THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

Over a couple of months ago our neighbor approached me to tell me that his wife had just been diagnosed with breast cancer.  He was devastated, to say the least.  While asking my prayer, he broke in tears.  Not long after he again came to break another the news that her cancer was already in Stage 4.  We prayed together asking for God’s healing and since then I began to see this too familiar sight: loss of weight and loss of hair as she began rounds of chemo.

About a month ago he told me that there was a possibility that her cancer had spread to her hips.  Remaining positive he asked for prayer.  About a couple of weeks ago he and his wife, looking so jubilant, came to bring us flowers.  The doctor had told them that there was a good chance that the problem on her hips was not cancerous, after all.  And a few days ago, he shared that the doctor was fairly certain that it was not cancer.  To end our conversation, he exclaimed, “Alleluia!  Praise the Lord!  He is awesome!” 

Throughout our recent conversations never once did he mention about her breast cancer; he only focused on her hips.  The fact he did not mention it does not make it go away; she still has Stage 4 breast cancer.  However, he chooses not to focus on the part of her body that has cancer; instead, he chooses to focus on the part of her body that does not have cancer.  He rejoices over that and uses it as a springboard to leap into the presence of God to thank Him.

His attitude reminds of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 16:8, “a great door for effective work has opened to me and there are many who oppose me.”  Paul decided to stay on in Ephesus not because everything was good but because something was good.  We, too, give thanks to God because something—not everything—is good.

Pastor Paul