SHARING OUR STORY

Last week we had our 
nursing home auxiliary meeting. 

I was asked to bring some devotional thoughts 

and share our personal situation. 

Then I thought that I should
use this also as a blogpost. 

In the last four months, the following words from Job of the Old Testament have often passed our lips. “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?"

I could now take the time to tell you all the difficult details of Peter’s and my health situation, but I think that would be putting the focus on us rather than on the Lord.  That’s why I’m thankful for this opportunity to share a few thoughts with you about the Lord's work with us.

God’s timing in our move to the Millwoods Manor was amazing.  We had no idea that so soon after moving in, within a month actually, we would be applying for Home Care help. We are totally settled in and enjoy living here!

God’s faithfulness was evident every step of the way:
·     in providing the free moving truck from Dwight Streu - ReMax – I think over the years he sold for us all the homes we’ve owned!

·     in working things out so that Ken and Melissa loved taking some of our furniture for their family and we could buy some smaller items for our now smaller apartment

·     in giving us excellent moving weather and in providing Ken and Mel and friends to help with the physical move, as health challenges made it so we couldn’t physically help very much with lifting and carrying. They worked very hard into the night and even set up our bed for our first night's sleep! We had packed it all up though and then Angela and Evelyn helped to put our new furniture together in the new place! Each day we had new strength to make a place for everything and put it in its new place! In one week we were done!

God’s wisdom sent spiritual and physical refreshing in the midst of everything as we traveled up north to visit Tim and Evelyn and family in High Level for Thanksgiving – just before the move. What a blessed highlight for the family! --- During our visit I had to take Peter to Emergency up in High Level. The doctor who looked after him was a most caring, compassionate man. He called the specialist at the U of Alberta insisting that Peter’s appointment with the Urologist Consultant be bumped up immediately upon our return.

God’s love surrounded us with an unprecedented outpouring of prayer support for all we were going through – the list is too long of all who wrote and phoned to say they were keeping us in prayer and those who stopped to pray, right then and there when we talked, wrapping us in their loving concern. It continues to encourage and astound us! We’re not worthy of this love but God confirms it time and again. 

Having cancer is not just about us – but also about the work the Lord is doing in the lives of those who are nearest and dearest and loved by us!

God’s peace that truly passes our understanding is such an unexpected gift! “Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1, 16-17). 

OK, in case you were wondering, we’re not jumping around for joy that cancer has invaded both our lives, but there is a quiet submission to the will of God, which will never take us where the grace of God cannot keep us. We have asked the Lord to be restored to good health and complete healing! We know that God is able. God is not surprised by any of this and He has promised to never leave us or forsake us as we go through this.

God’s promises to do us good and not harm us – are holding true.  Our time is and always has been in His Hands.  He is the same yesterday, today and in all eternity - that is the verse given to us at our wedding. Now almost 46 years later, He is still teaching us more and more to trust Him!

God’s mercy is evident every new day.  My second surgery at the beginning of January, revealed clear margins and no node involvement! I will, however, have to undergo five weeks of radiation treatment and possibly Tamoxifen for five years after that.  God’s mercy takes us through lessons of life we haven’t ever thought would happen. -- Peter was always a man of deep empathy and compassion, but he now knows what hot flashes menopausal women go through! We’ve had an amazing marriage and life together – but have been reminded that some who have cancer haven’t even had a chance at living much of a life!

Let me direct your thoughts once more to a verse of Scripture, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” May this verse keep echoing in your spirit and cause you to give God the glory! Pray for us as the Lord brings us to mind.  And for those of you who know me very well, you know that  – hugs are always welcome! 

LOTS OF LOVE TO YOU ALL!