I have been raised Catholic and for me, going to church and praying for meals has been a natural thing… not much thought had to be put into saying “Bless us O Lord” before eating our dinner and every Sunday morning is church. It isn’t until you are faced with a hardship that your relationship with God and your faith is questioned. It’s so easy to trust in Him when everything in your life is going perfectly, when your biggest hardship is studying for your math test. It is simply when times get tough, that it is difficult to trust God.
Perhaps one of these instances is when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is a part of nearly everyone’s lives these days. The odds of an adult woman getting cancer is 1 in 3 women. The odds of an adult man getting cancer is 1 in 2 men. Most people know someone or at least know of someone who has dealt with cancer. The dictionary definition of “cancer” is as follows: any malignant and invasive growth or tumor. Funnily or not really funny at all, is the dictionary doesn’t cover half of the destruction, the pain, and the torture that come with you or a loved one being diagnosed with cancer. Everyday 46 children are diagnosed with cancer. Everyday 7 children will die from cancer. I can only imagine the horror of being diagnosed with cancer yourself, hearing the painful words of, “You have cancer”. Some are lucky to hear these words following those previous three, “It is treatable and you have a good prognosis of survival”. Others get a devastating prognosis, something like “We can try this 30-year-old chemo drug but it probably won’t work on your aggresive cancer. You have a 10% chance of surviving”. Those words are life changing. To hear that said about yourself, to think about some unstoppable force inside of you overtaking your body is unthinkable. But it’s the reality in 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women.
Now, imagine that day that you give birth to your newborn child. That love that you’ve felt for them for 9 months while you’ve been pregnant suddenly grows so much more, and you are overwhelmed with complete and utter fascination and joy at your new baby daughter or son. Now, fast forward a few years, maybe even less, maybe just a few months, maybe one year, maybe two, three, or maybe even fifteen, or twenty. 1 in 330 children will be diagnosed with cancer before they turn 20. A parent would do anything for their child…they care about their child more than themselves. But every day, 46 moms & dads hear the words, “Your child has cancer.” 35% of these children diagnosed with cancer will die. I am not a parent, I do not know this incredible love that a mother has for her child, but I can only imagine the pain and the devastation that comes when your baby is diagnosed with cancer.
What do the above about trusting God and the below paragraphs about the devastation of cancer have to do with one another? Everything. When your child is diagnosed with a terminal disease, when you are diagnosed with a terminal disease, or your mom or dad, your aunt or uncle, or your best friend… so much is taken from you. Cancer can take your body, your hair, it can take away money, it can take away your childhood, it can even take away your life. But so many cancer patients and “cancer moms” are turning towards the ultimate healer when their child is faced with devastating odds. These parents have to believe that miracles are possible, that God can overcome any cancer or any illness and can terminate any bad prognosis. God creates miracles. They aren’t always obvious miracles. Every parent and cancer patient pray desperately for a miracle. They pray they will be cured on earth…and sadly, many of them aren’t. What does this mean? It means simply that God’s will was done. That in no way takes away the excruciating pain of loving your child, your mother, your father, or your friend. The pain is always there, and often times will linger forever. But you must surrender yourself…
…and let God carry you.
-Lindsay
www.lovinglosingandliving.tumblr.com
No comments:
Post a Comment