Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
---------------------------------------------
I came across my first published essay (For the First Time, My Wife Thanked God for My Cancer, Summer 2017), and near the end I wrote, "...today I am in remission."
Now, before you send me a congratulatory email -- I am not in remission. One day, hopefully, it will be the case. But, today I must settle on the consolation prize of stable metastatic cancer. It's basically neither good or bad; a slight better than a progressive disease prognosis.
One can easily choose either a "half-glass empty" or "half-glass full" camp. This two-time prognosis for me (Nov. 14, 2018 and Feb. 6, 2019) may mean that the treatment isn't working, or possibly, it can mean that the treatment is keeping the cancer from metastasizing to other parts of my body, especially to the organs or brain. In spite of the so-so news, I have another three months to undergo chemo treatment before my next CT scan.
A spiritual connection with St. Paul
This third bout with cancer reminds me of Paul's prayer to God: "Three different times I begged God to make me well again" 2 Corinthians 12:8. And just like Paul, I pray also to God for healing and long life. But, after more than five years of fighting cancer, I am learning each day to lean on His sufficiency of grace and to accept His words when told to Paul, "No. But I am with you; that is all you need" (12:9).
As always, thank you for your love and support.
ajh
Recent Comments