cancer

Cancer is a terrible enemy,

capable of striking terror into the heart of the most courageous among us.

It threatens to take all of your life’s story, your hopes and dreams,

leaving you with … what?

It comes into your life like a hurricane,

beating on everything that is important to you,

trying to blow it all away to destruction.

But cancer is also an unusual friend.

Rousing you from waking sleep so that your everyday moments

no longer slip through your fingers unnoticed,

but are embraced and treasured.

Giving you eyes to see your friends and loved ones in a new way.

Encouraging you to dig deep within yourself

and discover there more courage, character, determination and love

than you ever knew you had.

Cancer grows people.

Suddenly, though, your future is unknown,

and the unknown is frightening.

Is this goodbye long before you were ready to say it?

Or is it hello to a life forever changed?

Either way, life for you will be different.

None of us who aren’t you knows what you are experiencing,

and so none can give you all that you need right now.

Cancer is a journey, with many people drawing alongside to help.

Sometimes they will say encouraging things to you,

and will do things for you that warm your heart.

Sometimes they will say or do something

that makes you want to run screaming out of the room,

hurt and bleeding inside.

In those times, you will know that your journey is, in many ways, a lonely journey.

No one can really know what you need

except you and God.

God is the only one who can go all the way with you,

but you may wonder if there is any good God anywhere near your life right now.

And here I am,

so very far away,

not having ever had a chance

to know you,

but wanting to reach out in some

way

to let you know

that even some at a distance from

you are with you,

on your side,

wishing for you much wisdom as

you face your fork in the road,

praying that you will find many

unexpected blessings that will

surprise you

because you never thought such treasures

could come out of such evil.

A wise man once said:

“The worst pain in the world is your pain.”

If cancer is a battle,

it is not just a battle for your body.

It is also a battle for your heart.

And so we are told:

“Above all else, guard your heart,

for it is the wellspring of life.”