Jesus, the True Vine, December 2
Inside the Cancer Journey: Daily Reflections for Those Coping with Cancer
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By Ashley Taylor
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (John 15:5 NIV).
After chemotherapy and my second surgery, I was declared a cancer survivor. Praise God!! My heart smiled big, and my eyes were full of happy tears. However, this news did not mean life went back to the way it was before cancer. I had to deal with recovery from a double mastectomy, no hair, a lack of energy, neuropathy, and trying to find the “new normal.” People’s expectations of me could be challenging. Thoughts of whether the cancer would come back danced in my head.
At the time, the holidays were quickly approaching. Hurry, hurry!! Rush, rush!! Go, go!! Can I do it all?! In addition, this year, we were to leave early the day after Christmas for a wedding in Florida. The prospect of the holidays was overwhelming to me. And I am the person who has always loved the Christmas season. My normal to-do list would include church activities, bringing Christmas joy to those in need, baking, trimming the tree, picking out gifts and wrapping them, planning special meals for friends and family, designing our family Christmas card—all the while keeping my focus on Jesus and the celebration of His birth, the reason for this season. There was no way I could do all of this—and probably not most of this.
And then, I remembered the words of Jesus in John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” I needed to rely fully on the strength of Jesus, the True Vine. He was in control, not me. If I remained in Him and He in me, then “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24) would accomplish what was on His list—to make me fruitful to His glory. My focus stayed on being thankful for God’s amazing love, grace, mercy, and the gift of life, so I could serve and share Him with others. Jesus provided the way through the help of my family to hold the college students’ Christmas fellowship at our church. He made it possible for my daughters and me to work together to bake for others like we have always enjoyed. He brought our family together on Christmas Day to celebrate His birth and to simply enjoy being with each other. And we made it to the wedding in Florida. A blessed addition to the season!
This Christmas, your heart can be full of joy by reflecting on God sending His Only Son to you—Jesus, who came to earth because He loves you. God breathed life into you and created you in His image because of the relationship He desires to have with you. Through the death and resurrection of His Son, you are able to be united with Him simply by believing. Hold on to Jesus, the True Vine, and this Christmas, you will bear much fruit and bring glory to His name.
Pray: Dear Jesus, keep our hearts and minds focused on You, the True Vine, trusting that Your plans for us this Christmas are good. May we remember the true meaning of Christmas all year long and praise You for Your amazing love for us. Amen.
Your Turn: Listen to the words of “O Holy Night” sung by Carrie Underwood while reflecting on our dear Savior’s birth and praising His Holy Name.
Ashley Taylor, Cancer Survivor
Ashley is married to James, and they have two daughters, Grace and Hannah. All four are big Tar Heel fans, having attended the same school, UNC-Chapel Hill. In 2020 Ashley obtained her roofing license to help with her family's business. She is a breast cancer survivor. She has been grateful for the opportunity to join the devo team for Cancer Companions, to reach out to others for God’s glory for His goodness in her cancer journey.
Cancer Companion’s vision for the future is for every person impacted by cancer to know the hope, love, and grace of Jesus and that every oncology team has included faith in their treatment toolbox. By 2033, Cancer Companions will provide 5 million engagements through cancer prayers, scriptures and interactions to those impacted by cancer. Engagements include; social media outreach, e-newsletters, prayer team requests, 30 days of Cancer Prayer event, and volunteer connections.
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