Cancer. This little word could mean a death sentence for a person or it could mean the chance of a lifetime. While some view cancer as a door closing and the end of their life, others view it as a time to live the freest they have ever been. While some stages of cancer are completely curable, there are others that are not. The incurable stages leave the person with one of two choices. 1. Continue life as normal, until they can’t, then spend the rest of their time with their families or 2. Live each day like it’s their last and do all they things they’ve only ever dreamed of doing. I have met both types of people in my life and have noticed the same thing within each group-their love of being together with their loved ones in the end. Even though some people believe blood (family) is thicker than water (friends), I have noticed that not everyone believes that. I have seen people who would rather spend the last of their time on this green earth with friends because of the sense of belonging and togetherness that is sometimes lacking in a blood relationship.
“Some friends don’t help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.”
Proverbs 18:24
Granite, some people love their family more than anything in the world, but you must also think about what family means. Family means you get married to your best friend. Family means that you grow up with your siblings &/or cousins. Family means that there should always be love, no matter the past.
“The family is a fundamental institution of human society.”
Genesis 2:20-25, 4:1
Exodus 20:5-6, Joshua 7:10,15,24-25, 2 Kings 13:23
So, I guess what I am trying to say, is that cancer makes a person realize what their “family” is. It does not have to be individuals which share their bloodline, but could also be friends that share the same passions as them. Cancer is the Good Lord’s way of showing us who we truly are and who we truly are “family” with.
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”
Romans 8:16-17
This means that we are all family in Christ and that we all suffer together. Suffering could be the grieving of someone before they have even passed away. Suffering could be seeing the physical toll this disease has on a person. Suffering could be spending each day like it’s the last, knowing very that there may not be another day. Cancer is so much more than a disease. It’s a lifestyle change. It’s a new beginning. It’s lost hope. It’s found hope. It’s love. It’s grief. Above all else, it’s a wake up call to us all. Our life on this earth is and may be cut shorter, but we must keep our heads held high knowing where we go whenever we die.
This is my personal favorite scripture:
“but those who hope in the Lord� will renew their strength.�They will soar on wings like eagles;� they will run and not grow weary,� they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
Revelation 14:13 –
“And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
Psalm 116:15 –
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.”
Psalm 56:10-13
“I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.”
Psalm 118
“17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD”
Thank y’all for reading and I hope this helps anyone struggling with this battle. I have several family members and a few friends going through this battle, so I hope this finds those that need it. Please feel free to share!
-Jacey H.
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