Blessed are those who mourn

Today I attended a Celebration of Life service for a dear friend’s mother who passed away after her second fight against cancer. Her faith was strong and her time had come. Being a Christian and truly understanding the gospel gives so much hope during these times of sadness and suffering. The Bible is rich in providing this hope. As much as I hate to pull out just a few verses, because let’s be honest, the whole Bible is amazing, here are a few that were running through my head this morning:

• ·        For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels or rulers, not things present nor things to come, nor power, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:38-39
•          “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:55-57
• ·         Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

I’m currently working on memorizing the beatitudes (see above, that was from memory, yay!). Our Sunday School teacher encourages us to memorize scripture, and for that I am grateful. Memorization is difficult for me, with my lasting chemo brain and tamoxifen that I swear makes me slightly stupid. But it is proving to be wonderful to have this reservoir of scripture in my mind.  

And so, this afternoon, I’ll work on some more memorizing. I’m enjoying the beautiful day, despite my cat bringing me a dead chipmunk and Troy isn’t home to deal with it (I covered it with a bucket, poor little evil destructive critter that it was). And, most of all, I will praise God for my friend’s mom, her life well-lived, and the promise of eternity.

And so I'll keep talking

Hello, friends. It has been quite some time since I have written. Well, strike that. It has been a while since I've published anything. But this time of the year cancer seems to come to the forefront, and this year it is screaming at me. Memories of my own diagnosis and treatment, and too many friends struggling and dying from the disease.

I don’t think God brought me through cancer to be quiet about it. Being quiet would be so easy, though. I could just let it fade away into the distance and only think about it during those pesky doctor’s appointments when they poke and prod at my chest and then tell me to come back again in a few months. Oh, how tempting that is! But what good is being a survivor if I don’t provide encouragement to others who are suffering? My outcome, so far, has been the best possible. I hate that it isn’t the case for too many people. As long as people are being diagnosed with cancer and dying from cancer, I need to keep talking.

Sunday’s sermon brought this home for me. We’ve been in John for most of the last year, and the last couple weeks we’ve been learning about the blind man in John 9. I remember back when I was diagnosed, a very foolish man told my brother that I was cursed with cancer because of unrepentant sin in my life. For anyone feeling that way, please remember John 9:3: “Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him’.” After Jesus gave the blind man his sight, the man went and proclaimed what Jesus did for him. I need to continue to do the same. God showed up in my cancer in so many places. I must keep this part of my life open so that others can see the glory of God.

Sometimes it wasn’t easy, though. There were days when I was so lonely, so sick, and so frustrated that I wondered why God would put anyone through cancer. It was hard to see God’s glory when I was so chemo-affected that I couldn’t even write my own name. But in the midst of that suffering, I continued to remember that God is sovereign. He does everything for his glory. We can’t focus on the why, but must look at the purpose (yep, I’m totally taking this from Sunday’s sermon; you can watch it online.)

So, what’s next? I’ll continue to come alongside cancer patients. I’ll share my story so others dealing with all kinds of suffering can see God’s glory. I’ll keep talking. If you’re tired of hearing about my cancer, tough luck. My story isn’t going away.