A Prayer --- Dad

Lord, this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done; and Janice says four way by-pass surgery was a piece of cake in comparison. How do men survive watching their wives die of cancer? Janice will get through it eventually and I truly believe she will know full recovery. But I never expected her to be so sick and weak with every side effect written in the book. I never expected to have to carry a lump around in my throat every day as I watch her in so much misery. Why is it so bad for her when many going through the same chemo regimen seem to be cruising through with few problems? The enemy is using every opportunity he can to convince us to give up. But, “…greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 Jn 4:4). The key to victory in the battle has to be in getting back to the basic of all life …. Jesus Christ.

This week, an unusually bad one, I have often remembered and tried to meditate upon the first verse I was given the day of her diagnosis. I don’t like to remember that day, but I do like to remember that promise.

Isa. 43:1b-3
“Fear not for I have redeemed you…” Life is eternal, and for those who are willing to accept that gift and yield to the Giver, it’s already paid for. No matter how difficult this is, it will end. My new chemo friend, Shauna, mother of three, whose wimp of a husband left her because of her cancer, which has now spread throughout her body, has a motto. She says, I win; either way, I win.” I’m not quite there yet, but I would like to be.
“I have called you by your name; You are Mine.” Wow! That is awesome! The Creator of the universe calls me Kent, and says I belong to Him. “…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…” (Eph 1:4a) That is mind boggling, but a God who spoke the universe into being doesn’t seem to have much trouble understanding it.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. Nor shall the flame scorch you.” The river has been deep and the fire pretty hot this week, but we are not alone. Nothing touches us that doesn’t pass through God’s hands first. The Lord has made His presence known in so many people who have told us they’re praying; in my girls who seem to have a knack of showing up or phoning just at the right time; in the friends who either spend time with us or offer to do so; in the nurses at CBCC who go to so much effort to try to make Janice feel better; and even in my little squirt of a dog whose laying on my lap with unconditional love as I write this. (Although I really don’t need another lick in the face).
“For I am the Lord your God, The Holy one of Israel, your Savior.” When I realize that I’m not as tough as I thought I was; when I realize just how uncontrollable life is, I am extremely grateful that Janice and I and our whole family are in the hands of the One who controls it all. That doesn’t particularly make her feel better, but it helps to put things into perspective. He truly is, “…the way, the truth and the life.” (Jn 14:4) As Shauna says, eventually, “We win!”.

As the Psalmist and song writer, Horatio Spafford ( http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/it-is-well-with-my-soul-the-song-and-the-story.html ) have said, “It is well with my soul.” ….. in spite of the battle of the body.

rks