Held By The Shepherd
Held By The Shepherd
Being Held Together.
As a family whose lives have been forever changed by cancer, we know first hand how dark and lonely it can feel to walk this road. Though all of our stories are different, what has given us comfort and strength along the way is knowing that we are not alone in our pain. We have found camaraderie in our fellow cancer warriors, love from our community, and above all, an unwavering comfort in the person of Jesus Christ.
Our heart's desire for "Held by the Shepherd" is to love those enduring the challenging journey of a cancer diagnosis. We do this through creating Care Baskets filled with items carefully chosen to make each recipient's journey a little brighter. We hope that each Care Basket would serve as a reminder that they are LOVED, SEEN and HELD by the Shepherd.
Our Mission
"Held by the Shepherd" is a ministry that seeks to love those impacted by cancer through carefully curated gift baskets. It is our hope that these baskets (designed by fellow cancer warriors and their caregivers) will give cancer patients and their families the strength to keep going by bringing comfort, hope and light to the darkest of days.
Care Baskets
Our hand-crafted gift baskets are packaged with items that are carefully selected to cater to the specific needs of cancer patients. Baskets can also be personalized to add that extra special touch.
Some of the items our baskets typically include are:
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A soft blanket
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hand sanitizer
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cozy socks
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a stainless steel water bottle
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lip balm
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tissues that are soft (unlike the hospital ones!)
...and various other items that would bring a little joy to someone's day. Sometimes we include a sports hat, or some decor with an uplifting message... it all depends on the season and the age/gender/diagnosis of who it's going to.
Where we currently deliver:
Care Baskets are currently delivered to patients at the Erie Cancer Wellness Center in Erie, PA and to the Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, OH.
If you are interested in supporting this ministry, please email us at info@heldbytheshepherd.org
Resources for the Journey
Reading the stories and reflections of others who have walked through all kinds of suffering has often been a balm to our weary souls. Their wisdom and insight have helped us process our pain and wrestle with our own struggles. We have chosen a few to list below that have helped us along the way.
We hope their writing resonates with your heart as much as they did with ours, and we hope you will share with us any books you have found helpful in your own journey as well!
Treasures in the Dark: 90 Reflections on Finding Bright Hope in the Hurting
By: Katherine Wolf
"Sometimes the most valuable treasures are found in the darkest of times. In fact, it's often in the very heart of our deepest pain and struggle that God chooses to reveal his most precious gifts. Let Katherine Wolf lead you in finding the hope God has for you in your most painful places." Order Here
The Way of the Wildflower: Gospel Meditations To Unburden Your Anxious Soul
By: Ruth Chou Simons
"In The Way of the Wildflower, bestselling author and artist Ruth Chou Simons invites you to draw inspiration for your weary soul from the flowers of the field through thirty gospel focused meditations covering five ways of the wildflower: Dependency, Freedom, Resilience, Unhurriedness, and Belovedness." Order Here
Suffering Is Never For Nothing
"Elisabeth Elliot was no stranger to suffering. Her first husband, Jim, was murdered by the Waoroni people in Ecuador moments after he arrived in hopes of sharing the gospel. Her second husband was lost to cancer. Yet, it was in her deepest suffering that she learned the deepest lessons about God."