede for us, which is so powerful. But we we, you know, there again, as humans, we think we have more power than what we do. And we shouldn't, and you know, it but we do, and so we just have to keep submitting to God and God, please help me submit more to give more to you, and to take the thought captive, and Lord, to trust in you each day, but sometimes you know, there again, having that scripture in front of you that's something that can really help me if I have a certain scripture, it just gives me power to focus on God and less on myself.

SPEAKER_01 44:28

I agree, and give yourself some grace. Give yourself some grace. Your first book, Supernatural Rescue, documents before, during, and after your brain surgery. Why supernatural? Why that title?

SPEAKER_00 44:46

Well, you know, it's funny you should say that. The first book that I did, they're all self-published, but the publisher that helped me that you know create the self-published book uh was called Deep River, and they did give me a lot of help, and I'm so glad they did because I'd never written a book before. I didn't know what I was doing. And the subtitle of the book is called From Broken to Beautiful. Well, I felt I was broken, and so I was really focusing on broken, being broken, you know, maybe being from broken, from broken to beautiful. And they said, We feel like you did have a supernatural rescue by God, which I did. That would be a better title. And so they were really the ones that convinced me to use that particular title.

SPEAKER_01 45:29

Okay, it's nice. What happened in that operating room that science cannot explain?

SPEAKER_00 45:36

Well, you know, the the science part, okay, I survived the surgery, but what happened was a a short time after that. And um, the whole, you know, as you read Supernatural Rescue, you see all those things that I went through. It was it was extremely difficult, the recovery. And it wasn't many days after the surgery that I felt my body um separating from my spirit, and my spirit, I was sleeping downstairs on the couch because I had trouble balancing and I was falling, and I couldn't go up the stairs to my bedroom, and I was just trying to get to the bathroom, and it was very difficult just getting to the bathroom to use the bathroom. But um, so I'm sleeping on the couch, and it's just like I just and I think there was a part of me, honestly, I just wanted to be with God. I didn't want to be in my body, things were going so badly, and but I felt my spirit getting closer and closer and closer to the front door, and it was at the front door and it was ready to go out, and this giant hand pulled me back into my body, and which I believe was the hand of God just rescuing me and saying, You're not finished yet. But the very bizarre thing was, you know, people could say, Oh, you had a brain surgery, you know, this was in your head. My husband was sleeping upstairs, and he could see the hand, the hand that rescued me. And so, um, no, science will never have any explanation for those types of events, uh, near-death events, people that die and then they come back into their body, but because you know, that's God. That's God. He, you know, and God operates in ways that are so far above our ways. And that after he rescued me, things weren't necessarily a lot better. They gradually got better um in time. But, you know, he wasn't finished with me, and he knew that he would be able to get me from then till now, which, you know, even like I say, this past year has been very difficult. But God, God is the only one that says, You're finished, you're done, and it's time for you to come to the other side. And I do believe as long as I'm here, he has more for me to do. And so, for that reason, he didn't let me pass over.

SPEAKER_01 47:58

A lot of people will say that you were probably thinking things because you just had a brain surgery. A lot of people will question what you're saying and the things that you said that you experienced and felt because they're not the ones that experienced it until you experience the hands of God. Some may never understand what you experience that science cannot explain or take reward for.

SPEAKER_00 48:23

No, it's very true. And just like God, you know, has spoken to me through dreams to give me hope. Um, I have I feel like I've sensed God's presence in, you know, in more ways. Um, and just even in it's hard to explain, um, him just immediately opening doors for me. I'm having a bad day, and something will happen that I just feel that was God, you know. How why did that happen? How did it happen? But the more that we lean on him and the more we acknowledge him, the closer we become. And we have to remember, God wants relationship with us. We want relationship with God, but he wants relationship with us. And that's the wonderful thing about you know having a spiritual relationship, asking God to come into your life, accepting Christ, and and realizing as we make an effort to grow closer to him, he will grow closer to us because he wants that also. And the the more open we are to him, the more he can use us. But we have to say, God, I'm here and I need you and I want you, and value him, and you know, not just through our time. I mean, there's a lot of ways we can do that. We can do that through Bible study, we can do that through praise and worship. For me, I journal, I have a prayer journal, and sometimes I just feel the need to talk to God and I write it in a journal for a couple reasons. It's my all my books have begun from journals, but um, I've had some memory issues, and I can go back and reread those journals and see what's happened in my life, and it's very powerful. So if I'm having a bad day, I can go back and I'm thinking, wow, wow, you know, look, look what happened, and look what he did. And in spite of how I was feeling, look what God did and give him the honor and glory that he deserves.

SPEAKER_01 50:17

And would you say that your faith strengthened, or you had to rebuild it after that?

SPEAKER_00 50:23

Well, I mean, he gave me the assurance that I was supposed to stay in my body, and so that was like, okay, God, I guess you're with me and you're gonna get me through this. And um, I think it's in the the first book, but later on, uh, he also spoke to me through a dream when I, you know, was starting to have fibromyalgia and was dealing with other other new issues that that you know that that there was hope, that there was hope for the future. And so these were like to me, almost, and not everybody understand understands signs or believes in signs from God, but God, you know, God will reach out to you. And um, I'm not sure I can't I can give myself a lot of credit for rebuilding, but he was with me each day, and he because he's with me, I have to give him the credit. And yeah, I've been able to find out some things on my own, but it's because God provided for me. He gave me a strong mind and he gave me the tools that I needed. And so, there again, I have to give him the credit and not myself.

SPEAKER_01 51:23

You have to give him the glory, you have to give him all the glory back because without him, yes, I wouldn't have been able to do it. None of this would have been possible without him. The doctors that showed up for you wouldn't have been possible because God sent those doctors.

SPEAKER_00 51:38

And yeah, also um, just the reverse in the circumstances, and you know, as circumstances become more and more serious, and and there again, they they will, if you have major medical issues, it does evoke fear, and there's nothing I see it in the strongest Christian people I know, but that the harder things get, it you know, it still can be it can be fearful, but the more we say, God, help me, strengthen me, use your power in my weakness. And that 2 Corinthians verse, his power is perfected in my weakness. I have to remember that that it's his power, not mine, that strengthens me in my weakness.

SPEAKER_01 52:18

Yes, it's his power, it's not our own, it's his that strengthens us each and every day. You then decided, you made a choice to write a second book, Living Positive in a Negative World. It's not just an inspiration, it's practical. You provide tools for body, brain, mind, and spirit. What is the biggest lie negativity tells us, in your opinion?

SPEAKER_00 52:45

Basically, people that are very negative, it can become almost like a habit. And every day that's what they talk about. It changes them into a negative person without them even realizing it. But the biggest lie is that when we don't give God credit for what he tells us to be true in the Bible about having a good plan for our future, how being with us and strengthening us in our weaknesses. As we look at the negative side, it doesn't prevent any solution. It may it brings us down, it can cause depression. In some horrible situations, even people commit suicide. You what I tell people, you have to look at your cup, half empty or half full. And this is your choice. Do you want to look at things in a negative way? That's your choice. But if you try to look at the positive, for example, I'm having a bad day, I'm having a bad day, just an example. What's going on making it a bad day? Am I honest with God about what's good? Am I able to count my blessings in spite of that? Counting your blessings and giving God glory for what's good in the spite of badness is what will bring you to a stronger place in your life and not a weaker place. I really believe negativity just can really drag you down where positivity lifts you up and closer to God, because with God all things are possible.

SPEAKER_01 54:15

With God, all things are possible. Would you say positivity? Is positivity a personality or a discipline?

SPEAKER_00 54:25

Well, that's that's a really hard question, okay, because there are some things that could be passed down through your heredity, but also the environment if you're around negative people. I was around negative people growing up, and um, and I went through a phase and I had a even a cycle where I had to be medicated for depression. I think that your environment, your heredity can play a part. However, can that be overcome? Yes, it can, but it is something you have to be willing to, you know, with God's help to work on, to look at both sides of something, to realize God is working no matter what, even in the negative things and the negative senses. Um it's it's so hard the world that we live in. And I know you're in Canada and we're in the US, but in the US, we have very negative, we have very much extremes in our political system where a lot of people feel they don't fit. They're not far left and they're not far right. We have to try to look for positive sometimes if we don't identify with whatever's happening around us. But we look at God and we and we realize God has no limitations. And also, if we're negative, how can we help anybody else? Can we really help somebody? If we're if we're just talking about bad news, we're being negative. Most of the time, if we're truthful, we're not helping anybody. If we are being more positive, we're trying to encourage or we're trying to um, you know, give God's love and his positivity and and what's possible with God, and we're trying to spread that. Yeah, we can offer solutions to people, but can we really do that with negativity? I think we have to decide we want to be more positive if we have a negative bent. But to realize that may mean reading positive books, listening to positive radio and TV, and maybe not listening to the news 24 hours a day. The news tends to be extremely negative. What can you find that's good that's going on? And can you count your personal blessings in spite of everything going on? The personal blessings that God has given you, can you be happy in those even in negative circumstances? Yes, it takes some work, but I feel like you're gonna be much happier if you choose positivity over negativity and you make that conscious choice.

SPEAKER_01 56:45

I agree. Changing your environment and making that conscious decision to try to find positive things even in negative environments, find the beauty in it. And for someone that's listening right now, who feels hopeless, who feels separated from God, who feels like their diagnosis is their identity, what is the first step towards reclaiming themselves?

SPEAKER_00 57:10

Well, I think that you have to just be honest. And I think at the very last chapter of living a positive life in a negative world, you know, you you have to just be honest with your feelings, you know, because at one point I was like, why me and why God? Why, why, why? And that's what a lot of people said. If there's a God, why and why is this happening? But you have to be honest and you have to go to God and be honest, you know what? He'll he'll take you for the good, the bad, and the ugly. He knows what's going on inside of you. I mean, there again, he knows already with you without you telling him. But if you're willing to either come to him for the first time and say, God, I need you, I want you, you know, please give me all that you have, and to try to walk with him. Or if you've been away and you just decide to come back, God is there, but you have to tell God, God, and there again, you might even tell him, I can't do it, I don't know how to do it. Bring hope to me, bring help to me. Because a lot of people, if we just use the means that this world has, we can easily come to the end of our rope. Um, I can vouch for the fact that medications don't work like they're supposed to, treatments do not work, solutions do not work that you're told may work, they don't work. Well, what do you have left at the end of the day? Do you have God? Are you willing to come to God and say, God, I need you and I want you, and you teach me and give it to God and ask God to send you the help that you need. And I know that's a big step of faith for a lot of people. However, it can make a huge difference in the rest of your life if you make that step.

SPEAKER_01 58:50

You are absolutely beautiful, not just physically, but your soul is pure and kind. You're building a true legacy. You've been married happily, I can tell, for 35 years, two amazing children that you are so proud of. You've been a counselor for over 20 years, and then another amazing thing, you became a ballroom dancer after going through brain surgery. What made you refuse? What made you decide? What made you make that decision that I'm not shrinking, I'm not shrinking to please anyone, and I'm not shrinking because of this tumor that I had?

SPEAKER_00 59:36

That's probably a complex question, but there again, I have to give the glory to God that I was still able to do that. And yeah, I've had some issues this past year. I don't dance as much as I used to, but I'm so grateful to God that I can do what I can do right now. I'm able to do my life is getting better, I believe, and I can do more than what I was doing. But you know, I think a lot of a lot of it's to take one day, one day at a time, there again, to give thanks for what you have and to trust God for what you don't have and for what you feel um might still be in your future. But you know, there again, if you believe God has a purpose, seek the purpose. And you know, some people say, but God, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Keep drawing into God, and He will tell you what He wants you to do. And we all have different gifts and different callings. And yeah, I thank you for what you the kind words you said about me. And there again, I have to give glory and honor to God because I would not be here if it was not for Him.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:37

Amen to that. There's two versions of you that I want to ask about. If you could go back to the childhood, Linda, and also the 2020 twelve version of Linda, what's one thing that you could say to those two versions of yourself? If you could go back right now in the present you and be facing those two versions of yourself, what would you say?

SPEAKER_00 1:01:05

Well, like as a child, I you know, there again, if I could tell myself, you can't believe everything everybody says to you. But that's very hard for a child. Like you said, children listen to their parents. Um, but you know, God had a much bigger plan for me. But I would say God had a big, much bigger plan than where I was at that point. But also at the time of the brain tumor, I just didn't know if I was gonna make it, if I was gonna get well, if I was gonna recover, if I was ever gonna be the same person. And there again, with God, all things are possible and he can do immeasurably more in us than we think or imagine. And so, there again, just you know, trying to give more to God and just believing God way above and beyond what we would normally believe from people, you know, either people around us or the circumstances, because it can be overwhelming, you can feel overwhelmed, and that's but that's there again why we need the Lord in our lives is that He wants to be there for us and He wants to help us overcome. And there again, when we overcome, we have a story we can share with other people, and so I would encourage people, whatever you've been through, don't be afraid, don't be fearful. Believe me, there's other people out there that want to hear your story. When I share my story in front of an audience, I see tears come to people's eyes. But a lot of times that we feel very alone in our circumstances, and the truth is, God gave us the circumstances that we're going through, and there's many times a purpose for those, but it might be to reach out and share those with other people and to give them hope that I made it, so can you. You can make it too.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:52

You can make it too. And I want to emphasize what you're saying is never forget to give the glory back to God. And for the last all of January, I kept saying to myself, I did a 21-day Daniel fast, and I kept saying to myself, we go to bed so entitled. Like, okay, we're gonna wake up in the morning, we're gonna do this tomorrow. We have all these things to do tomorrow, but we forget to thank God. Thank God for waking up, thank God for being able to go through the day, thank God for being able to still live and do and have our conscious minds. Our minds are still ours, and it's not controlled by anything or anyone. Yes, yes, and that we're still in alignment, and that we're still in alignment with Him.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:38

Yes, yes, and there again, you're making that conscious effort, and I think it's important. And I would say to people, have your scripture by your bedside and write things down that you want to accomplish. And but we you know, we have to kind of focus on that and realize start your day with God. And for me, it's never a mistake, and I always feel so much peace when I start my day with God.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:03

Yes, start and finish your day with God because it's like it's like it's just like you said in the beginning, you don't know how much time you have on this earth when you lay your head on that pillow, even if it's right when you're taking a shower before bed, having a cup of tea, whatever it is. Thank God. God, I thank you for my day. God, I thank you for this rest I'm about to have. And God, if if I don't wake up tomorrow, whatever, whatever decision you have for my life, I thank you and I honor you for this life that I was able to live.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:35

Yeah, amen. I agree, I agree completely. And I like what you said about ending the day with God. A lot of times I'm so tired at the end of the day, and I I'll play music, I'll play spiritual music, and I'll, you know, God inhabits the praises of his people. And so even when I'm tired, I'll just listen to the praise and worship, and it just I just feel God's presence. And um, but he really is our power and our strength, and the more we can incorporate him into our day, the better, in spite of what you're going through, in spite of what you're going through.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:08

I agree, and and you know what? It's okay. So I used to do it a lot, and sometimes I still do it. You're so tired, you don't even want to talk to anyone, you just want to rest. And now I've learned to try to change the way I do things, and just even if it's something small, it doesn't have to be long. Just thank you, God.

SPEAKER_00 1:05:28

Yes, and he knows that too. And our days, you know, there again, we may not feel well, we may have off days, and and you know, I think we can I know personally I can feel like, well, Lord, I didn't do this or that, but you know, he knows that, and there again, just the fact that you acknowledge him in a small way. We can't do everything all always perfect or right, but God is there for us and he knows that we need him in every situation, and he's there with us no matter what.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:57

No matter what. Linda. I have a little game and I call it Rapid Fire. This is our Rapid Fire segment. I'm going to throw out a few words or sentences that at you, and you just have to answer quickly. First thing that comes to your mind.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:16

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:18

Are you ready? I hope so. You're going to do good. One word that describes 2012, Linda.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:28

Panic.

unknown 1:06:29

Panic.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:32

One word that describes you today.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:35

Reassurance.

unknown 1:06:36

Reassurance.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:38

The hardest part of brain surgery recovery. Pain. The biggest misconception about positivity.

SPEAKER_00 1:06:48

That it will, I guess that it will completely fix everything, but people don't understand what a strong tool it is. It's not a sure fix-all, but it will improve your situation.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:01

Faith or feelings?

SPEAKER_00 1:07:03

Faith far supersedes feelings, but we're human and we're going to have feelings just the same.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:09

The moment you knew you would survive. Peace.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:12

Peace in my own life.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:14

What negativity steals from women?

SPEAKER_00 1:07:17

What negativity steals? Definitely having a more joyful life. One discipline that changed your life. I think what we were just talking about, starting my day out with God every day.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:30

If your life was a dance style, what would it be?

SPEAKER_00 1:07:36

That's a funny one of my favorite dances is swing, but I feel like my life has swung all extremes in all directions, so I would have to say swing.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:46

Okay. Finish the sentence.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:50

Legacy by choice means you can, with God's help, determine what you leave behind for other people.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:01

That was lovely. Linda, this season I called it Legacy by Choice. And I called it Legacy by Choice because I was living my life healing and trying to help other people heal and be a voice in other people's lives. But I feel like I was building my legacy based on my experiences and what happened to me, and I didn't really make a choice about what legacy I was really trying to build. You were giving a diagnosis, you were giving a limitation, you were given a pain, but you chose. You chose hope, you chose discipline, you chose faith, you chose movement, and you chose voice. You made a choice, and you knew that God wasn't finished with you yet. And you chose to continue to honor him and love him and serve him. You made a choice to answer the calling that he had on your life. And you're doing such an amazing job through your books, your impact, and who you are and who you continue to become. You chose not to let your diagnosis write your legacy. And that is more than powerful. That is an inspiration for me, and I know for other women and men. For any woman who's listening who feels like she's been told there's nothing we can do for you, and they believe that this is their diagnosis or their story or their experiences is their end all be all. What would you say directly to her right now?

SPEAKER_00 1:09:44

Don't believe it. Keep searching, keep praying, keep believing, and trust God no matter how hard it seems. And there again, you're talking to a person who went home and cried the last time. I was told there's it's not going to get better, it's just gonna get worse, there's nothing we can do. But having that cry, realize you, yes, you're allowed to have those emotions, but there is a God who can and will do immeasurably more in you than what you think or imagine, and who promises he has a good plan for the future, no matter what. So hold on to those words.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:23

Hold on to those words. And for one of our listeners, any listener that's listening to you that wants to get their hands on a copy of your books, they want to reach out to you, maybe for counseling, maybe just to just connect with you and speak to you. How can they reach out to you and how can get they get a copy of your book?

SPEAKER_00 1:10:42

Well, I think both of the books are available on Amazon. Um, if you go to Amazon, um my email address is Hopefor Herding, H-O-P-E-F-O-R-H-U-R-T-I-N-G at a o L dot com. And my website is is linda splunkett.com. But um yeah, I would say Amazon is probably the best source to get the book. If you don't have Amazon, send me an email again, hopeforherding at AOL.com, and you know, let me know where you are. Um, and I will try to figure that out. When I do speaking engagements, occasionally I carry those books with me and may have one or two on hand that I can send you. I just don't carry the inventory that I used to, but but we'll figure that out. So um, you know, if that's the case, you know, please reach out.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:31

If this conversation shifted something in you, please reach out to Linda. Don't be ashamed, don't be afraid, don't hold on to guilt, don't hold on to people telling you that God doesn't love you. Because God loves everybody and He's for everybody. Reach out to Linda by email, go to her website, get a copy of the book. I have the book, and I'm telling you, it is transformative, and you will absolutely enjoy the book. Linda, I truly, truly want to thank you for continuing to show up, but not showing up by yourself, showing up with God in how you speak and in who you are. You can you can feel it that God is with you, God lives within you and in your daily life. And I do want to thank you for continuing to do the work and thank you for the legacy that you're building, the legacy that you're sharing with the world, with me. You are an absolute inspiration.

SPEAKER_00 1:12:28

Oh, thank you. And I give the glory to God because without him, I I definitely would not be here and would not have the strength that he continues to give me. So to him be the glory. And um, I'm I'm just I'm grateful to be alive and still be able to be used by him. And and I pray I'm being used for his glory.

SPEAKER_01 1:12:47

Amazing. I love it. We have to give the glory back to him every time, every second, every minute, because without him, we are absolutely nothing. This episode is proof that legacy is not inherited, it is chosen. And sometimes the first legacy is choosing to keep breathing, choosing to keep living, choosing to make a choice, to make a change and change your story and not hold on to those stories and keep them as your best kept secret, but to share it with the world. Thank you for joining us today on the Licis Seeds platform. I'm your host, Jen Simpson. Please don't forget to hit the like button, leave us a comment, subscribe, and also turn on your notification bells. Until next time, this is Legacy by Choice. What you choose today becomes the legacy you pass on.