It is amazing and beautiful when I get to witness the absolute glory of God in the life of another.
You may or may not know that my father in law has been struggling with cancer for about 14 months now. Actually during this time, everything that could go wrong....well, it has gone wrong- terribly wrong.
In his last visit to the oncologist, she basically said, "this is as good as it gets for you now". In that few minutes with the doctor, every hope and future plan was canceled out by her cold and matter-of-fact words. His passion and will to play the game of golf again was taken, his hopes of travel and leisure, in this his time of retirement, were corrupted and his mind began to believe the lie that, "this is as good as it gets".
It would be easy to end here and more stories than not sadly, do. However, this one...it goes on.
So, in trying to find an answer for the pain he met with a surgeon. In another "matter-of-fact conversation" amputation was suggested. Amputation! Oh, my goodness, no way what will we do? O, the Horror- kind of thoughts crossed my mind....but, not his.
Who would be grateful for something like that? Tom would. It was the re-creating of his hopes and future. It was knowledge that there was so much more for him and in that instant, the lie was shattered.
God's ever-loving plan had changed everything. Tom is doing just fine- better than fine- without his right leg. And his spirits? Not in at least the last 14 months have I heard of him with such true joy. He is pain-free and has a new lease on life. Come what may, we know that God's glory is always shining in you, me and all around us.
So, who could be thankful and blessed by an amputation? I can, my husband can, my mother in law can...we all can because today....it is the gift of seeing God's hand and the blessing of unlimited physical freedom in an unlikely answer.
In our infirmities, when we are weak, desperate and almost giving up....God's glory is our strength. The strength to embrace the loss of an extremity. The strength to overcome any obsticle placed on our path, the strength to face death and chose to live.
Do not forget to see the glory of God everyday, in the simple, in the painful, in the storms and in the obvious. Don't miss the blessings He has for you new every morning and don't wait to do what you know you were created for...we are not guarnteed time beyond this very word....embrace that, "there is so much more for you than this!"
You may or may not know that my father in law has been struggling with cancer for about 14 months now. Actually during this time, everything that could go wrong....well, it has gone wrong- terribly wrong.
In his last visit to the oncologist, she basically said, "this is as good as it gets for you now". In that few minutes with the doctor, every hope and future plan was canceled out by her cold and matter-of-fact words. His passion and will to play the game of golf again was taken, his hopes of travel and leisure, in this his time of retirement, were corrupted and his mind began to believe the lie that, "this is as good as it gets".
It would be easy to end here and more stories than not sadly, do. However, this one...it goes on.
So, in trying to find an answer for the pain he met with a surgeon. In another "matter-of-fact conversation" amputation was suggested. Amputation! Oh, my goodness, no way what will we do? O, the Horror- kind of thoughts crossed my mind....but, not his.
Who would be grateful for something like that? Tom would. It was the re-creating of his hopes and future. It was knowledge that there was so much more for him and in that instant, the lie was shattered.
God's ever-loving plan had changed everything. Tom is doing just fine- better than fine- without his right leg. And his spirits? Not in at least the last 14 months have I heard of him with such true joy. He is pain-free and has a new lease on life. Come what may, we know that God's glory is always shining in you, me and all around us.
So, who could be thankful and blessed by an amputation? I can, my husband can, my mother in law can...we all can because today....it is the gift of seeing God's hand and the blessing of unlimited physical freedom in an unlikely answer.
In our infirmities, when we are weak, desperate and almost giving up....God's glory is our strength. The strength to embrace the loss of an extremity. The strength to overcome any obsticle placed on our path, the strength to face death and chose to live.
Do not forget to see the glory of God everyday, in the simple, in the painful, in the storms and in the obvious. Don't miss the blessings He has for you new every morning and don't wait to do what you know you were created for...we are not guarnteed time beyond this very word....embrace that, "there is so much more for you than this!"
