I have heard it said that when a member of the family has
cancer, the whole family has cancer. I
have to say that I understand the truth in that, having learned it painfully
from losing a sister to cancer in 1997, having a daughter diagnosed in 2014 and
another sister diagnosed in 2015, and learning I had it myself in December of
2016. It is still hard for me to even
use the word, cancer! It is an intrusive
bully that dominates schedules, thoughts, and general wellbeing of all those
who are close to the disease.
During those times when the bully distracts us from the
important things in life, there are things that we can fight back with. Someone gave me a list (I don’t know where
she got it) of things cancer can’t do
that I’d like to share with you. It is
titled, “What cancer cannot do.” “Cancer
is so limited…It cannot: cripple love,
shatter hope, corrode faith, destroy confidence, kill friendship, shut out
memories, silence courage, reduce eternal life, or quench the Spirit.” As I thought about it, that could be said
about any adversary we face. It could be
health related, domestic trouble, church issues, job situation, etc. They are all
so limited.
Here’s another great promise to hang on to. “Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or sword? As it is
written: ‘For Your sake we are killed
all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.’ Yet in all these things we are more than
conquerors through Him who loved us. For
I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any
other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –Romans 8:35-39
I received some great news from my oncology doctor on
Monday. The blood test showed, for the
third time, that there is no detectable cancer in my body. She said I am “way ahead of the curve” in my
recovery, which will take up to two years.
That was a great encouragement, but I wondered, if I have another 19
months to get better, I will be a super-hero!
I feel great, with very little residual pain from the injured ribs as
well as the surgery.
I’m so blessed by all my official family, as well as my
unofficial family. The outpouring of
your support, love and prayer is humbling and gratefully received. I love you all.
