Testimony

My grandson, Thomas, is back in the ER this afternoon. This time he has a sore throat. He is undergoing chemo to fight the cancer and so his immune system is suppressed and any small, otherwise harmless virus, could cause big problems, so this afternoon, he is back in the ER.

The amazing thing about this guy is that with everything he has been through and continues to go through, he has a great attitude,

Almost every picture his mom posts of him shows him with a big smile.  Even at six years old, he is an amazing example to me and many people much older and much healthier.  Thomas truly reminds me of the Apostle Paul in the New Testament, who wrote to the Philippians:

"I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content...

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

~Philippians 4:11, 13

This morning, my daughter posted this testimony on Thomas' facebook Page, Fight Like Thomas:

"While we do not understand why God allows children to get cancer, we do know He has been with us. We found this tumor before we should have, it's all gone, even though it's a really nasty type of cancer it isn't anywhere else. All of what we have read says the cancer should be all over, we shouldn't have found it before it was causing seizures, the neurosurgeon shouldn't have been able to get all of it out. Even Thomas' scar is healing amazingly well.

It didn't take cancer to show us God lives and loves us, but cancer did remind us all that He is always with us and that miracles still exist today."

Sunday thoughts - blessing others in small ways

I am sitting here at my computer, having just finished the last of the missionary emails I write and send every Sunday afternoon.  I love writing to and hearing from missionaries - my own son and others. Missionaries have such a wonderful spirit of humility, gratitude and service. The missionaries that I write to, (other than my son) have no family support and they rarely hear from their parents or any other family members. Taking just a few minutes to write and let them know that they are thought of and prayed for, or sending a small care package of goodies, is such a little thing, yet it seems to bring happiness to these young missionaries.

We get so many opportunities in life to bless others and make their lives just a little better.  I want to do better this year at taking more of those opportunities. Sometimes, something so small, like a smile or encouraging word, can help someone in a big way.  

There is a dear woman in our church who was diagnosed with cancer last year.  She is lovely woman who raised her own family and then took on the responsibility of raising two of her grandsons.  One of her grandsons and my son Josh are friends.  Beginning last August, this sweet woman went through a lot of radiation and chemo therapy treatments. They were rough. She lost her strength. She lost her appetite.  She lost her hair. In early December, her doctor told her that the cancer was gone and she didn't need any more chemo treatments.  A follow-up scan after Christmas, he said, would confirm that the cancer was gone. Last week, my friend had her follow-up scan. The news was not good.  The cancer had returned.  She will need more chemo and radiation treatments.

Through all of this, this woman remains cheerful and happy. She comes to church whenever she can and is always smiling and talking to other and giving love instead of complaining about her own problems, which are many.  She sends me texts through out the week and lets me know how she is doing. I always respond and try to be encouraging to her.  She told me that my texts help her so much. She said that sometimes she texts family members with news of her condition and treatment and she gets no response.  I don't understand that, but I do know that she loves it when I send her a text to see how she is doing or when I respond to her texts and just tell her that I am praying for her. It is such a little thing to send a few short texts to this woman during the week, and yet it really seems to help her. She knows that someone is thinking of her and cares enough to let her know.

I am now wondering what other small opportunities to help someone else, I have let pass me by.  I know there are many, so this week, I resolve to do better - to take a few minutes to help someone else - to let that person know that I care.

I love this quote from author Leo Buscaglia:

There are always ways to help and serve others and spread the love of Christ. We just have to look for and then take those opportunities which God gives us to spread His love!

"...Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." 

                                                ~Matthew 25:40

Sunday thoughts: Walking in a Fog

I read this passage in a book recently and it spoke to my heart, because of some things our family is going through right now.  

“…do not let the fear of failure stop you from obeying [God] as He leads you.  Thankfully, God not only sees where you are, He sees where you can be.  He not only sees what you have accomplished, He sees what you will do with His help.  God is always leading us to greater things and wants us to look forward to the future.  Don’t fear the unknown because God knows everything, and you are safe with Him.

"Following God is often life walking in a fog.  We can only see one or two steps in front of us, but as we take those steps, the next ones become clear.  As we trust the Lord, we will have an exciting journey that will make life adventurous and enjoyable – every step of the way.”

A great scripture I love that goes along with this is Psalm 37: 23-24.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord:  and he delighteth in his way.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”

I am the kind of person who likes to plan ahead and be prepared for any and every eventuality.  While planning can be good, often, as believers, we must simply trust in God and know that he has a good plan for us.  Things don't always work out the way we think or hope that they should, but when we trust in God, His Plan B can become better than our Plan A. 

Have a great Sunday, trust in God and enjoy the week ahead!