On Knowing People with Cancer

I wish I could change the discourse on cancer - 

Because I know people with cancer.

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Of course, my greatest wish would be the end of cancer...

that no one had to fight this fight again.

but while it is still here?

There seems to be this idea that if a person comes to the end of their life, 

 they have somehow lost their battle?  

While it is a battle, we do them a disservice to say that they lost.

They are not losers.

They are warriors...up to the very last fight.

For that reason, it only seems right to do this kind of blog post today...

because no one is in the fight alone.

When I first heard the words, "the biopsy results are back, and you have..."

I thought of the people I knew who had received the same message.

I wanted to find them.

To ask them my questions...

How did you deal with it?

I remember the total stranger who told me, "Welcome to the Club...

that no one ever wants to join"

They know things.

For instance, when you hear the words, you move...

From a life "Before Cancer" to a life "After Diagnosis"

Life is never the same.  New normals are the reality.

Today I am 5 years AD.

and to say I am thankful, is an understatement.

I am also aware that too many people did not get to reach that landmark.

But while they did not lose.

maybe we do.

The cost of cancer is high...and I don't just mean financially.
The loss of those left behind is high.

I don't take that lightly when I talk about the gifts they have left to us.

Those of us who are encouraged by the fight they fought.

We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

Every person I've known with cancer fights hard.

With everything in them.

For one reason ... more time.

Whether they reach one week or 20 plus years.

They fight.

And if we are honest...

more time?

it's what we all want!

Good-bye's are too hard.

Each moment...each day,

is precious.

Each person in our life is precious.

And each of these who are fighting cancer are precious to me.

Those who are here, still in the fight,

as well as those who have hung up their gloves.

****

I know people with cancer... we all do.

I'm sure our lives have been impacted by them ...

and we are richer for it.

**************

And one reminder... please get your screenings.

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On the Long Wait

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning- more than watchmen for the morning.

Psalm 130:6

Waiting...

It is such a normal part of our lives.

I think the first thing I remember waiting for was Christmas.

Then waiting to be able to finally go to school

with all the other big kids.

Waiting for what seemed like eternity for the class to finally end.

Waiting for his phone call.

Waiting for him to pop the question.

Waiting for the longest 9 months I'd ever known.

Waiting for him to get back home to me...to us.

Waiting through a long hard night for a new day

and new mercies!

Waiting for test results

Waiting for treatment to start...

and for it to finally end.

Waiting for a cure.

Waiting for Heaven.

***

This week I will reach a goal I have long waited for.

***

This week will be 5 years since I was diagnosed with Cancer

***

As I prepared to write this blog, the words did not come together the way I wanted.

I started in one direction and stopped.
Started in another direction and stopped again...

What I was aiming for was perfection.

...well aware that nobody is perfect.

... even more aware that I am not perfect!

I know that.

Just the same, I wanted a perfect post.

:-)

Sometimes I think we think that perfect is a thing...

A perfect blog.
A perfect day.

Perfect friends.

Perfect stuff.

We ignore the ordinary and focus on some distant "perfect"

Then we turn around and suddenly there is no option but to wait.

If the waiting is long and the answers slow in appearing, 

or maybe the answers we hope for don't appear at all, 

the temptation is to lose hope.

To mourn the loss of the expected perfect.

To think that our waiting has been in vain.

But...

The perfection we long for is not a thing. 

Not even a good thing.

 He is a Person. 

Our waiting is never wasted if our waiting is on Him.

It may not be easy waiting.

But remember who your hope is in.

The One who knows our whole story

 the One who writes our whole story.

The only One who does all things perfectly.

So keep looking for reasons to Hope.
Keep waiting.

He is working even now on our perfect ending.
To be with Him always.
❤️

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Psalm 39:7

Now, Lord, what do I wait for?  My hope is in You.