Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior Habakkuk 3:18
It is with an aching heart that I write these words. After receiving a positive report at his 3-month scan in December, now at six months Dad’s cancer has returned and seemingly with a vengeance. Perhaps at some point I’ll write about the details and the new anatomy terms I have learned this week (who knew there was an omentum, and that it had anything to do with cake?), but suffice it to say that the cancer from his esophagus that we knew had entered his lymph nodes has now moved (metastasized) into his abdomen.Mom and Dad met yesterday (Thursday afternoon) with the oncologist in Everett to discuss the results of the CT scan that was done on Wednesday. I have not yet heard the details of this discussion, but the end result was that Mom and Dad will be looking into hospice care for the next month or so. We are a bit in shock right now and will be making lots of decisions in the coming days about lots of things, but wanted to let you, our family and friends, who have been so faithful in praying for us and encouraging us, know what is happening.
I know that both Mom and Dad would like to talk to so many of you in person, and I hope that you are not offended to find out this way, but we wanted to get the word out and start the prayers as soon as possible and thought that everyone hearing at one time may be better than telling some and inadvertently “missing” others.
There are a number of verses that have been running through my mind over the last 12 hours. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you (Isaiah 26:3). Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed (I Peter 1:13). But for some reason Philippians 4:4 is going over and over in my mind. This is one of those “always” time that rejoicing is difficult, but I am clinging to the command to rejoice, knowing that God is in control of all of this, and in that I can rejoice.
4 comments:
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.
God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.
Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
Lo, their very hairs He numbers,
And no daily care encumbers
Them that share His ev’ry blessing
And His help in woes distressing.
Praise the Lord in joyful numbers:
Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foeman must surrender.
Thank you Andy, Ben, and Anna.
Prayers for sustaining grace as only God our heavenly Father can provide. Know that our love and prayers are continuing.
Dear Sara, I am so sorry to hear of this news about your Dad. I am your Grandma Lillian's caregiver and even though I have not meet your Dad, I do feel connected and so saddened for all of your family. Your Grandma is such a faithful prayer person and I too, will be praying for your Dad as well as all of you. Love and prayers, Laurie
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