It is true that an illness like cancer will test your faith. And just about every other emotion and thought you have. It does change your life, but mostly in ways you never imagined.
Personally, I've never been so sick and so blessed at the same time. One of my favorite blogs to read is "But Doctor I Hate Pink" (www.butdoctorihatepink.com). Ann describes side effects I'm too embarrassed to mention even though most cancer patients endure them. Truly, you don't want to know. She survived breast cancer and is now fighting liver cancer....ya, she's a fighter.
In the months I've been through chemotherapy and now heading into surgery, we have been abundantly cared for and loved by friends, family, church members, and total strangers. And I only tell you this because today I got to give back just a small portion of what was done for us. I debated telling this, and please understand I am not bragging. It just felt good to be able to give back.
Hannah needed an xray on her elbow that we thought she broke while we were moving. After the appointment and at the end of a very long day we stopped at a 7-11 for a free slurpee. It was about 4:30 in the afternoon. As I got out of the suburban with Ethan (5) I was approached by a young man who wanted to know if he could wash the windows on it in exchange for some food from the store. Not thinking I just said, "Oh, I think the windows are all right but thank you." Ethan and I went in and got our free slurpees. But I couldn't get that request out of my mind. It's different that he asked for food instead of money.
As we left the store he was still sitting on his bucket I asked if he had eaten anything that day. He said, "No". I told him to hang on, we'd get him somthing to eat. He looked surprised and told me thank you, that he had been yelled at all day. As I walked back in with him I told him to get whatever he wanted. (After all, how expensive can 7-11 get??) He ordered two steak tacquitos and I encouraged him to get something to drink and that he should at least get a cookie or some chips or an ice cream. He got an ice cream. While he was getting his food I noticed at least 20-25 more people come in the store for free slurpees and in the middle of all this noise I heard a little voice in my head start reciting the story of the Good Samaratin.
We walked out and he thanked me again. Said he was sorry. I told him not to be sorry and that in the last 8 months my family had been blessed so much by the many kindnesses from so many people that it felt right to do something for him. He smiled and sipped away at his drink.
Later tonight we got a call that Hannah's elbow is not broken....
Surgery is next week on the 19th. And I know that my family will be watched over and taken care of by family, friends, church members and total strangers, yet again.
Keep the Faith
No comments:
Post a Comment