Facing Cancer...with a glad and sincere heart
by Shelly Thompson
Twenty years ago...my mom was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the tonsils. She showed me a lump in her neck on Mother's Day that year. A few days later a biopsy was done. Following the biopsy, the doctor's office called early that afternoon and said the results were negative. We were so relieved…there was no cancer. However, when the phone rang at 6:00 pm...it was the Doctor...there was a long pause, followed by his shaky voice explaining there had been a mix up with the lab results...my mom, in fact, had squamous cell carcinoma...a very aggressive form of cancer. A few days later she had surgery to remove the lump and surrounding lymph nodes.
The prognosis wasn't good. I was scared...I knew my mom could die. Being much younger then...I boldly asked my mom one day if she was afraid. Her response and that conversation is forever etched in my mind.
When I asked her if she was afraid...this was her reply, "No, I am grateful." Grateful!! For cancer?? I was so confused. I asked her what she was talking about...didn't she realize how sick she was...the treatments that were ahead...the uncertainty...possible death...the dire circumstance she was facing? I’ve never forgotten her calm response straight from her heart, "I am grateful...it is me who has cancer. I can bear this. I am so grateful it isn't you girls or your father." I learned that day, what a glad and sincere heart looks like...regardless of disease, prognosis, circumstance, uncertainty...she found gratefulness in her heart. She trusted God. Completely.
When you trust God like she did...you have a glad and sincere heart...that is grateful in ALL circumstances. During her journey with cancer, she shared her courage and strength and many meals with those around her. She battled cancer armed with gratefulness. She continued to do whatever she could each day she had treatments. She never quit praying and thanking God...it was her who received the cancer diagnosis...she was grateful.
After many months, treatments, radiation burns, loss of saliva, choking issues, severe weight loss, a post surgical hemmorage, she became cancer free. The cancer never returned. She enjoyed many years...continually sustained...by her glad and grateful heart and her faith...in the One she trusted, and I got to see a real life chapter in the Heart of a Warrior.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 46:1-3
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:1-2
The prognosis wasn't good. I was scared...I knew my mom could die. Being much younger then...I boldly asked my mom one day if she was afraid. Her response and that conversation is forever etched in my mind.
When I asked her if she was afraid...this was her reply, "No, I am grateful." Grateful!! For cancer?? I was so confused. I asked her what she was talking about...didn't she realize how sick she was...the treatments that were ahead...the uncertainty...possible death...the dire circumstance she was facing? I’ve never forgotten her calm response straight from her heart, "I am grateful...it is me who has cancer. I can bear this. I am so grateful it isn't you girls or your father." I learned that day, what a glad and sincere heart looks like...regardless of disease, prognosis, circumstance, uncertainty...she found gratefulness in her heart. She trusted God. Completely.
When you trust God like she did...you have a glad and sincere heart...that is grateful in ALL circumstances. During her journey with cancer, she shared her courage and strength and many meals with those around her. She battled cancer armed with gratefulness. She continued to do whatever she could each day she had treatments. She never quit praying and thanking God...it was her who received the cancer diagnosis...she was grateful.
After many months, treatments, radiation burns, loss of saliva, choking issues, severe weight loss, a post surgical hemmorage, she became cancer free. The cancer never returned. She enjoyed many years...continually sustained...by her glad and grateful heart and her faith...in the One she trusted, and I got to see a real life chapter in the Heart of a Warrior.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” Psalm 46:1-3
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” Psalm 91:1-2