The Weekly Encourager - July 26, 2011 - Answering Anxiety, Part 3

Here are more encouraging words written by my friend Laura as they go through her husband's cancer (Stage 4 malignant paraganglioma).

Live Like You Were Dyin'

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.”

-opening paragraph of A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens

That [Dickens quotation] pretty much describes life in our household since [the diagnosis]! We have been up one side of the hill and down the other on a veritable roller coaster of emotion and physical challenges.

I think most would agree, even those who don’t believe in God, that trying times bring out the “best good” and the “ugliest bad” in all of us. I can attest to that truth in our fight with cancer -- the times of kindness and love get intensely sweeter, and times of frustration and anger turn into all-out war. Yet, there is hope that shines bright through it all, though sometimes we can’t see it in the din and dust of battle, or even after the white flag is thrown. We, who are united to Christ, have the promise that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” --Romans 8:28 Those belonging to Christ can rest assured even in the ugliest of bad times in our relationships with each other and with God himself, He is all the while working for our good and His glory. We are found righteous in Christ, even as we wage war with the sin in our hearts and struggle to get along with each other. And we have the hope of the glory Christ won for us when He died on the cross.

 Our good friend...died. Also that week, Osama Bin Laden was killed, and while there is a certain satisfaction in a criminal receiving due justice, there is a solemnity evoked from seeing the brevity of life. It sets one to thinking about the legacy that one leaves behind.

 Like country singer Tim McGraw says in one of his songs, “Someday, I hope you get the chance to live like you were dyin’”. Not because I wish the same difficult and painful circumstances for you and yours, but because you will hug your kids harder, stop and smell the roses, (like I did in front of MDACC while we were there for Brion’s surgery), and you will realize you don’t have the luxury of endless time to work at reconciliation with your husband/wife. You will not turn away from the truly important for the urgent, and you will know deep down in a life-affecting way, the only thing you can take with you to the next life is the smile on your face, the love of your family and friends, and expectation of what is to come.

 “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom, Lord. Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us -- yes, establish the work of our hands.” Psalm 90:12, 14-17

 “Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

Loving all of you, and hoping you’re ready for whatever comes next in your life,
Laura

God is faithful,
j

All quotations from Laura Ferratt are used by permission.  This was from May 10, 2011.