When Cancer Patients Give, September 5
Inside the Cancer Journey: Daily Reflections for Those Coping with Cancer
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Written by Justin Wood
But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on” (Mark 12:42-44 NIV).
I lost control of myself. In the middle of my granddad’s funeral, I began to sob and weep uncontrollably. The harder I tried to control myself, the louder and more unmanageable I became. My heavy sadness surprised me because my granddad had fought a long, hard battle with lung cancer. We had prepared for his death.
When lung cancer began to overtake his body, my granddad became breathless doing very simple tasks. But he could drive. So, when my parents were working, my granddad became chauffeur for my brothers and me. He volunteered to pick me up from school, take me to baseball practice, and drive us wherever we needed to go.
In today’s verses, we see that Jesus gave special attention to those who gave when they had nothing much to give. Jesus watched as people put money into the temple treasury. He called over His disciples, and pointed out this poor widow who gave out of her poverty.
In cancer, we usually focus upon the care given to a cancer patient. However, the care given by a cancer patient—let me say it again—the care given to us by those who struggle with cancer—might be one of the greatest gifts we can receive. Those struggling with cancer and treatment side effects—they give to the rest of us out of their poverty.
When everything is so difficult, the small affections they give us are so precious. From today’s verses, I am very confident that the Lord sees those who give out of their poverty. Those going through cancer may only give us a forced smile or a brief text, but if we have the eyes of Jesus, we may see that their gifts are the largest gifts we will receive all day.
Back to the story of my granddad … I wept so much at my granddad’s funeral because I realized that he gave to us out of his poverty of health. Days he felt terrible—he picked me up from school. Days he felt so discouraged—he picked me up from school. Days he could barely breathe—he picked me up from school. He continued to give what he could to his family.
A few weeks after I received my driver’s license, my granddad passed away.
Pray: Lord, I ask for the eyes to see those who give out of their poverty—because I need to see the world the way You do. Amen.
Your Turn: Who has given to you out of their poverty? Thank them if they are alive. If they have passed on, memorialize them in some way.
Justin Wood, Childhood Cancer Survivor
Justin lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky with his wife and six homeschooled kids. Through his life, Justin has become a wonderful mix of entrepreneur, English teacher, and foreign missionary. He is a survivor of childhood cancer. Justin is very grateful for Cancer Companions and the opportunity to be a part of this devotional writing process.
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