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August
21, 2002, was a good day.? The tone was set by an e-mail
message that greeted me that morning.
A couple of months earlier, I had
enjoyed a visit with a vacationing former school friend from
Wales.? That led to renewed contact with other friends from
that long-ago era.
In her
initial message, Rose told me she had had ovarian cancer
twelve years earlier, but that ???God had healed her.???? I
asked her to tell me more, including, specifically, how she
had handled the accompanying anxiety.? This is an area, as I
told her, in which I am better as theoretician than as
practitioner.? Here is an abbreviated version of her
response:
A
Personal Encounter
Regarding my encounter with cancer.?
Yes, I did face much anxiety at first and for quite a while
after the operation.? I would fear the worst at any new pain
that came along but that seldom happens now.? It??™s been
twelve years on August 20 (1990) since I received the bad
news after the biopsy.
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I vividly remember that day and several
incidents that were to follow.? Several years previously, I
became uniquely aware that God was real.? I had also made a
commitment to live my life as a genuine Christian.
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I cried myself to sleep that night of
August 20, but deep down I had that sense of knowing that He
would see me through it somehow.? I also knew that even if
this was to be the final illness, I could accept it as His
ultimate plan for my life, because I had come to know that
He loved me very much and knew what was best for me.? I just
really wasn??™t afraid to die at that time, but I couldn??™t
bear the thought of having to leave my family.? I was
actually trying to prepare myself for that outcome as it
seemed a strong possibility.
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Of course, as you said, being a
theoretician is easier than being a practitioner.? Many
folks can spout off what I just wrote here, but actually
knowing for sure, and ???putting your money where your mouth
is??? so to speak, is another matter isn??™t it.
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I had barely recovered from the surgery
when I was told that I had to take six intravenous
treatments of chemotherapy over the next few months.? This
was absolutely awful.? I remember one time when I just
whispered, ???Oh Jesus, help me!???? I had never felt so awful
in my life.? Constantly vomiting for hours on end for
several days.
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As time went on, I was given scans and
ultrasound tests etc.? They told me and showed me on the
screen that sadly the cancer seemed to have spread to my
liver.? The chemo would help, but they weren??™t too hopeful.?
I would have another scan every month.
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I decided that it was time I asked for
some serious prayer.? The Elders of my church all stood
around me to pray.
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A month later, I saw the screen on the
ultrasound.? The tumor on my liver was gone.? They said it
was just a lesion of some sort, and that they probably made
an error on the previous report.? I knew different.? Each
subsequent scan proved to be clear of cancer.
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I do hope I haven??™t bored you with what I have written here
and that you don??™t think I am some crazy religious fanatic.?
I just wrote what I felt was the answer to what you were
asking about my illness.? It is amazing how prayer can
relieve so much stress and anxiety, but one has to believe
that it will work, and be able to leave the troubles for Him
to work out the details.? Sadly, though, it??™s a process
that??™s very easy to say but hard to do.
Good Timing
Rose was oblivious to the fact that she
had written this account on August 20, 2002, the twelfth
anniversary of the receipt of her ???bad news.???? I opened this
moving message on August 21, the second anniversary of my
heart attack.
What an eminently uplifting story for
me to receive on such an occasion.? A fervent faith can
indeed move a mountain.
Philip Jones
is a motivational speaker and author based in
Calgary, Canada. E-mail:
philip-jones@shaw.ca.? This article is an extract
from his book, How to Fit a Heart Attack into Your Busy
Schedule!? Humor, Wit and Wisdom For a Healthier Heart and a
Happier Life.? Available at www.amazon.com, www.walmart.com
and
www.filbertpublishing.com/heart.htm
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To read archived stories, click on this link:?
http://archives.zinester.com/9516/2004?
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Blessings to you today
Bob Johnston
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