WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME KNOW? (STANDING STRONG)

(Each week in November, I am sharing a few excerpts from my recently published memoir of my time with ovarian cancer in 2015. The words in italics are from my journal entries. Here is one I wrote shortly after my treatment plan was in place. I hope this excerpt blesses you this week!)

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With a treatment plan now in place, my own personal plan was to live with joy. I would let Dr. Phibbs and Whitney do the monitoring of the cancer; I would solely focus on my healthy lifestyle, my spiritual well-being, and my relationships. I would stand firm while the medical staff fought the battle. I found the perfect Bible verses for my goal, a passage our youth group had chosen for an earlier mission trip: “Stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:13b-14 NIV).

 I am in a good place this morning. I had a restful night, and I feel ready to face this battle. I KNOW the next six months will be very difficult, painful, and stressful. But others have endured all of this and have since returned to wellness and wholeness. I may be surprised by how much better I will feel.

I don’t care for the analogy of “battle” in this journey to wellness. It’s not me; I am not a fighter. I will consider this cancer to be an unwelcome guest, a guest I will soon escort out of my body with the help of medicine and Dr. Phibbs. How many battles can we win if we are forthright and determined, simply denying the enemy any chance to hurt us? Stand firm… stand strong… face the enemy and turn it away. Let it know it doesn’t have a chance with me.

The medicine will do the battling.
I will do the strong standing.

All we have is this day. Any of us. That’s why Jesus tells us to not worry about tomorrow. He will give us strength for each day, like manna. We are to enjoy this day, live it well. Savor and know that this day is a gift from God.

I will stand strong, here and now.

Photo by Karen, Schedel Gardens, Elmore OH

My memoir, What Would You Have Me Know? Contemplation and Companionship in a Time of Cancer is available in paperback or Kindle. During my time with cancer, I deeply sensed God’s loving presence through my prayerful reflections and the kindness of others. I wrote this book as a gift of gratitude to God and the caring people in my life–but I pray that it may also serve as a source of peace and hope for any reader.