Meet Fred, an amazing guy and a cancer survivor - three times in his lifetime. He won the victory over leukemia after a hard battle - twice! Much later, Fred battled and won the victory over non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Fred is an inspiration and an encourager of hope and peace in the midst of life's toughest battles. He tells his story to all who will listen, crediting His Creator for the healing in his life. I saw him briefly while I was in California a few weeks ago. He had to leave for rehearsal so the visit was short. The next visit will be longer. Fred is an accomplished musician and an award winning water-colorist. But more than that, Fred is an amazing guy with an ever-ready smile and and inner joy that spills over to others.
Fred is my cousin.
Looking back on the growing up phase of our life I remember the horse episode most. Fred was ten years young at that time and I was fourteen. He'd selected a horse for me for my very first ride - a horse called Diablo. I didn't know the horse's name when I climbed up on his back, but Diablo lived up to his menacing name. However, I was a determined kid and Diablo didn't get the best of me. I stayed on that frolicking horse until someone brought him to a halt. Fred got into trouble for selecting Diablo for me to ride but the experience gave me further insight into myself and I gained a greater confidence in my ability to cope with difficult situations. I'm confident that Fred had no malicious intent. He was just being a ten-year-old with no insight into possible consequences. My belated and much wiser thanks to Fred for that opportunity to gain an important insight into my coping skills.
A more recent example of strength happened a few short weeks ago. I'd been very sick in past months and was getting progressively worse. My strength and energy were gone and I was in pain most of the time. In months past, doctors couldn't seem to locate the source of my progressing symptoms. But now it had a name. One doctor finally looked in the right place and found it. Its name was cancer.
When I was told that I had cancer, that I needed to have surgery, a lengthy hospital stay, radiation therapy, and possible chemotherapy as well. I refused to panic at that shocking news. I remember taking in a deep breath and slowly letting it out as the doctor was busy with a referral to an oncologist. I remembered that this situation was in the control of my Creator and I just needed to claim His peace in the midst of this difficult situation and trust Him in the process.
When I was told that I had cancer, that I needed to have surgery, a lengthy hospital stay, radiation therapy, and possible chemotherapy as well. I refused to panic at that shocking news. I remember taking in a deep breath and slowly letting it out as the doctor was busy with a referral to an oncologist. I remembered that this situation was in the control of my Creator and I just needed to claim His peace in the midst of this difficult situation and trust Him in the process.
As I was leaving the doctor's office, he said this to me, "We're sending you to the best place and putting you in the best of hands."
I turned to the doctor and with the greatest of peace and confidence, I replied, "The best hands I'm in are in the hands of my Creator."
It was during that very moment, as the words left my mouth: "...in the hands of my Creator" that I felt a physical change taking place within my body. A gentle source of energy and strength, powerful enough to displace the sickness, was being poured into me. It was an incredible feeling! I knew at that very moment, that the biopsy was going to prove that the cancer was gone. I felt physically strong, spiritually energized, and filled with that powerful peace that passes all understanding - the peace of God.
Because of all the high risk markers (my symptoms, test results, and the doctor's findings) the oncologist had me sign permission papers for surgery and for radiation therapy. I signed the papers, still confident that I had been healed. The oncologist did the biopsy that very day and the report (a few days later) was negative for cancer. I thank God for His Divine healing and for the strength He gave me to trust Him while in the midst of that ordeal.
Today, I continue to experience the healing. I have more energy, strength, and stamina than I had in past months. The pain is gone and all the other symptoms I had have left. Whatever the illness was that I'd had (cancer or otherwise) is healed.
The photograph of Fred and me is one of triumphant joy and gratitude. I'm not new to experiencing God's miracles in my life and I suspect that Fred is no stranger in this area either. As we shared our stories with one another, Fred agreed that we had both been healed of cancer. I believe that there is more work for us to do for God's Kingdom purpose. I look forward to that purpose with great anticipation and excitement as I walk in the Light of God's incredible miracles. He's already put things in place for me and I'm already heading off into that direction. I'll share more of this at another time.
God's Word says,
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). God's Word says,
I believe this and I have seen the evidence of it.
No comments:
Post a Comment