Hope, January 7
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13 NIV). I remember the first time I met Adele. It was a cold, snowy day in February. Adele was an elderly woman with beautiful long, flowing gray hair—and stage 4 lung cancer. She was willing to give our cancer center a try, knowing that our primary focus would be on helping her maintain her quality of life through proper diet and exercise. As we often do in our initial meetings, I asked her about her support system, including any church attendance. Adele quickly laughed off my questions. “Oh, I don’t believe in God,” she said. “I only believe in myself.” After she said this, I stammered over the right words to say. I wanted to tell her that it didn’t matter how wealthy she was, or how old she was, or how sick she was. She could turn to Jesus right that very minute and be healed. Maybe not of her cancer, but of her sin.
Is There No Balm in Gilead?, January 6
“Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” (Jeremiah 8:22 NIV) Opportunities for physical healing surround those facing cancer: top-rated oncologists, world-renowned cancer centers, and many options for treatment. With so much attention on physical healing, we may miss the most important healing—our spiritual healing. In the Old Testament, Gilead was the name of the mountainous region east of the Jordan River. Gilead was known for its skillful physicians and a healing balm, an ointment made from the gum of a tree particular to that area. Many believed this balm had miraculous powers to heal the body. Tragically, and ironically, God’s people living in and around these mountains of medicine were deeply sick. Not just physically sick, but sin-sick. They refused to follow God’s commands and worshipped other gods. Jeremiah warned the people. Their lives had already been reduced to rubble. A powerful foreign army would soon invade and destroy their land. Many would be killed or exiled. Jeremiah lamented and wept over their sin and dreadful fate. He held up the balm as a reminder of God’s steadfast love, forgiveness, and healing. God alone is the Great Physician and provides the medicine needed.
Your Fears and Doubts are Normal, January 5
“Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22 NIV). My husband’s doctor sent him for an x-ray of his abdomen following a routine exam. The doctor felt something firm and large on my husband’s right side. He thought perhaps his spleen was enlarged and an x-ray would give him a better idea of what was going on. The x-ray showed a growth that completely engulfed the kidney beyond recognition. Even my medically untrained eye could see we had a big problem. I was afraid: afraid for my husband; afraid for myself, the kids, my mother-in-law. Oh, my goodness, how do we tell his mother? What does this mean and what do we do? Who can help us? So many questions quickly crowded my mind. I was overwhelmed. I looked at my husband and could see he was in shock and appeared overwhelmed, too.
A Man of Sorrows and Acquainted with Grief, January 4
“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3 ESV). My high school sweetheart and I were drawn together by the shared experience of losing a parent at an early age. It is difficult to explain to another what a specific grief feels like unless they have suffered a similar loss. There is an immediate bond that forms between people who have a shared pain. People who have heard the words, “you have cancer” have an emotional connection with others who have heard those life-altering words. The type of cancer may be different, but the spiritual shift that takes place after hearing those unwanted words affects the cancer patient in ways only they can understand. Yet even with this connection, can anyone really understand your personal struggle with cancer?
Productive Soil, January 3
“The evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart” (Matthew 13:19 NIV). I remember my granddad’s face was twisted and pained. It was like some invisible fist had punched him in the head—and in the heart—and in the stomach … all at the same time. He was a strong man, but he looked crushed and weak. I remember a waiting room, an examination room with big windows, and doctors and nurses moving around me. I was being diagnosed with cancer. At three-and-a-half years old, I did not understand. But I did see that something had stolen my granddad’s strength, and that worried me.
Recovering Your Stolen Identity, January 2
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:16 NIV). Cancer can lead to an identity crisis. If you cannot continue in your profession, fulfill your family role, and engage in your activities, who are you? After my cancer diagnosis, possibly losing my job terrified me. I had been a pastor for twenty years. If I wasn’t that, what would I be? What would be my purpose? Where would I belong? Who would affirm me? Where would I find friends? Who would provide security? Everything depended upon my work. I feared losing my job more than dying!
My Lifeline, January 1
At midnight on December 31, with bright eyes and big smiles, my husband, James, and I rang in the New Year full of hope and great anticipation for 2019. I was looking forward to continuing to lead the high school girls’ Bible study at our church. In addition, I was studying to obtain my roofing license, so I could work with my father and my brother in the business that had been in our family for over a hundred years. James and I booked a trip for July while our youngest daughter, Hannah, would be on a trip with her high school. Our oldest daughter, Grace, was finishing up her sophomore year at UNC and taking a trip for which she had worked hard and saved. James continued to love his work in dentistry. We were healthy (or at least thought we were). We were grateful for our many blessings. What thoughts and emotions do you have at the start of a new year?