"You are doing fabulously!" Dr. V., the physiatrist at MaryFreeBed announced on December 4.
Janet, being the perfectionist, grinned but doubted. Am I really? she wondered. But she knew Dr. V. was sincere and a realist. Yes, he was encouraging her.
"I want to make you my poster child," he said with a smile. "Most people your age give up or deteriorate. But you refuse to go that route."
"I'm determined to keep improving," she responded. "I have tremendous faith...that helps!"
But still she wondered and she struggled. Yes, she heard lots of encouragement from professional therapists, friends and most important, from Dick. He never stopped telling her that she was making progress, however so slight. Then why was she so hard on herself? Why did she become discouraged? Why did those negative feelings creep into her consciousness? Why did she frequently battle the insecurities...the fears...the doubts? She answered her own question...because I have not regained all my pre-cancer abilities, she shouted to herself. And here it's been 31/2 years! She still had difficulty walking and using her right arm. She needed help getting dressed, getting into a car, could not drive, needed help in the kitchen. In fact, she realized with dread that she could not live alone. She needed help to survive. Here she was...a previously independent woman with lots of abilities, always helping other people...and here she was now...dependent on others. Could she accept that?
Then a small voice whispered in her being. "I am here, Janet. When have I left you? Who was there with you when the cancer diagnosis sounded like a death knell? Who promised you that you would be healed? Who provided you with an attentive, healthy, loving husband who has never complained about helping you? Remember what I promised you? 'In my own time frame'. Keep exercising, Janet, and keep that positive attitude. Believe in Me....I will never leave you."
Yes, she thought. Instead of thinking negatively, she owed it to herself to daily remember those blessings. She began to think about Christmas. How she had always loved Christmas...the joy, the warmth, the family gatherings, the visits with friends, the lights, the music and caroling, candles, making gifts, baking...all the traditions of Christmas. And this year she did note improvements in her physical stamina. Why, she was even doing some baking. Sure, simple things and with some help...but she did it! And she was beginning to have energy to entertain family and friends. And just the other day a friend stood next to her while they were singing Christmas carols and commented, "Janet, your voice is coming back!" Wow, she thought.
Yes, gifts of Christmas...encouragement from different sources. That's what the Lord was sending her. Precious gifts to remind her of His presence. Gifts to tell her to think of joy rather than discouragement.
Yes, she faced challenges. But no one had easy, carefree lives. Everyone endured some kind of pain in their lives. And she realized she wanted to continue to be an inspiration to others whose pain was hidden. Her incapacities were visible, not painful physically but painful emotionally. But she could reach out to others through her writings and through direct contact and help them to realize Someone was there to lean on, to help, to uphold and give joy!
First, she decided to start each day by giving thanks for the continual indications of improvement and progress, no matter how small. Today was her list:
1. she was baking Christmas goodies (with some help)- 7 layer, English toffee, pecan tarts, Spritz
2. she could bake a pie (Thanksgiving pumpkin chiffon), even rolled out the pie crust
3. she helped Dick stuff and stamp and organize the Christmas letter
4. she was doing all the laundry and folding (except big sheets)
5. climbing up and down stairs was a challenge but getting easier
6. her stamina had increased - exercising, walking, desire to tackle increased physical activities
7. her desire for reading kept increasing
8. companionship with Dick was a blessing
9. ever expanding her circle of friends
10. writing with her left hand continually showed improvement
Today's list was a start. Yes, Christmas was joy and that thought alone lifted her spirits. For decades she had experienced the wonderful joyful presence of the Lord during Christmas. It was as if God sends a fullness of His presence toward earth to remind us of His most precious gift - the baby Jesus who came to save His people from our sins so that we will be with Him in glory forever! What a gift! What joy that gift brings to us.
She was reminded of the recent sermon she heard last Sunday. The Wise Men had arrived in Jerusalem looking for the baby. They had followed the star "and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.'" Matthew 2:2
"Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him'. After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed." Matthew 2: 7-10
Yes, joy, real joy, joy in the Lord, takes away fear, disappointment, pain, discouragement and anxiety. The Wise Men confronted that evil king, Herod, but "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed."
Thinking all this through, Janet knew she had to remind herself that encouragement is a gift given to her daily to keep plugging away. The gift of encouragement then brings the gift of joy which comes from God Himself. And the gift of joy brings her to the gift of wonder and worship at the manger in Bethlehem. Such magnificent gifts! Only God would orchestrate such design. Yes, a God who gave the greatest gift of all - Jesus Christ.
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:11-14
A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941
Monday morning, December 8, 1941, the children, not more than five years old, filed into the Roosevelt School kindergarten room in Ridgefield Park, NJ. Miss Wilkins quickly had the young boys and girls sit in their little wooden green chairs. A short small lady, the teacher showed grave expression on her face as she opened a fresh copy of the New York Times. This was nothing unusual. She read from the paper every Monday morning to instruct her young charges of current events.
This morning Miss Wilkins spoke very seriously. She held up the Times and pointed to the picture on the front page. "Yesterday, there was an attack on the United States by the Japanese", she stated. "This happened at a large naval base called Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This means that the United States is at war with Japan." The picture was indeed frightening, showing flames and smoke rising up from partially submerged naval destroyers.
Janet sat in her chair listening carefully. She wondered what this all meant. She wasn't even sure where Pearl Harbor was. She glanced around at her classmates. Her neighbor, John, who lived near her on Grand Avenue, stared through his dark-rimmed glasses.
"This is a troubling time for our country," Miss Wilkins continued. "Pearl Harbor is in the Pacific Ocean, far away from New Jersey." With that she got up from her chair and walked over to the globe which was mounted near the wall. She spun the globe and pointed first to New Jersey and then to Hawaii. "But our country is involved in a world wide war which will effect everyone."
She was right, because in a few days, war was declared on Germany. The United States was now fighting a gigantic war all across the world, on two continents.... against the Axis of Evil....Germany, Italy, and Japan.
In the weeks and months and years that followed, Janet discovered what war meant to a young girl in New Jersey. True, there was no immediate danger of bombing and concentration camps, but there were scary times, all in the name of 'Prepare for War'. Since Ridgefield Park was located just west of New York City and thus on the east coast, there were air raid drills. This was required because of the danger of German submarine and air attacks. Some of these drills took place during school hours, when all the students (K- 8) filed into the school basement, crouched down on their knees with their arms over their heads. Janet always felt frightened during these drills. In fact, she found herself listening to possible Nazi airplanes flying overhead ready to release bombs.
Her dad had to work long, extra hours because he worked as an accountant at Ford Motor Company in Edgewater, NJ on the Hudson River, right across from Manhattan. Ford Motor was busy manufacturing Army jeeps instead of cars. Gas rationing was tight and her dad car pooled with other employees to get to work. On Easter Sunday of 1944, he had to work. She thought how awful that he could not go to church that day.
Air raids and blackouts were called in the early night time hours. Since so much emphasis was on 'preparedness', by not having houselights or streetlights lit, then enemy planes, if they did attack, could not see the towns. Janet's family would sit on the floor in the living room, in total darkness, as the air raid wardens patrolled the streets to enforce the blackout. Janet was frightened during these times so one night her dad kept a small flashlight on. However, that tiny light was seen by the warden, their doorbell rang and they were instructed to turn the light off. So the family huddled together and softly told happy stories of past vacations.
The Germans never attacked or bombed New Jersey but the citizens were prepared. The US saw unyielding patriotism during those war years, from collecting cans to rolling bandages. And Ridgefield Park joined the country in many volunteer endeavors for troop support. Thus it was a shock when a German was arrested in their neighboring town.
There was a butcher shop near the corner of Arthur and Main Streets which was just over the Ridgefield Park border into the next town of Teaneck. It was owned by a man of German descent who was well liked by his customers. He sold good meat at an affordable price. Naturally, the women of the neighborhood gathered in his shop and as they waited their turn the women would share family news of their husbands and sons on the European battle front. Unfortunately, the butcher listened carefully to every conversation, eliciting information as to troop withdrawals, troop placements, military transport schedules...while he was cheerfully waiting on his eager customers. Then during a break in customer crowds, the butcher would secretly and quietly enter his hideout and transmit information to Nazi contacts on his short wave radio. Upon his arrest, the shop was closed and women began to realize they had to watch what they said. It was a very trying time to feel like you could not trust your neighbor.
Yes, war is horrible. Several GIs from Ridgefield Park lost their lives in World War II and those that survived came home permanently marred by their experiences. And now, in 2013, looking back over decades, have wars and rumors of war never existed in some part of the world? Why must nations and people constantly be fighting in wars? Will wars never cease?
The tragedy of wars is the pain... loss of brothers, sisters, moms, dads, families, friends, loved ones...victims of tragedy. When victimized, people fight back for their very existence as a nation or as an individual. When one's freedoms are taken away, one has to fight in a war. But there is catastrophic devastation on either side, whatever the cause of the outbreak. Is there an answer to all this pain?
Of course, Janet knew there is an answer. There is an enemy who stalks this earth and his name is Satan. He incites anger, jealousy, deception, greed and corruption in the minds of people. There will always be wars until the Prince of Peace, the Savior of the world, the Righteous King comes again to earth and sets up His eternal kingdom. Then those who believe in Him will know true lasting peace and joy. She read again the Book of Revelation. This book that had once petrified her so much she could not read it, she read with joy. She knew that Jesus is the only answer. Yes there would continue to be wars and rumors of war but soon Jesus would come.
"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'" Revelation 21: 1- 4
This morning Miss Wilkins spoke very seriously. She held up the Times and pointed to the picture on the front page. "Yesterday, there was an attack on the United States by the Japanese", she stated. "This happened at a large naval base called Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. This means that the United States is at war with Japan." The picture was indeed frightening, showing flames and smoke rising up from partially submerged naval destroyers.
Janet sat in her chair listening carefully. She wondered what this all meant. She wasn't even sure where Pearl Harbor was. She glanced around at her classmates. Her neighbor, John, who lived near her on Grand Avenue, stared through his dark-rimmed glasses.
"This is a troubling time for our country," Miss Wilkins continued. "Pearl Harbor is in the Pacific Ocean, far away from New Jersey." With that she got up from her chair and walked over to the globe which was mounted near the wall. She spun the globe and pointed first to New Jersey and then to Hawaii. "But our country is involved in a world wide war which will effect everyone."
She was right, because in a few days, war was declared on Germany. The United States was now fighting a gigantic war all across the world, on two continents.... against the Axis of Evil....Germany, Italy, and Japan.
In the weeks and months and years that followed, Janet discovered what war meant to a young girl in New Jersey. True, there was no immediate danger of bombing and concentration camps, but there were scary times, all in the name of 'Prepare for War'. Since Ridgefield Park was located just west of New York City and thus on the east coast, there were air raid drills. This was required because of the danger of German submarine and air attacks. Some of these drills took place during school hours, when all the students (K- 8) filed into the school basement, crouched down on their knees with their arms over their heads. Janet always felt frightened during these drills. In fact, she found herself listening to possible Nazi airplanes flying overhead ready to release bombs.
Her dad had to work long, extra hours because he worked as an accountant at Ford Motor Company in Edgewater, NJ on the Hudson River, right across from Manhattan. Ford Motor was busy manufacturing Army jeeps instead of cars. Gas rationing was tight and her dad car pooled with other employees to get to work. On Easter Sunday of 1944, he had to work. She thought how awful that he could not go to church that day.
Air raids and blackouts were called in the early night time hours. Since so much emphasis was on 'preparedness', by not having houselights or streetlights lit, then enemy planes, if they did attack, could not see the towns. Janet's family would sit on the floor in the living room, in total darkness, as the air raid wardens patrolled the streets to enforce the blackout. Janet was frightened during these times so one night her dad kept a small flashlight on. However, that tiny light was seen by the warden, their doorbell rang and they were instructed to turn the light off. So the family huddled together and softly told happy stories of past vacations.
The Germans never attacked or bombed New Jersey but the citizens were prepared. The US saw unyielding patriotism during those war years, from collecting cans to rolling bandages. And Ridgefield Park joined the country in many volunteer endeavors for troop support. Thus it was a shock when a German was arrested in their neighboring town.
There was a butcher shop near the corner of Arthur and Main Streets which was just over the Ridgefield Park border into the next town of Teaneck. It was owned by a man of German descent who was well liked by his customers. He sold good meat at an affordable price. Naturally, the women of the neighborhood gathered in his shop and as they waited their turn the women would share family news of their husbands and sons on the European battle front. Unfortunately, the butcher listened carefully to every conversation, eliciting information as to troop withdrawals, troop placements, military transport schedules...while he was cheerfully waiting on his eager customers. Then during a break in customer crowds, the butcher would secretly and quietly enter his hideout and transmit information to Nazi contacts on his short wave radio. Upon his arrest, the shop was closed and women began to realize they had to watch what they said. It was a very trying time to feel like you could not trust your neighbor.
Yes, war is horrible. Several GIs from Ridgefield Park lost their lives in World War II and those that survived came home permanently marred by their experiences. And now, in 2013, looking back over decades, have wars and rumors of war never existed in some part of the world? Why must nations and people constantly be fighting in wars? Will wars never cease?
The tragedy of wars is the pain... loss of brothers, sisters, moms, dads, families, friends, loved ones...victims of tragedy. When victimized, people fight back for their very existence as a nation or as an individual. When one's freedoms are taken away, one has to fight in a war. But there is catastrophic devastation on either side, whatever the cause of the outbreak. Is there an answer to all this pain?
Of course, Janet knew there is an answer. There is an enemy who stalks this earth and his name is Satan. He incites anger, jealousy, deception, greed and corruption in the minds of people. There will always be wars until the Prince of Peace, the Savior of the world, the Righteous King comes again to earth and sets up His eternal kingdom. Then those who believe in Him will know true lasting peace and joy. She read again the Book of Revelation. This book that had once petrified her so much she could not read it, she read with joy. She knew that Jesus is the only answer. Yes there would continue to be wars and rumors of war but soon Jesus would come.
"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.'" Revelation 21: 1- 4
Monday, November 25, 2013
Thanksgiving
She stared at the calendar. Yes, Thanksgiving had arrived and families would again be gathering to enjoy the feasting and football. She looked back over the decades and remembered all those reunions. It was always a special day and she rejoiced that her memory was still keen as she cherished those past Thanksgiving celebrations.
As a child, Janet remembered Thanksgiving was always held at Aunt Francis and Uncle Arthur's house in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. A childless couple, they always insisted on hosting the traditional event. There was Uncle Ernie and Aunt Stella plus cousins Robert and Colin. Also Grandma Sprague and Aunt Emma. As well as Arthur's sister, Edith, and their parents, Peter and Ethel. Janet loved the holiday mainly because she adored her older cousins and this day gave her opportunity to be with them. This was family and her Mommy and Daddy and her brother Donald all entered into the reunion.
Of course, as a pre-teen, she found some of the relatives odd, stuffy, cantankerous and cold. But she and Donald could have fun on their own, stuff themselves with turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans with fried onion rings, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and mince pies while basically ignoring the 'old folks'. She particularly recalled how she shied away from Peter, Uncle Arthur's father, a large man with an annoying loud raspy voice, who scared her. She stayed away from him. Then there was Aunt Emma, an 'old maid', who lived with Grandma Sprague, but rarely spoke and never laughed. Uncle Ernie was always kind to her so she readily warmed to him. He and Aunt Stella and the boys traveled from Buffalo, New York each year, a long trip back then before interstates existed. Of course, this was the late 1940s, post World War II, and gas rationing had been lifted. Those war years (1941-1945) had meant little travel by car due to severe gas rationing and with most adults either serving in the armed forces or working long hours in defense companies. Now that the war was over, families rejoiced in the unhindered ability to visit one another.
So these years were special. Besides, this was family...her mother's family. And even though there were odd members in the group, they gathered each year to remember to be thankful. Peter always said 'Grace', a rather dull, mechanical prayer but it seemed to suffice and everyone was more interested in the food anyway. The boiled creamed onions and turnips were served with distinction but Janet always begged off on tasting them.
And so the years repeated themselves with the same gathering. As she thought back to those days many years ago she realized one person stood out...Edith. Yes, Edith had never married, but unlike Aunt Emma, Edith showed soft, warm, interested love in everyone. She was not a tall woman and with a curved back she seemed even shorter. Her clothes always appeared dowdy, not fashionable, and she had, in Janet's opinion, a horrible Jersey City accent. What was remarkable was her face... unattractive with a prominent nose, several bulbous skin colored moles and prominent teeth. But her smile radiated through that exterior visage and lit up her countenance. It seemed to Janet that she held some cherished wonderful secret that defined her and gave her joy. In her own naive youth, Janet respected Edith and liked her but mostly ignored her.
As the years went by and slowly the older members of the family died, Edith remained. By this time Janet had married, had four children and amazingly began a musical career. Of course, this was after she had received her BS in Nursing from Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing. But she had always loved music, always enjoyed singing and thus, after entering several vocal competitions, she sang professionally. After the Lay Witness Mission at their church she partnered with Jane Douglass White to perform solo evangelistic concerts all over the US and elsewhere. They became known as performing "Joy and Praise with Janet and Jane".
At one of their concerts, Edith appeared, who was ecstatic at the spiritual awakening in Janet. Much visiting and conversations followed. Then came the opportunity to cut a record of their music (33 1/3 LP...this was 1973). The cost appeared out of reach. Edith somehow heard of their need, met with Janet and Jane and contributed the funds to cut a record!
Shortly after, Edith became ill and died. But Edith never complained, even during multiple hospitalizations, lung complications...she continued sharing her smile and glowing with the presence of the Lord. At Edith's funeral, Janet sang Edith's favorite hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness". Yes, Edith was a beautiful woman in spirit. The Lord radiated His presence through her as she touched the lives of others.
As Janet thought about this special woman she realized what an inspiration Edith had been. Little known, unobtrusive, never given media coverage, yet Edith had an impact on Janet's life. What a lesson this was. We never know how we impact our family and friends around us. Here Edith stood, physically unattractive in today's culture with curvature of the spine, handicapped by arthritis and breathing problems, yet she powerfully radiated Her trust and love in Jesus Christ as evidenced in her generous financial contributions and her personal conduct through all adversity. Janet thought about her own challenges post cancer with her struggle of right sided weakness. Now she knew with certainty. More important than physical prowess or facial perfection is the presence of Jesus in her life. So she focused on being a positive inspiration to family and friends communicating to them that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior.
How thankful Janet is today as she remembers Edith, this woman of faith, who was part of the family at Thanksgiving but is now part of God's family in Heaven.
"Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"
As a child, Janet remembered Thanksgiving was always held at Aunt Francis and Uncle Arthur's house in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. A childless couple, they always insisted on hosting the traditional event. There was Uncle Ernie and Aunt Stella plus cousins Robert and Colin. Also Grandma Sprague and Aunt Emma. As well as Arthur's sister, Edith, and their parents, Peter and Ethel. Janet loved the holiday mainly because she adored her older cousins and this day gave her opportunity to be with them. This was family and her Mommy and Daddy and her brother Donald all entered into the reunion.
Of course, as a pre-teen, she found some of the relatives odd, stuffy, cantankerous and cold. But she and Donald could have fun on their own, stuff themselves with turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans with fried onion rings, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and mince pies while basically ignoring the 'old folks'. She particularly recalled how she shied away from Peter, Uncle Arthur's father, a large man with an annoying loud raspy voice, who scared her. She stayed away from him. Then there was Aunt Emma, an 'old maid', who lived with Grandma Sprague, but rarely spoke and never laughed. Uncle Ernie was always kind to her so she readily warmed to him. He and Aunt Stella and the boys traveled from Buffalo, New York each year, a long trip back then before interstates existed. Of course, this was the late 1940s, post World War II, and gas rationing had been lifted. Those war years (1941-1945) had meant little travel by car due to severe gas rationing and with most adults either serving in the armed forces or working long hours in defense companies. Now that the war was over, families rejoiced in the unhindered ability to visit one another.
So these years were special. Besides, this was family...her mother's family. And even though there were odd members in the group, they gathered each year to remember to be thankful. Peter always said 'Grace', a rather dull, mechanical prayer but it seemed to suffice and everyone was more interested in the food anyway. The boiled creamed onions and turnips were served with distinction but Janet always begged off on tasting them.
And so the years repeated themselves with the same gathering. As she thought back to those days many years ago she realized one person stood out...Edith. Yes, Edith had never married, but unlike Aunt Emma, Edith showed soft, warm, interested love in everyone. She was not a tall woman and with a curved back she seemed even shorter. Her clothes always appeared dowdy, not fashionable, and she had, in Janet's opinion, a horrible Jersey City accent. What was remarkable was her face... unattractive with a prominent nose, several bulbous skin colored moles and prominent teeth. But her smile radiated through that exterior visage and lit up her countenance. It seemed to Janet that she held some cherished wonderful secret that defined her and gave her joy. In her own naive youth, Janet respected Edith and liked her but mostly ignored her.
As the years went by and slowly the older members of the family died, Edith remained. By this time Janet had married, had four children and amazingly began a musical career. Of course, this was after she had received her BS in Nursing from Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing. But she had always loved music, always enjoyed singing and thus, after entering several vocal competitions, she sang professionally. After the Lay Witness Mission at their church she partnered with Jane Douglass White to perform solo evangelistic concerts all over the US and elsewhere. They became known as performing "Joy and Praise with Janet and Jane".
At one of their concerts, Edith appeared, who was ecstatic at the spiritual awakening in Janet. Much visiting and conversations followed. Then came the opportunity to cut a record of their music (33 1/3 LP...this was 1973). The cost appeared out of reach. Edith somehow heard of their need, met with Janet and Jane and contributed the funds to cut a record!
Shortly after, Edith became ill and died. But Edith never complained, even during multiple hospitalizations, lung complications...she continued sharing her smile and glowing with the presence of the Lord. At Edith's funeral, Janet sang Edith's favorite hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness". Yes, Edith was a beautiful woman in spirit. The Lord radiated His presence through her as she touched the lives of others.
As Janet thought about this special woman she realized what an inspiration Edith had been. Little known, unobtrusive, never given media coverage, yet Edith had an impact on Janet's life. What a lesson this was. We never know how we impact our family and friends around us. Here Edith stood, physically unattractive in today's culture with curvature of the spine, handicapped by arthritis and breathing problems, yet she powerfully radiated Her trust and love in Jesus Christ as evidenced in her generous financial contributions and her personal conduct through all adversity. Janet thought about her own challenges post cancer with her struggle of right sided weakness. Now she knew with certainty. More important than physical prowess or facial perfection is the presence of Jesus in her life. So she focused on being a positive inspiration to family and friends communicating to them that Jesus Christ is the Lord and Savior.
How thankful Janet is today as she remembers Edith, this woman of faith, who was part of the family at Thanksgiving but is now part of God's family in Heaven.
"Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"
Friday, November 8, 2013
Close to the heart
Money. They had never argued about money, but it was a subject that they respected. Since Dick was a 'depression baby' and she a '30s' baby, they both had lived with the realities of living a frugal life. Dick remembered meager meals and she remembered owning only two outfits to wear for school and one special dress for Sundays. So it was no surprise that they monitored a careful budget during their married life.
Then came the moment in their lives when they heard the word tithe. Back in early 1971 they were asked to be chairpersons for a special weekend in their church called Lay Witness Weekend. Janet had recently met people who recently had such a weekend and she had been amazed at the tangible love that overflowed them. These men and women clearly stated that they had heard about the power of Jesus Christ during a Lay Witness Weekend and that experience had changed their lives. After listening to these testimonies Janet was convinced her home church had to have such a weekend.
So during that weekend, she and Dick heard about tithing...how people were blessed when they gave full tithes and offerings to the Lord. Dick shook his head....10% of their income??? How could they do that? Here they were with four little kids, moderate income as an elementary school principal, mortgage, demands of living in an upscale community plus they felt good about contributing at least something to their church.
Then by the beginning of December of 1971, having grown in Bible study, they decided to plunge in and abruptly begin tithing....a straight 10% of Dick's income. But it was December...Christmas presents, extra stuff for the kids...were they crazy? But Dick started writing the weekly checks. And they held their breaths. Was this going to work? The first year was tough. To maintain their 10% tithe they pooled some money that Janet was earning from singing at weddings and church services. They wanted to fulfill their commitment to God.
They discovered some wonderful verses in Malachi and they read them over and over again.
"I the Lord do not change....... Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3: 6-10
During the coming weeks and months they were amazed. Yes, tithing did work. Their money seemed to stretch and all bills were paid. Blessings abounded. Then they heard about the father of a friend who tithed, not 10% but 70%! What? And that family had five kids! Wow! They began to think maybe they could stretch their giving beyond 10%.
So as the years continued they kept giving increased tithes and offerings and they were never in need. One year after Dick retired they decided to make a substantial increase in their tithe for a worthy mission cause. They were not sure how this would work out but they trusted God. Unbelievably, a few weeks later Dick got a letter stating that because he was a veteran he was getting a monthly increase in his pension which matched the amount they had increased in their monthly tithe! Was that confirmation? Amen!
And now they again thanked the Lord for His blessings. The cost of cancer treatments are astronomical and can lead to bankruptcy. But because of the generous benefits that Dick received upon retirement as an elementary school principal in New Jersey all the hospital stays and chemotherapy treatments that Janet had endured were covered by insurance! This had huge implications. With the trauma of going through 16 months of chemotherapy, four months as an impatient in Syracuse Upstate Hospital, months of therapy....speech, physical and occupational, weekly stays at the hospital during one year of chemo, Janet realized the overwhelming trauma of huge medical bills would have devastated her. God had prepared them and provided for them.
As she thought about their financial situation over the years she knew how everyone holds their wallets close to their hearts. Friends rarely divulge their salaries or how much they paid for their homes or what debt they are carrying. No, we hold these money facts close to our hearts. But God knows. We can't hide anything from Him. But if we honor Him by "giving of the first fruits of our labors" He will bless us.
Janet remembered how for years they managed their budget by first cashing Dick's bi-weekly checks and depositing the budgeting amount in various envelopes. They were labeled: food, mortgage, utilities, insurance, taxes, medical, clothing, and God. Dick always filled God's envelope first. One time their son pleaded for new gym shoes. She looked in the clothing envelope and it was empty so she told him he'd have to wait until next paycheck. Glenn checked through the envelopes and found money in the God envelope. "We can borrow from God!" he exclaimed. "God won't mind." They laughed. Of course they did not borrow from God and it gave a wonderful opportunity for helping their son understand the importance of tithing. He got his gym shoes in another week when there was money in the clothes envelope.
Yes, our wallets are close to our hearts but what joy it gives our hearts to give generously to God!
Then came the moment in their lives when they heard the word tithe. Back in early 1971 they were asked to be chairpersons for a special weekend in their church called Lay Witness Weekend. Janet had recently met people who recently had such a weekend and she had been amazed at the tangible love that overflowed them. These men and women clearly stated that they had heard about the power of Jesus Christ during a Lay Witness Weekend and that experience had changed their lives. After listening to these testimonies Janet was convinced her home church had to have such a weekend.
So during that weekend, she and Dick heard about tithing...how people were blessed when they gave full tithes and offerings to the Lord. Dick shook his head....10% of their income??? How could they do that? Here they were with four little kids, moderate income as an elementary school principal, mortgage, demands of living in an upscale community plus they felt good about contributing at least something to their church.
Then by the beginning of December of 1971, having grown in Bible study, they decided to plunge in and abruptly begin tithing....a straight 10% of Dick's income. But it was December...Christmas presents, extra stuff for the kids...were they crazy? But Dick started writing the weekly checks. And they held their breaths. Was this going to work? The first year was tough. To maintain their 10% tithe they pooled some money that Janet was earning from singing at weddings and church services. They wanted to fulfill their commitment to God.
They discovered some wonderful verses in Malachi and they read them over and over again.
"I the Lord do not change....... Return to me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse-the whole nation of you-because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3: 6-10
During the coming weeks and months they were amazed. Yes, tithing did work. Their money seemed to stretch and all bills were paid. Blessings abounded. Then they heard about the father of a friend who tithed, not 10% but 70%! What? And that family had five kids! Wow! They began to think maybe they could stretch their giving beyond 10%.
So as the years continued they kept giving increased tithes and offerings and they were never in need. One year after Dick retired they decided to make a substantial increase in their tithe for a worthy mission cause. They were not sure how this would work out but they trusted God. Unbelievably, a few weeks later Dick got a letter stating that because he was a veteran he was getting a monthly increase in his pension which matched the amount they had increased in their monthly tithe! Was that confirmation? Amen!
And now they again thanked the Lord for His blessings. The cost of cancer treatments are astronomical and can lead to bankruptcy. But because of the generous benefits that Dick received upon retirement as an elementary school principal in New Jersey all the hospital stays and chemotherapy treatments that Janet had endured were covered by insurance! This had huge implications. With the trauma of going through 16 months of chemotherapy, four months as an impatient in Syracuse Upstate Hospital, months of therapy....speech, physical and occupational, weekly stays at the hospital during one year of chemo, Janet realized the overwhelming trauma of huge medical bills would have devastated her. God had prepared them and provided for them.
As she thought about their financial situation over the years she knew how everyone holds their wallets close to their hearts. Friends rarely divulge their salaries or how much they paid for their homes or what debt they are carrying. No, we hold these money facts close to our hearts. But God knows. We can't hide anything from Him. But if we honor Him by "giving of the first fruits of our labors" He will bless us.
Janet remembered how for years they managed their budget by first cashing Dick's bi-weekly checks and depositing the budgeting amount in various envelopes. They were labeled: food, mortgage, utilities, insurance, taxes, medical, clothing, and God. Dick always filled God's envelope first. One time their son pleaded for new gym shoes. She looked in the clothing envelope and it was empty so she told him he'd have to wait until next paycheck. Glenn checked through the envelopes and found money in the God envelope. "We can borrow from God!" he exclaimed. "God won't mind." They laughed. Of course they did not borrow from God and it gave a wonderful opportunity for helping their son understand the importance of tithing. He got his gym shoes in another week when there was money in the clothes envelope.
Yes, our wallets are close to our hearts but what joy it gives our hearts to give generously to God!
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
"In My own time frame"
The words still repeated themselves again and again. On that night of May 26, 2010, Jesus had appeared to her and told her, "You will be healed but in My own time frame." (See blog posting on March 2, 2013 "A Promise Given"). And that was six weeks before her diagnosis of brain cancer! She continued to be amazed at how God showed His presence in her life.
First of all, how many people did she know, really know, who had experienced a vision of Jesus? She realized there was no one. Sure, she had read all the Biblical accounts and some visionary experiences in current books but she wondered, why her? Why did God send her a message so powerful and yet so frightening?
Second of all, she wasn't even sick that last week of May. She had to admit that she did feel extra tired with a lack of her usual vibrant energy, but, even as a nurse, never did she contemplate she was headed for an aggressive, lethal cancer. After all, she was too healthy, walked one to three miles a couple times a week, never ate junk food....(not counting her never ending love of chocolate), enjoyed an active social life, lots of friends, wonderful husband, busy church life. A candidate for cancer? No way! In fact, there was a photo of her on their iPhotos of her hostessing a large dinner party at their lake house the second week of May.
And lastly, after several years, she still clearly remembered every detail of that vision...especially the words. And now she knew... she had proof... it was happening!
She realized that some friends and family laughed and scoffed at her vision. "A vision? Well, of course, Janet had brain cancer. She was probably hallucinating! Poor Janet, she doesn't know it was totally her confused brain that thought she had a vision," they probably said.
But now toward the end of 2013, amazing positive changes in her health had occurred. Dr. A. had recently weaned her off Keppra, the anti-seizure medication. Even though she had never experienced a seizure, even before her diagnosis, the doctors had prescribed that med to prevent any possible seizure, a common problem due to brain cancer. Now that she was safely off Keppra, she had increased energy especially for exercising, did not need daily naps, her voice had improved and she enjoyed more socialization.
Her motor skills were improving. The walking, though still slow, was more confident, even though she still had to use her cane or someone's arm. The therapist had told her the cane would prevent bad positioning and joint damage. She was assured by the therapists that consistent exercise would produce positive results. So she exercised.
The right arm was improving. She could now carry light weight articles in her right hand, something she could not do previously. Also, she kept putting the right arm to work....assisting in folding laundry, opening jars...working those shoulder muscles in every possible way.
She smiled at every slight improvement. She had discovered the importance of patience and trusting her Lord to accomplish what He had promised. Oh, there were some days she cried to God to heal her quickly. In this fast, competitive, impatient, demanding culture she found it frustrating that healing was coming so slowly. But she remembered His words and kept hearing His quiet voice repeating to her that she would be "healed in His own time frame".
During the summer of 2011 she thought surely she would experience total healing in a momentous, miraculous way. It did not happen. She felt disillusioned and even began to doubt the vision. But those words He had spoken never left her and then she would see minor improvements and believe again. Oh, how much she had learned!
She was now shortly due for an MRI and would know the results within two weeks. She felt strongly the MRI would prove no cancer. So there were the words..."You will be healed".... Yes, the Lord was right! She marveled at His power and choosing to heal her! She was nothing special. Just a normal woman. But she loved the Lord. She wanted to serve Him to her dying day and wanted to praise Him mightily. He had chosen to heal her in this fallen world so that others would know of His great love!
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4
First of all, how many people did she know, really know, who had experienced a vision of Jesus? She realized there was no one. Sure, she had read all the Biblical accounts and some visionary experiences in current books but she wondered, why her? Why did God send her a message so powerful and yet so frightening?
Second of all, she wasn't even sick that last week of May. She had to admit that she did feel extra tired with a lack of her usual vibrant energy, but, even as a nurse, never did she contemplate she was headed for an aggressive, lethal cancer. After all, she was too healthy, walked one to three miles a couple times a week, never ate junk food....(not counting her never ending love of chocolate), enjoyed an active social life, lots of friends, wonderful husband, busy church life. A candidate for cancer? No way! In fact, there was a photo of her on their iPhotos of her hostessing a large dinner party at their lake house the second week of May.
And lastly, after several years, she still clearly remembered every detail of that vision...especially the words. And now she knew... she had proof... it was happening!
She realized that some friends and family laughed and scoffed at her vision. "A vision? Well, of course, Janet had brain cancer. She was probably hallucinating! Poor Janet, she doesn't know it was totally her confused brain that thought she had a vision," they probably said.
But now toward the end of 2013, amazing positive changes in her health had occurred. Dr. A. had recently weaned her off Keppra, the anti-seizure medication. Even though she had never experienced a seizure, even before her diagnosis, the doctors had prescribed that med to prevent any possible seizure, a common problem due to brain cancer. Now that she was safely off Keppra, she had increased energy especially for exercising, did not need daily naps, her voice had improved and she enjoyed more socialization.
Her motor skills were improving. The walking, though still slow, was more confident, even though she still had to use her cane or someone's arm. The therapist had told her the cane would prevent bad positioning and joint damage. She was assured by the therapists that consistent exercise would produce positive results. So she exercised.
The right arm was improving. She could now carry light weight articles in her right hand, something she could not do previously. Also, she kept putting the right arm to work....assisting in folding laundry, opening jars...working those shoulder muscles in every possible way.
She smiled at every slight improvement. She had discovered the importance of patience and trusting her Lord to accomplish what He had promised. Oh, there were some days she cried to God to heal her quickly. In this fast, competitive, impatient, demanding culture she found it frustrating that healing was coming so slowly. But she remembered His words and kept hearing His quiet voice repeating to her that she would be "healed in His own time frame".
During the summer of 2011 she thought surely she would experience total healing in a momentous, miraculous way. It did not happen. She felt disillusioned and even began to doubt the vision. But those words He had spoken never left her and then she would see minor improvements and believe again. Oh, how much she had learned!
She was now shortly due for an MRI and would know the results within two weeks. She felt strongly the MRI would prove no cancer. So there were the words..."You will be healed".... Yes, the Lord was right! She marveled at His power and choosing to heal her! She was nothing special. Just a normal woman. But she loved the Lord. She wanted to serve Him to her dying day and wanted to praise Him mightily. He had chosen to heal her in this fallen world so that others would know of His great love!
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4
Monday, October 14, 2013
Trials bring joy?
She read the words. "My brethren, count it all JOY when you fall into various trials." James 1:2
She shook her head in wonderment. All the trials she had faced in the past three years had not been filled with smiles, laughter and dancing! Hardly. Instead, many tears and times of questioning, doubting, frustration, depression, anxiety...certainly not joy!
The memory of July, 2010 was still sharp in her mind. The three weeks of strange symptoms and then hearing the news CANCER! How could a healthy, active woman with no genetic predisposition to cancer tolerate such dreadful news? What was joyful about that?
She remembered back in the early spring of 2010, driving past the Cancer and Hematology Center in Holland, MI and thinking, "Thank goodness I don't have to go there because I don't have cancer." Yet by late fall of 2010, that's where she met Dr. A. following her discharge from spending four months at Syracuse, NY Hospital. What was joyful about that?
Yes, unbelievable trials. Was there any joy? She began to examine the past three years.
She remembered that evening when she sat in her bed at Upstate Hospital in Syracuse following the brain biopsy. The oncologist, Dr. C., came into her room and began describing her diagnosis. The brain biopsy was required so that a correct diagnosis could be made. Up to that point the doctors were not certain what was wrong. She had been in the hospital ten days, had then been discharged to Glenn's house in Manlius, NY the first week of July as they waited for the brain surgeon to return from his vacation. The doctors held three possibilities: either she had a stroke, Lyme disease or cancer. The biopsy of the brain's left thalamus and the excising of a nickel sized tissue sample would provide the answer.
On that evening of July 8, Dr. C. spoke a few minutes to her and Glenn (Dick had already returned to Glenn's for much needed rest). She recalled how fuzzy her thinking was that evening but she heard the next comment loud and clear. "You have a lethal, aggressive lymphoma in the brain. You probably have only seven weeks to live!"
Her first thought was "Seven weeks is not very long." But then a spirit of calm assurance enveloped her and she stated, with positive declaration, "Praise God!"
At that moment she heard Dr. C.'s assistant give a cry of wonder, "Oh!"
And then she added, "God is good!"
The response of Dr. C. and his assistant was shock! Probably they had never heard a patient respond in that way to a pronouncement of a death sentence!
Ah, yes, she now thought. She had to admit. That was an unexplainable joyful moment. She was absolutely certain the Holy Spirit had overtaken her and in spite of the hopeless news from the oncologist she had responded positively. She knew...she knew the Lord would be with her, whether she joined Him in Heaven or whether she stayed on this earth. She was not afraid of dying or of living.
She recalled just this past summer when the news about Dick was so devastating. At that time the doctors thought Dick's prostate cancer had returned and he only had a short time to live. That news had rocked her. She was so distraught she cried every day. Feelings of helplessness and uncertainty had crowded her days. She prayed constantly. And then the glorious news when the CAT scan and lymph node biopsy proved there was no cancer. Yes, they experienced indescribable joy!
What a period of testing and trial! And yet she realized because of her experiences, she had come to depend on Jesus more than she ever had in her lifetime. He is real, she told herself over and over again. She knew He was real because she had experienced His presence again and again. She had leaned on Him, trusted Him, believed in Him more deeply than ever. The intimacy which she gained with her Lord had indeed brought her joy...unspeakable joy!
She began to compare her pre- cancer days with her present days. Yes, she had believed strongly in God all her life, and had surrendered her heart willingly to Jesus back in 1972 at a Lay Witness Mission. She had grown in her faith over the years with the help of Christ centered pastors, Bible studies and deep relationships with Christian friends. But she realized now what she had gained....the incredible deep intimate relationship with her Lord as she struggled through her trials with brain cancer.
Truly this had been her testing, her trial and she had survived. She had endured, not by any self serving strength but only by depending, surrendering and trusting totally on God.
"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, 'In Isaac your seed be called,' concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead." Hebrews 11: 17-19
She shook her head in wonderment. All the trials she had faced in the past three years had not been filled with smiles, laughter and dancing! Hardly. Instead, many tears and times of questioning, doubting, frustration, depression, anxiety...certainly not joy!
The memory of July, 2010 was still sharp in her mind. The three weeks of strange symptoms and then hearing the news CANCER! How could a healthy, active woman with no genetic predisposition to cancer tolerate such dreadful news? What was joyful about that?
She remembered back in the early spring of 2010, driving past the Cancer and Hematology Center in Holland, MI and thinking, "Thank goodness I don't have to go there because I don't have cancer." Yet by late fall of 2010, that's where she met Dr. A. following her discharge from spending four months at Syracuse, NY Hospital. What was joyful about that?
Yes, unbelievable trials. Was there any joy? She began to examine the past three years.
She remembered that evening when she sat in her bed at Upstate Hospital in Syracuse following the brain biopsy. The oncologist, Dr. C., came into her room and began describing her diagnosis. The brain biopsy was required so that a correct diagnosis could be made. Up to that point the doctors were not certain what was wrong. She had been in the hospital ten days, had then been discharged to Glenn's house in Manlius, NY the first week of July as they waited for the brain surgeon to return from his vacation. The doctors held three possibilities: either she had a stroke, Lyme disease or cancer. The biopsy of the brain's left thalamus and the excising of a nickel sized tissue sample would provide the answer.
On that evening of July 8, Dr. C. spoke a few minutes to her and Glenn (Dick had already returned to Glenn's for much needed rest). She recalled how fuzzy her thinking was that evening but she heard the next comment loud and clear. "You have a lethal, aggressive lymphoma in the brain. You probably have only seven weeks to live!"
Her first thought was "Seven weeks is not very long." But then a spirit of calm assurance enveloped her and she stated, with positive declaration, "Praise God!"
At that moment she heard Dr. C.'s assistant give a cry of wonder, "Oh!"
And then she added, "God is good!"
The response of Dr. C. and his assistant was shock! Probably they had never heard a patient respond in that way to a pronouncement of a death sentence!
Ah, yes, she now thought. She had to admit. That was an unexplainable joyful moment. She was absolutely certain the Holy Spirit had overtaken her and in spite of the hopeless news from the oncologist she had responded positively. She knew...she knew the Lord would be with her, whether she joined Him in Heaven or whether she stayed on this earth. She was not afraid of dying or of living.
She recalled just this past summer when the news about Dick was so devastating. At that time the doctors thought Dick's prostate cancer had returned and he only had a short time to live. That news had rocked her. She was so distraught she cried every day. Feelings of helplessness and uncertainty had crowded her days. She prayed constantly. And then the glorious news when the CAT scan and lymph node biopsy proved there was no cancer. Yes, they experienced indescribable joy!
What a period of testing and trial! And yet she realized because of her experiences, she had come to depend on Jesus more than she ever had in her lifetime. He is real, she told herself over and over again. She knew He was real because she had experienced His presence again and again. She had leaned on Him, trusted Him, believed in Him more deeply than ever. The intimacy which she gained with her Lord had indeed brought her joy...unspeakable joy!
She began to compare her pre- cancer days with her present days. Yes, she had believed strongly in God all her life, and had surrendered her heart willingly to Jesus back in 1972 at a Lay Witness Mission. She had grown in her faith over the years with the help of Christ centered pastors, Bible studies and deep relationships with Christian friends. But she realized now what she had gained....the incredible deep intimate relationship with her Lord as she struggled through her trials with brain cancer.
Truly this had been her testing, her trial and she had survived. She had endured, not by any self serving strength but only by depending, surrendering and trusting totally on God.
"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, 'In Isaac your seed be called,' concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead." Hebrews 11: 17-19
Thursday, September 19, 2013
The Best is Yet to Come!
It was just one week ago that they had the miraculous news that no cancer was found in Dick's 'enlarged' lymph node and no cancer was evident in his body. What a glorious week. The prednisone (10 mg a day) gave Dick increased energy. He was driving the car, helping Janet with her exercises, shopping, and doing up to 12 push-ups a day! They rejoiced that they knew such an ever present, powerful, faithful God!
On further research, Janet discovered that a side effect of the Nizoral was decreased energy caused by suppression of the adrenal gland which produces cortisone which gives the body energy! A..ha!
Janet realized she had learned a lot during the past two traumatic months. She had experienced panic over Dick's condition and initial diagnosis. She kept saying "I trust God!", but in the midst of the unknowns, the fears, the uncertainties... she was scared. She was weak. The emotional stress had taken a toll on her body still undergoing physical therapy post cancer. She felt her physical progress had taken a downward spiral. Why wasn't she stronger? Where was her faith?
Her biggest worry was "Who will take care of me if Dick can't?" Since she still demonstrated right-sided weakness, she knew she could not live independently alone. She had always prided herself on being emotionally strong, able to surmount difficulties, unafraid of new challenges as well as keeping herself in excellent physical condition. Of course the brain cancer had changed all that. She still suffered emotionally from the shock of how drastically her physical condition had changed. And she realized she never had fully accepted the changes.
One night she had a soft message from God. "Janet, who has taken care of you for these three years? Who made sure Dick was at your bedside every day for four months while you were at the hospital in Syracuse, NY? Who arranged for Glenn and his family to live twenty minutes from Syracuse University Hospital so Dick and visiting family members had a place to stay? Who caused you to purchase the condo in Michigan that had handicap access features in the bathroom? Who located you in Holland MI so that you would have excellent rehab therapy at MaryFreeBed in Grand Rapids? Who made sure you would be within minutes of Carin and Diana during those twelve long months of week-long chemo treatments in Michigan? Who gave you loving supportive prayer warriors in a new church?".......... "Can't you see I have always taken care of you? And I will continue to take care of you. Don't worry, I am with you always."
Wow! Yes, all she ever had to do was lean on her Lord. He had always been there and would continue to be at her side.
That Sunday she heard a sermon on Job and it confirmed all she had heard from her precious Lord.
Then the Lord answered Job.
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone -
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?" Job 38: 4-7
Then Job replied to the Lord:
"I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."
Job 42: 2-3
Looking back on the past three years, yes, she was amazed and realized God had protected her and cared for her. The Lord did not cause her cancer, but he knew ahead of time what her needs would be. And in His wisdom and total plan He had provided for her. She agreed with Job. Surely her human mind could not possibly understand all God is and what He accomplishes but now she had concrete evidence that God is omnipotent!
During the summer and especially during the past two months she had begun to think a lot about Heaven. Since she and Dick had heard shocking 'death notices' about their health issues, she began to wonder what Heaven would be like. She had not really spent much time thinking about it before. She just knew with certainty that she would be in the presence of Jesus. So she read books... "90 Minutes in Heaven", "Heaven is for Real", and Randy Alcorn's book "Heaven". The more she read the more excited she became.
As Randy Alcorn said in his book, if you were going on a trip to a new area of the world you had never visited before, you would spend hours researching about that destination. Why don't we research more on our heavenly destination?
Why do we fear death?, she wondered. Why is the word 'death' such a negative thought? As a Christian, we should look to our life in Heaven as glorious, as a return to the Garden of Eden, where we will have continual joy and peace. We will walk with the Lord, learn so much more about Him, praise Him and have wonderful fellowship with our loved ones. No tears, no pain, no evil, no heartache!
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Revelation 21: 3-4
When you think about it,'The Best is Yet to Come'! Death, or our life after death, will be more wonderful than anything we have ever experienced. All the incredible beauties and joys of this earthly life...sunsets, rainbows, music, roses, autumn leaves, babies' giggles, children's laughter, hugs and kisses, summer relaxation, smells of fresh baked bread, taste of chocolate, twinkling stars, loving eyes...will be nothing in comparison to the ecstasy of Paradise!
"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." Revelation 22: 17
She decided then that she would not have a 'funeral' or 'memorial service'. No, she would have a 'Graduation' because she will have graduated from this school of life where she learned about God and Jesus, took the entrance exams, surrendered her heart to Jesus and would now enter into eternity!
On further research, Janet discovered that a side effect of the Nizoral was decreased energy caused by suppression of the adrenal gland which produces cortisone which gives the body energy! A..ha!
Janet realized she had learned a lot during the past two traumatic months. She had experienced panic over Dick's condition and initial diagnosis. She kept saying "I trust God!", but in the midst of the unknowns, the fears, the uncertainties... she was scared. She was weak. The emotional stress had taken a toll on her body still undergoing physical therapy post cancer. She felt her physical progress had taken a downward spiral. Why wasn't she stronger? Where was her faith?
Her biggest worry was "Who will take care of me if Dick can't?" Since she still demonstrated right-sided weakness, she knew she could not live independently alone. She had always prided herself on being emotionally strong, able to surmount difficulties, unafraid of new challenges as well as keeping herself in excellent physical condition. Of course the brain cancer had changed all that. She still suffered emotionally from the shock of how drastically her physical condition had changed. And she realized she never had fully accepted the changes.
One night she had a soft message from God. "Janet, who has taken care of you for these three years? Who made sure Dick was at your bedside every day for four months while you were at the hospital in Syracuse, NY? Who arranged for Glenn and his family to live twenty minutes from Syracuse University Hospital so Dick and visiting family members had a place to stay? Who caused you to purchase the condo in Michigan that had handicap access features in the bathroom? Who located you in Holland MI so that you would have excellent rehab therapy at MaryFreeBed in Grand Rapids? Who made sure you would be within minutes of Carin and Diana during those twelve long months of week-long chemo treatments in Michigan? Who gave you loving supportive prayer warriors in a new church?".......... "Can't you see I have always taken care of you? And I will continue to take care of you. Don't worry, I am with you always."
Wow! Yes, all she ever had to do was lean on her Lord. He had always been there and would continue to be at her side.
That Sunday she heard a sermon on Job and it confirmed all she had heard from her precious Lord.
Then the Lord answered Job.
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone -
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?" Job 38: 4-7
Then Job replied to the Lord:
"I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."
Job 42: 2-3
Looking back on the past three years, yes, she was amazed and realized God had protected her and cared for her. The Lord did not cause her cancer, but he knew ahead of time what her needs would be. And in His wisdom and total plan He had provided for her. She agreed with Job. Surely her human mind could not possibly understand all God is and what He accomplishes but now she had concrete evidence that God is omnipotent!
During the summer and especially during the past two months she had begun to think a lot about Heaven. Since she and Dick had heard shocking 'death notices' about their health issues, she began to wonder what Heaven would be like. She had not really spent much time thinking about it before. She just knew with certainty that she would be in the presence of Jesus. So she read books... "90 Minutes in Heaven", "Heaven is for Real", and Randy Alcorn's book "Heaven". The more she read the more excited she became.
As Randy Alcorn said in his book, if you were going on a trip to a new area of the world you had never visited before, you would spend hours researching about that destination. Why don't we research more on our heavenly destination?
Why do we fear death?, she wondered. Why is the word 'death' such a negative thought? As a Christian, we should look to our life in Heaven as glorious, as a return to the Garden of Eden, where we will have continual joy and peace. We will walk with the Lord, learn so much more about Him, praise Him and have wonderful fellowship with our loved ones. No tears, no pain, no evil, no heartache!
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Revelation 21: 3-4
When you think about it,'The Best is Yet to Come'! Death, or our life after death, will be more wonderful than anything we have ever experienced. All the incredible beauties and joys of this earthly life...sunsets, rainbows, music, roses, autumn leaves, babies' giggles, children's laughter, hugs and kisses, summer relaxation, smells of fresh baked bread, taste of chocolate, twinkling stars, loving eyes...will be nothing in comparison to the ecstasy of Paradise!
"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." Revelation 22: 17
She decided then that she would not have a 'funeral' or 'memorial service'. No, she would have a 'Graduation' because she will have graduated from this school of life where she learned about God and Jesus, took the entrance exams, surrendered her heart to Jesus and would now enter into eternity!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
MIRACLE!
The appointment was scheduled for 11:00 on Tuesday, September 10. The biopsy on the lymph node and another CAT scan had been completed on Thursday, September 5. The care worker drove them to the appointment since Dick was too weak to drive. Janet sat there in the car, tense, stomach tight. She struggled to act composed. She had prayed off and on during the night. Oh Dick, she thought, I want to be strong for you, whatever the outcome, whatever the news. Oh God, she prayed, give me strength...I am so weak.
They waited for the oncologist. And then he entered the room.
"There is no cancer in the lymph node," he stated.
Janet and Dick sat there speechless! No cancer? Janet couldn't believe what she was hearing.
The doctor continued. "An enlarged lymph node can show lots of things going on in your body like a minor infection, so this is nothing to worry about. The CAT scan at Holland Hospital showed no cancer anyplace in your body. The testosterone level taken in Syracuse showed 500 but it now measures 10, which is fine. The PSA is now 3.8, up from 3.7, which is nothing critical. The exhaustion probably was caused by the medication, Nizarole, which you were taking to control the PSA levels. One side effect can be a decrease in energy. So, I am prescribing prednisone for you which should increase your energy level. I'll see you in 3 weeks and I'm sure you'll feel better by then."
What? NO CANCER anyplace in the body? But the news the middle of August had been so bad, so hopeless. They had heard the words 'advanced prostate cancer', 'cancer in the enlarged lymph node', 'you probably have one year to eighteen months to live'. What happened? What changed things so drastically? And remember...all those delays...couldn't understand why.
Was it possible God had indeed given them another MIRACLE? Did He in all His wisdom and ultimate planning put in place a medical miracle that defied scientific reasoning to show His glory? Were those delays in scheduling and miscommunication between doctors and hospitals allowed in order to prove to family and friends His ultimate authority?
God had already blessed them with a miracle of Janet's survival from lymphoma cancer in the left thalamus which only had a 15% survival rate. Did God choose them to be blessed with another medical miracle?
Janet thought back on the birth of Glenn, 51 years ago. After a miscarriage and a full-term stillborn, for which no doctor could give any reason or cause, and wondering and worrying if they would ever have a baby, Glenn their 'miracle baby' was born. And then they were further blessed with the birth of Beth, Carin and Diana, three healthy beautiful daughters.
Miracles had happened in their lives. They were blessed. They knew that God gives miracles to communicate to people His unwavering love and compassion. They now knew again the euphoria of a MIRACLE! They were laughing and crying with joy all the way home! NO CANCER! They kept repeating the precious, astonishing, incredible words.
At home, it was now lunchtime, Dick said, with enthusiasm, "I'm going to have bacon and eggs! And I'm fixing it myself!" Proof that his depression had lifted with the unbelievable, ecstatic news!
What a glorious God, Savior and Spirit, who knows all, plans all, and loves all! Blessed are those who believe in Him!
John 4: 43- 54 is a wonderful testimony of Jesus' healing ministry. Verse 53 states, "Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, 'Your son will live.' So he and all his household believed."
They waited for the oncologist. And then he entered the room.
"There is no cancer in the lymph node," he stated.
Janet and Dick sat there speechless! No cancer? Janet couldn't believe what she was hearing.
The doctor continued. "An enlarged lymph node can show lots of things going on in your body like a minor infection, so this is nothing to worry about. The CAT scan at Holland Hospital showed no cancer anyplace in your body. The testosterone level taken in Syracuse showed 500 but it now measures 10, which is fine. The PSA is now 3.8, up from 3.7, which is nothing critical. The exhaustion probably was caused by the medication, Nizarole, which you were taking to control the PSA levels. One side effect can be a decrease in energy. So, I am prescribing prednisone for you which should increase your energy level. I'll see you in 3 weeks and I'm sure you'll feel better by then."
What? NO CANCER anyplace in the body? But the news the middle of August had been so bad, so hopeless. They had heard the words 'advanced prostate cancer', 'cancer in the enlarged lymph node', 'you probably have one year to eighteen months to live'. What happened? What changed things so drastically? And remember...all those delays...couldn't understand why.
Was it possible God had indeed given them another MIRACLE? Did He in all His wisdom and ultimate planning put in place a medical miracle that defied scientific reasoning to show His glory? Were those delays in scheduling and miscommunication between doctors and hospitals allowed in order to prove to family and friends His ultimate authority?
God had already blessed them with a miracle of Janet's survival from lymphoma cancer in the left thalamus which only had a 15% survival rate. Did God choose them to be blessed with another medical miracle?
Janet thought back on the birth of Glenn, 51 years ago. After a miscarriage and a full-term stillborn, for which no doctor could give any reason or cause, and wondering and worrying if they would ever have a baby, Glenn their 'miracle baby' was born. And then they were further blessed with the birth of Beth, Carin and Diana, three healthy beautiful daughters.
Miracles had happened in their lives. They were blessed. They knew that God gives miracles to communicate to people His unwavering love and compassion. They now knew again the euphoria of a MIRACLE! They were laughing and crying with joy all the way home! NO CANCER! They kept repeating the precious, astonishing, incredible words.
At home, it was now lunchtime, Dick said, with enthusiasm, "I'm going to have bacon and eggs! And I'm fixing it myself!" Proof that his depression had lifted with the unbelievable, ecstatic news!
What a glorious God, Savior and Spirit, who knows all, plans all, and loves all! Blessed are those who believe in Him!
John 4: 43- 54 is a wonderful testimony of Jesus' healing ministry. Verse 53 states, "Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, 'Your son will live.' So he and all his household believed."
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Tough trials
It was the beginning of August and Dick had become more tired, more exhausted and weak. Janet was scared and Glenn decided something had to be done. In Manlius, NY (suburb of Syracuse) Glenn (our son) talked to his friend and neighbor, Dr. A., urologist, and appointments were made for urology, PSA, and with Dr. P., oncologist, in a matter of days.
On Tuesday, August 6, they sat in the private office of the oncologist in Syracuse, NY....the three of them... Dick, Janet and Glenn. The oncologist studied the computer screen in front of him and spoke very bluntly.
"You have 'advanced prostate cancer'. Without any treatment you have only a year or 18 months to live. With treatment, and there are new developments coming out every week in prostate cancer treatments, you have at least four more years."
The words hung in the air. Janet studied the doctor's face. Little emotion showed. He was used to telling patients the truth, no matter what. But his voice communicated enthusiasm for the incredible results in cancer research.
She sat there stunned, listening to the statements and thinking. Dick is 83...turns 84 in December....four more years brings him to 87 - 88. He's had a wonderful life. And it's only been this past month that there has been a noticeable decline. He actively played hockey until he turned 80. He was still doing 25 push-ups a day just 2 months ago.
The oncologist interrupted her thoughts. "The bone scan showed no cancer in the bone. However, it does show an enlarged lymph node in his upper left chest... looks suspicious. I recommend an immediate biopsy of that lymph node. Either that will show prostate cancer has spread or it's a different type of cancer. We can't begin treatment until we know what we're dealing with."
A biopsy of the lymph node was scheduled for the following week back in Syracuse.
As soon as she sat in the car, the tears flowed. How bizarre, she thought. First my own cancer, lymphatic cancer in the left thalamus of the brain, leaving her with fragile emotions and right-sided weakness in her arm and leg, so that she could not live alone. And now the news that Dick's prostate cancer, diagnosed 22 years ago, with successful surgery, cancer free active life for 22 years had returned and spread! How could she cope???
Plans were made. Beth volunteered to come to Canada, help them pack, then drive them to Syracuse for the lymph node biopsy. Dick was now too weak to drive. So Beth offered to drive them to Michigan on Saturday, August 17, following Friday's biopsy. The family strongly felt a return to the condo in Holland would be best as they could get lots of help in Holland.
The biopsy gave no complications. However, when Dr. P. reviewed the results of the biopsy he was stunned to discover the radiologist had biopsied Dick's rib bone instead of the lymph node! The biopsy did not show any cancer in the bone, but the fact remained. The suspicious lymph node had to have a biopsy.
The 9 1/2 hour drive to MI proved exhausting but Diana and Carin and their families welcomed them. Numerous phone calls made appointments with Dr. G., Dick's oncologist in Holland, MaryFreeBed for Janet's PT follow-up and Botox injections, as well as arranging daily help from Lakeshore Senior Care.
Dick was too weak and tired to assist with Janet's exercises, or to help with household chores and meal preparation or to drive to appointments. All this took an emotional toll and Janet found herself crying daily. Too much, too sudden! Her care-giver had become the one needing care.
They saw Dr. G., the oncologist, on August 27 who reviewed Dick's story and ordered the lymph node biopsy to be done at Holland Hospital. On Thursday, Janet phoned 'scheduling' at Holland Hospital to find out when biopsy was scheduled.
"We're waiting for the scan to arrive from Riverview Hospital in Alexandria Bay, NY, so the radiologist knows location of lymph node and how to proceed," reported the secretary at Holland Hospital.
"Riverview!" Janet exclaimed. "That's the wrong hospital. The bone scan was done at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse!"
More phone calls to Glenn, Dr P., Dr. G. and then...wait, wait, wait. Labor Day weekend and everyone takes off for the last sweet taste of summer.
Remember Janet, who is in control. Yes, God has a plan and remember to trust Him! He has provided, wonderful, caring Christian senior care workers who come to the condo 6 mornings a week and help with transportation to appointments, housekeeping, meal preparation, shopping, exercises and positive encouragement. And a loving family. God is present and love is strong. Rest in that knowledge.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
The Lord is present!
She sat at the Bible study circle in a comfortable chair and listened. Usually an active participant, she chose not to speak. The topic was I Thessalonians 3 and the dialogue around the room was active and informative. But she remained silent. She felt worn and tired. She felt alone and fearful. She hid her emotions behind closed lips and weary eyes. She had wept a lot in the last hour and she did not want to cry now. So she sat quietly listening with dull attention. She was grateful no one noticed her somber attitude.
The Bible study ended and the leader asked for prayer concerns to be included in the closing prayer. "How's Dick?" The question was directed her way and the circle of friends all turned to look at her. It was at that moment she lost it. "I'm worried,"she blurted. Then she dissolved in tears. Between convulsive sobs she stammered. "His abdomen aches. He sometimes feels queasy. He wants to nap all the time. What am I going to do? I depend on him. He's my care-giver. I'm facing some hard decisions."
Immediately, several members of the group gathered around her, laid their hands on her shoulders, her head, her arms and they prayed. Concerned, loving, supportive, heart-filled prayers fell on her ears. She found herself shaking as if she was fighting an oppressive enemy, her arms and hands quivering as she welcomed the loving support of precious, faithful believers. The prayers called on the name of Jesus to support and heal Dick, to give her strength to face any challenges and to trust in God.
The prayers settled her and she stopped shaking. The Lord ministered to her and peace enveloped her. Her face wet with tears, she softly repeated, "Thank you", again and again. The group went back to their seats and then an unexplainable silence filled the room. A hushed quiet came over everyone. There was an awe, an unspeakable presence in that room....a Holy moment.
"The Lord is present," one voice in the group spoke quietly but clearly. No one responded. Everyone remained silent, relishing in the awareness that the Lord had indeed blessed their gathering. No thunderclaps, no drum rolls, no trumpets blasting. Instead the peace that only God can convey in the midst of need, worry and confusion. The pastor, in due time, brought the meeting to a close but all present knew this had been a precious moment.
She left the church with a friend who had driven her. She gazed at the wondrous colorful sunset as they drove to her house and she thanked the Lord for His amazing works.
The health concerns of Dick slowly improved. Initially complaining of abdominal aches, queasy stomach and severe fatigue, they went to Alex Bay River Hospital ER in the US, about 40 minutes away, for answers. The doctors were mystified as to what the problem was when the blood tests came back normal and even the abdominal CAT scan was clear. After a few days a probable cause was apparent.
The fishing boat had taken in a lot of water from heavy rains. Dick had tried to lift and move the boat onto the beach and in doing so felt a deep 'hurt' to his abdomen. Ah! Probably pulled a muscle or possibly even tore the abdominal muscle in that attempt. Remedy? Lots of rest and healing time!
For the next weeks she would make certain he had rest. She knew rest is necessary for healing. Meanwhile, she continued to experience healing improvements in her own energy level, ability in walking and arm skills. She continued to marvel at how the Lord blessed her.
She thought frequently of that Bible study evening. The Lord's presence, so gentle yet so powerful. In the midst of her uncertainty, worry and anxiety, God had reminded her once again that she should trust Him. She realized how weak and human she was, but God was, is and always will be in control of her life. Trust Him always! That was His message for her and she relaxed in His comfort and truth.
The Bible study ended and the leader asked for prayer concerns to be included in the closing prayer. "How's Dick?" The question was directed her way and the circle of friends all turned to look at her. It was at that moment she lost it. "I'm worried,"she blurted. Then she dissolved in tears. Between convulsive sobs she stammered. "His abdomen aches. He sometimes feels queasy. He wants to nap all the time. What am I going to do? I depend on him. He's my care-giver. I'm facing some hard decisions."
Immediately, several members of the group gathered around her, laid their hands on her shoulders, her head, her arms and they prayed. Concerned, loving, supportive, heart-filled prayers fell on her ears. She found herself shaking as if she was fighting an oppressive enemy, her arms and hands quivering as she welcomed the loving support of precious, faithful believers. The prayers called on the name of Jesus to support and heal Dick, to give her strength to face any challenges and to trust in God.
The prayers settled her and she stopped shaking. The Lord ministered to her and peace enveloped her. Her face wet with tears, she softly repeated, "Thank you", again and again. The group went back to their seats and then an unexplainable silence filled the room. A hushed quiet came over everyone. There was an awe, an unspeakable presence in that room....a Holy moment.
"The Lord is present," one voice in the group spoke quietly but clearly. No one responded. Everyone remained silent, relishing in the awareness that the Lord had indeed blessed their gathering. No thunderclaps, no drum rolls, no trumpets blasting. Instead the peace that only God can convey in the midst of need, worry and confusion. The pastor, in due time, brought the meeting to a close but all present knew this had been a precious moment.
She left the church with a friend who had driven her. She gazed at the wondrous colorful sunset as they drove to her house and she thanked the Lord for His amazing works.
The health concerns of Dick slowly improved. Initially complaining of abdominal aches, queasy stomach and severe fatigue, they went to Alex Bay River Hospital ER in the US, about 40 minutes away, for answers. The doctors were mystified as to what the problem was when the blood tests came back normal and even the abdominal CAT scan was clear. After a few days a probable cause was apparent.
The fishing boat had taken in a lot of water from heavy rains. Dick had tried to lift and move the boat onto the beach and in doing so felt a deep 'hurt' to his abdomen. Ah! Probably pulled a muscle or possibly even tore the abdominal muscle in that attempt. Remedy? Lots of rest and healing time!
For the next weeks she would make certain he had rest. She knew rest is necessary for healing. Meanwhile, she continued to experience healing improvements in her own energy level, ability in walking and arm skills. She continued to marvel at how the Lord blessed her.
She thought frequently of that Bible study evening. The Lord's presence, so gentle yet so powerful. In the midst of her uncertainty, worry and anxiety, God had reminded her once again that she should trust Him. She realized how weak and human she was, but God was, is and always will be in control of her life. Trust Him always! That was His message for her and she relaxed in His comfort and truth.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Safe Harbor
On the 18th of June, 2 loon chicks hatched in the back bay! On Wednesday, June 19, Janet and Dick took a quick ride in the pontoon boat and discovered the loon family of four at the deep end of Elliott Bay. The chicks, sitting on mommy's back were little balls of fluff! But they were safe and far from wandering fishing boats and kayaks. Janet was ecstatic! How wonderful to watch a new family as they grew and enjoyed the summer sun and warm water. Diana and Carin and their families were due to arrive next week so it would be fun for them to watch the loons.
Sunday, June 23 brought an amazing service at church! A guest speaker from New York came to speak and after an amazing talk and invitation, a number of people went forward to lay their concerns at the feet of Jesus and to reaffirm their commitment to the Lord of all!
On Tuesday Judy, a friend at church, told her she had goosebumps about a verse. "Janet, the Lord gave me this verse for you. 'But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength' Isaiah 41:31."
Then that following Wednesday evening there was another outpouring of the Spirit which moved deeply within Janet's heart.
As her healing has continued it has been filled with struggles and emotional highs and lows. She realized she had always been an emotional person and 3 years of dealing with brain cancer proved to her how rocky and unstable the brain can react. She praised God that she could think rationally, could balance the checkbook, could remember past events with utmost clarity but she could also dissolve into tears at the slightest provocation. Hunger, fatigue, slight misunderstandings triggered the sobs. She was thankful these episodes happened when she was in the house alone or with Dick but the outbursts disturbed her.
She was also thankful for the continual slow progress she was making. She definitely had more energy and she continued to push herself and try new physical pursuits. For example, she could now fold sheets! That sounds like a simple chore but by carrying the bunched up sheets to the spare bedroom she could stretch and lay them out on the bed and then by using mostly her left arm and hand, but with slight help with the right hand and fingers, she folded the sheets! What a HUGE accomplishment and she gave God glory!
However, she continued to struggle with the lack of physical dexterity in walking and use of her right arm and hand. Emotionally, she still had difficulty accepting her reduced mode of living. Having recently read a book by Joni Eareckson Tada, the quadriplegic (over 40 years) dynamic Christian, she realized what blessings she did have. She could walk and partially use her arm! So, as she sat through that Wednesday Bible study, she wondered if 'pride' was again her enemy.
At prayer time after the study she confessed her 'pride' and spoke about her emotional struggles. Then Dave, the guest speaker from NY, spoke to her. "You are like a ship that has gone through a violent storm with waves pounding, winds blowing...your ship almost was destroyed by the fierce storm. But you survived the storm and now you are in a safe harbor and that's where Jesus is. He is your 'safe harbor'. And what does a ship do when it's in harbor? The ship rests. It is refurbished, re-fueled, repaired, cleaned, inspected. All to get ready for the next voyage. Jesus has given you this time, this safe harbor, for a reason, Janet. Rest in it and listen to Him."
She thought so much on those words of counsel. Yes, just rest. Regain strength, let the body and brain heal. "Wait on the Lord and renew strength." There is more work to do. The voyage is not over.
The loon family continues to grow and flourish. Because of erratic summer weather...cold, rainy, high winds then hot and humid, the loons have been hanging out in York Bay, just beyond our 'back bay'. Seventeen of the Weisiger family, including Beth, also Glenn and Stephanie's family were here at the lake for about a week enjoying fishing, swimming, jumping off the raft with the 4 lab dogs, water skiing, boating, eating ice cream, playing 'kick the can', walking the lane, looking for bears, fishers (dangerous animal, like a weasel, will feed on porcupine), so of course looking for porcupine, deer and looking for loons on the lake. Lots of laughs, noise, dirty wet towels and LOVE!
And in the midst of all the interaction and confusion, she kept her focus on her care giver, the Lord, Jesus Christ. Just as God provides the family of loons with their safe harbor in York Bay, just remember, Janet, that He has provided you with safe harbor in Jesus to recuperate. REST!
Sunday, June 23 brought an amazing service at church! A guest speaker from New York came to speak and after an amazing talk and invitation, a number of people went forward to lay their concerns at the feet of Jesus and to reaffirm their commitment to the Lord of all!
On Tuesday Judy, a friend at church, told her she had goosebumps about a verse. "Janet, the Lord gave me this verse for you. 'But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength' Isaiah 41:31."
Then that following Wednesday evening there was another outpouring of the Spirit which moved deeply within Janet's heart.
As her healing has continued it has been filled with struggles and emotional highs and lows. She realized she had always been an emotional person and 3 years of dealing with brain cancer proved to her how rocky and unstable the brain can react. She praised God that she could think rationally, could balance the checkbook, could remember past events with utmost clarity but she could also dissolve into tears at the slightest provocation. Hunger, fatigue, slight misunderstandings triggered the sobs. She was thankful these episodes happened when she was in the house alone or with Dick but the outbursts disturbed her.
She was also thankful for the continual slow progress she was making. She definitely had more energy and she continued to push herself and try new physical pursuits. For example, she could now fold sheets! That sounds like a simple chore but by carrying the bunched up sheets to the spare bedroom she could stretch and lay them out on the bed and then by using mostly her left arm and hand, but with slight help with the right hand and fingers, she folded the sheets! What a HUGE accomplishment and she gave God glory!
However, she continued to struggle with the lack of physical dexterity in walking and use of her right arm and hand. Emotionally, she still had difficulty accepting her reduced mode of living. Having recently read a book by Joni Eareckson Tada, the quadriplegic (over 40 years) dynamic Christian, she realized what blessings she did have. She could walk and partially use her arm! So, as she sat through that Wednesday Bible study, she wondered if 'pride' was again her enemy.
At prayer time after the study she confessed her 'pride' and spoke about her emotional struggles. Then Dave, the guest speaker from NY, spoke to her. "You are like a ship that has gone through a violent storm with waves pounding, winds blowing...your ship almost was destroyed by the fierce storm. But you survived the storm and now you are in a safe harbor and that's where Jesus is. He is your 'safe harbor'. And what does a ship do when it's in harbor? The ship rests. It is refurbished, re-fueled, repaired, cleaned, inspected. All to get ready for the next voyage. Jesus has given you this time, this safe harbor, for a reason, Janet. Rest in it and listen to Him."
She thought so much on those words of counsel. Yes, just rest. Regain strength, let the body and brain heal. "Wait on the Lord and renew strength." There is more work to do. The voyage is not over.
The loon family continues to grow and flourish. Because of erratic summer weather...cold, rainy, high winds then hot and humid, the loons have been hanging out in York Bay, just beyond our 'back bay'. Seventeen of the Weisiger family, including Beth, also Glenn and Stephanie's family were here at the lake for about a week enjoying fishing, swimming, jumping off the raft with the 4 lab dogs, water skiing, boating, eating ice cream, playing 'kick the can', walking the lane, looking for bears, fishers (dangerous animal, like a weasel, will feed on porcupine), so of course looking for porcupine, deer and looking for loons on the lake. Lots of laughs, noise, dirty wet towels and LOVE!
And in the midst of all the interaction and confusion, she kept her focus on her care giver, the Lord, Jesus Christ. Just as God provides the family of loons with their safe harbor in York Bay, just remember, Janet, that He has provided you with safe harbor in Jesus to recuperate. REST!
Monday, June 17, 2013
God's Creation
She had always been drawn to the wonders of nature and now in the midst of healing from brain cancer she found the delights and wonders of God's amazing world that much more fascinating. Now that she was relishing in the beauty of the summer months at their lake house in southern Ontario, there was much to share and rejoice.
They had always had a fascination for the loons, that intriguing water bird that resides on the northern lakes. The first time, back in 1969, when she first heard the loon call she was startled by the mournful, unique sound echoing across the lake. Ever since then the loon songs stirred a thrill within her heart.
Every year since 1992, they had built a loon platform out of sapling logs, covered with heavy black plastic mesh, strewn with dried heavy straw roped down to keep it from blowing away and anchored it in their back bay. This provided the loons with a safe, secure nesting site, protected from predators (like raccoons who would eat the eggs) and discourteous fishermen who could scare the loon off the nest. For years they had listened to the quiet cooing during the nesting period of the pair of loons. The loons patiently sat and waited about 28 days during hot sunny days and cold rainy nights for the chicks to hatch. They had watched as the pair of loons would give each other a break off the nest. Since the loon is a powerful swimmer the loon's legs are to the rear. Thus the loon has a great deal of difficulty walking on land. The nests, therefore, are close to the water and the loon must waddle onto the nest with great effort.
Then that glorious moment on a summer day in late June, a babble of loon sounds would alert them to the happy event of first one chick, then another chick pecking its way out of the brown shell to be alive! The mommy loon would wait for the second birth, then the adult pair would swim away from the nest, with the baby loons secure on their backs, constantly cooing and softly clucking with joy at their accomplishment. The loon family would then abandon the nest and swim to another nearby isolated bay in order to teach the chicks how to catch fish and to protect them from danger. She always marveled that in a few days the loon family would swim past their beach or cabin and sound their loon call as if proudly showing off their new chicks. The loons almost showed human characteristics as they daily swam in front of their cabin, chicks on their backs or close by, fearless of human presence.
Unfortunately, this year the loon platform was submerged from the mud and debris piled on by the muskrat. Dick was not able to build a new platform in time, so as the nesting season approached they waited to see what the loons would do. Then one day they realized one loon was seen quietly swimming back and forth across the entrance to the back bay. And they heard an occasional loon call from the far end of the back bay. Then they saw a loon sitting on part of an old board surrounded by vegetation and immersed in lily pads far in the back bay. The loon was screened by the bushes and saplings on the shore but they could see her and watch her day after day as they counted the days to hatching. They were overjoyed! They hadn't done a thing, yet the loons found a safe and secure nesting site all by themselves!
The time for hatching is any day now. We will keep you posted.
Someone was watching out for the loons. Indeed, the Creator has a plan and purpose for all His creatures. Why do we worry? Why do we doubt? He cares for the loons, so He definitely cares for me.
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" Matthew 6: 25-27
They had always had a fascination for the loons, that intriguing water bird that resides on the northern lakes. The first time, back in 1969, when she first heard the loon call she was startled by the mournful, unique sound echoing across the lake. Ever since then the loon songs stirred a thrill within her heart.
Every year since 1992, they had built a loon platform out of sapling logs, covered with heavy black plastic mesh, strewn with dried heavy straw roped down to keep it from blowing away and anchored it in their back bay. This provided the loons with a safe, secure nesting site, protected from predators (like raccoons who would eat the eggs) and discourteous fishermen who could scare the loon off the nest. For years they had listened to the quiet cooing during the nesting period of the pair of loons. The loons patiently sat and waited about 28 days during hot sunny days and cold rainy nights for the chicks to hatch. They had watched as the pair of loons would give each other a break off the nest. Since the loon is a powerful swimmer the loon's legs are to the rear. Thus the loon has a great deal of difficulty walking on land. The nests, therefore, are close to the water and the loon must waddle onto the nest with great effort.
Then that glorious moment on a summer day in late June, a babble of loon sounds would alert them to the happy event of first one chick, then another chick pecking its way out of the brown shell to be alive! The mommy loon would wait for the second birth, then the adult pair would swim away from the nest, with the baby loons secure on their backs, constantly cooing and softly clucking with joy at their accomplishment. The loon family would then abandon the nest and swim to another nearby isolated bay in order to teach the chicks how to catch fish and to protect them from danger. She always marveled that in a few days the loon family would swim past their beach or cabin and sound their loon call as if proudly showing off their new chicks. The loons almost showed human characteristics as they daily swam in front of their cabin, chicks on their backs or close by, fearless of human presence.
Unfortunately, this year the loon platform was submerged from the mud and debris piled on by the muskrat. Dick was not able to build a new platform in time, so as the nesting season approached they waited to see what the loons would do. Then one day they realized one loon was seen quietly swimming back and forth across the entrance to the back bay. And they heard an occasional loon call from the far end of the back bay. Then they saw a loon sitting on part of an old board surrounded by vegetation and immersed in lily pads far in the back bay. The loon was screened by the bushes and saplings on the shore but they could see her and watch her day after day as they counted the days to hatching. They were overjoyed! They hadn't done a thing, yet the loons found a safe and secure nesting site all by themselves!
The time for hatching is any day now. We will keep you posted.
Someone was watching out for the loons. Indeed, the Creator has a plan and purpose for all His creatures. Why do we worry? Why do we doubt? He cares for the loons, so He definitely cares for me.
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" Matthew 6: 25-27
Friday, May 17, 2013
Never Give Up!
Would she ever forget those first few weeks when she was diagnosed with cancer of the brain? Those memories kept bouncing around in her mind. She could not forget. She now realized God allowed her to keep those memories to learn something, to help someone, to actually keep track of her progress since those horrendous days of late June and early July of 2010.
She vividly recalled the morning after the brain biopsy. She sat in her hospital bed, feeling overwhelmed, confused and afraid. Just the previous evening she had been told "You have a lethal, aggressive cancer in your brain. You have seven weeks to live!"
So as she sat there that morning, she wondered, what was going to happen???
Then the group of doctors entered on 'morning rounds'. As a nurse she knew this was routine and a means to communicate with the other doctors the status of each patient. The brain surgeon was the last to arrive. He quickly stood in place with the other six doctors (and probably, student interns) and announced, "She has no use of her right arm because of the brain biopsy."
She heard the words but silently thought, "But Jesus told me I would be healed, BUT in His own time frame." She knew the arm was non-functioning now, but what about the future???
Then the usual post operative questions. "What is your name?" "Where are you?" "Who is President of the USA?"
She suddenly was stomped! Oh, what was his name? She remembered it started with an "O". But what was his name? She could not remember! Then, she blurted out, "Osama bin Laden"!
The doctors roared with laughter. Oh, she thought, "I have failed! I can't remember the name of our President!"
She started to weep, depressed over the situation. After all, the medical staff had laughed.
More questions followed but the weeping turned to sobbing and she was unable to answer any more questions. The doctors silently left the room. She was at the depths of her emotions and she began to wonder if things would ever be alright again.
Yes, she remembered those awful days. But what she had learned! First and foremost she had experienced the reality of Jesus. At the depths of her emotional struggles and the physical challenges He had been there!
(And finally, within a few months she remembered the name of the President of the USA - Barack Hussein Obama!)
Now here she was in May, 2013 and still facing physical challenges. BUT, she never gave up. She refused to give up. Things were improving.... and she was convinced it was because of her determination and God's presence. For example, she was thrilled that just yesterday, at their lake house, she vacuumed the kitchen, utility room and the wood floor of the great room! Of course, Dick had helped by getting the vacuum cleaner out of the closet BUT she did it! She laughed as she realized how silly this must sound to women who dread vacuuming. But she knew that the more she took on normal household chores, the healthier she would feel. And she was exultant that she could even clean toilets and bathroom sinks! (How hilarious!)
She remembered how Dick had said a year ago, "I look forward to the day when you can carry your own dishes to the sink." And now here she was in May, 2013, cooking most of their dinners (with Dick's assistance), planning their meals, cleaning counters, setting the table! She began to look forward to hosting dinner parties once again.
Another huge accomplishment was the way she climbed up and down stairs. Not perfect, but, she could now alternate feet on the steps. This was big and she rejoiced! Of course, none of this was easy but she kept pursuing perfection. As the days sped along she kept asking herself, "Try this, Janet. Bet you can do it." And she did! Just yesterday afternoon she even planted two pansy plants in her front planters. With one hand, but she did it!
And the right arm was beginning to perform slight functions. I will not give up, she repeated. With God's help I will not give up! During the past two weeks she had taken several trips to the super market. For the first time she had been able to place both hands on the grocery cart, which helped her balance, and steer the cart around the store. She could even pick out the products off the shelves. Her walking was improving and getting faster, without horrible fatigue, so she knew she was getting better!
Then, for the first time since May of 2010, she paid for the groceries with her credit card, all by herself! Wow! She certainly had come a long way from "seven weeks to live"! Sure, she still had a long way to go. She still couldn't drive, couldn't live alone, but God in His great mercy and love had chosen her to live a while longer to accomplish His purposes. How she wanted to encourage others with physical challenges. Don't give up! Never give up! God will encourage you, stand by you, comfort you and love you.
"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1: 9
She vividly recalled the morning after the brain biopsy. She sat in her hospital bed, feeling overwhelmed, confused and afraid. Just the previous evening she had been told "You have a lethal, aggressive cancer in your brain. You have seven weeks to live!"
So as she sat there that morning, she wondered, what was going to happen???
Then the group of doctors entered on 'morning rounds'. As a nurse she knew this was routine and a means to communicate with the other doctors the status of each patient. The brain surgeon was the last to arrive. He quickly stood in place with the other six doctors (and probably, student interns) and announced, "She has no use of her right arm because of the brain biopsy."
She heard the words but silently thought, "But Jesus told me I would be healed, BUT in His own time frame." She knew the arm was non-functioning now, but what about the future???
Then the usual post operative questions. "What is your name?" "Where are you?" "Who is President of the USA?"
She suddenly was stomped! Oh, what was his name? She remembered it started with an "O". But what was his name? She could not remember! Then, she blurted out, "Osama bin Laden"!
The doctors roared with laughter. Oh, she thought, "I have failed! I can't remember the name of our President!"
She started to weep, depressed over the situation. After all, the medical staff had laughed.
More questions followed but the weeping turned to sobbing and she was unable to answer any more questions. The doctors silently left the room. She was at the depths of her emotions and she began to wonder if things would ever be alright again.
Yes, she remembered those awful days. But what she had learned! First and foremost she had experienced the reality of Jesus. At the depths of her emotional struggles and the physical challenges He had been there!
(And finally, within a few months she remembered the name of the President of the USA - Barack Hussein Obama!)
Now here she was in May, 2013 and still facing physical challenges. BUT, she never gave up. She refused to give up. Things were improving.... and she was convinced it was because of her determination and God's presence. For example, she was thrilled that just yesterday, at their lake house, she vacuumed the kitchen, utility room and the wood floor of the great room! Of course, Dick had helped by getting the vacuum cleaner out of the closet BUT she did it! She laughed as she realized how silly this must sound to women who dread vacuuming. But she knew that the more she took on normal household chores, the healthier she would feel. And she was exultant that she could even clean toilets and bathroom sinks! (How hilarious!)
She remembered how Dick had said a year ago, "I look forward to the day when you can carry your own dishes to the sink." And now here she was in May, 2013, cooking most of their dinners (with Dick's assistance), planning their meals, cleaning counters, setting the table! She began to look forward to hosting dinner parties once again.
Another huge accomplishment was the way she climbed up and down stairs. Not perfect, but, she could now alternate feet on the steps. This was big and she rejoiced! Of course, none of this was easy but she kept pursuing perfection. As the days sped along she kept asking herself, "Try this, Janet. Bet you can do it." And she did! Just yesterday afternoon she even planted two pansy plants in her front planters. With one hand, but she did it!
And the right arm was beginning to perform slight functions. I will not give up, she repeated. With God's help I will not give up! During the past two weeks she had taken several trips to the super market. For the first time she had been able to place both hands on the grocery cart, which helped her balance, and steer the cart around the store. She could even pick out the products off the shelves. Her walking was improving and getting faster, without horrible fatigue, so she knew she was getting better!
Then, for the first time since May of 2010, she paid for the groceries with her credit card, all by herself! Wow! She certainly had come a long way from "seven weeks to live"! Sure, she still had a long way to go. She still couldn't drive, couldn't live alone, but God in His great mercy and love had chosen her to live a while longer to accomplish His purposes. How she wanted to encourage others with physical challenges. Don't give up! Never give up! God will encourage you, stand by you, comfort you and love you.
"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1: 9
Thursday, May 9, 2013
"Paradise Hill"
On Sunday, April 28, we returned to our lake house on the Rideau Waterway in Ontario, Canada.
She named their lake property "Paradise Hill" back in 1992 after they had retired from New Jersey and moved to their newly built house on Sand Lake. Located on the beautiful, little known Rideau Waterway in southern Ontario, they rejoiced every day that God had planned for them to spend their retirement years in an earthly paradise.
For one thing, the Rideau Waterway fascinated them with its history. Built back in 1832 by the British, the waterway canal served as a defense against possible invading armies from that upstart neighbor south of the border, the United States of America. The War of 1812 had given the British much concern as American forces fought on the St. Lawrence River near Brockville, Ontario. (The Americans lost that battle.) So the British enlisted a man by the name of Colonel By to build a canal from Kingston (original capital of the territory) to Ottawa. Many lakes dotted the area so Colonel By, studied the geography and mapped the route.
One of the formidable challenges were the rapids around the area known as Jones Falls, a sizeable drop to navigate. Colonel By supervised building a dam at the Jones Falls site to control the water flow and then proceeded to build four locks so that boats could descend to the next lake. That dam in 1832 was known to be an architectural marvel at that time. Jones Falls is actually located at the southern end of Sand Lake and Davis Lock at the northern end.
At the juncture of every lake throughout the canal system, locks had to be built because of the typographical changes in elevation. They were, of course, hand operated. The charm of the Rideau Waterway is that most of these locks are still hand operated. There is very little commercialism at the lock stations. You can buy an ice cream cone (Canadian ice cream is superior because of the high amount of butter fat - Yum) or fishing lures or perhaps a minor gift item, but nothing high-tech.
Sitting on their screen porch of their lake house this May of 2013, she gazed out over the lake. She saw no cottages. Only the quaint, small white lockmaster's house at Davis Lock could be seen across the water about a mile away. Otherwise, just sandy, rocky shore line with pine and maple trees towering above.
They thought back on how they purchased the property and realized that purchase was God designed. When they first came to Sand Lake in 1969, they had four little children and very little money. They rented a cottage for $35.00 a week! Of course, the 'log cabin' had no running water and an outhouse. But it sat right on the shoreline of a large lake, the children loved carrying the water pails to the pump and drawing fresh water, playing in the clear warm water at the beach and walking barefoot.
Sand Lake had cottages spotted around the lake but they were hidden behind trees. So, for years they looked for a 'place'. Lack of money left them with a dream. Then in 1985 an opportunity lighted! She was employed as a nurse, the kids were rapidly finishing college so they made an incredible offer for seven acres of waterfront. It was accepted and at last they held their dream! Of course one big challenge remained - there was no road to the lot, only water access. But they parked their car at a friend's cottage at the far end of the lake and paddled 30 minutes in their canoe to their dream land. This went on for several years - camping in the 'Shack', gazing at sunsets, fighting off porcupine, making trails through the woods, bathing in the lake (who was there to spy???), cowering at the sound of wolves devouring their prey, awakening in the middle of the night to the osprey's blood curdling squawk, listening to the unique and varied melodious loon songs, keeping close watch on the yearly new pair of loon chicks, fishing and gorging on dinners of fresh large mouth bass and enjoying peace and quiet.
Then the two farmers who owned the land through which they needed road access both died and their widows granted the access. In fact, one of the farmers, Ted Ritz, told his wife as they were in the ambulance going to the hospital, as he was dying from cancer, "Ruby, make sure the Weisigers get that right-of-way through our property!" The road was built in the winter of '88-'89 and in that summer they celebrated Beth and Bruce's wedding in the newly built gazebo. Then in 1992, after much planning, building and praying, a year round home stood on Paradise Hill!
Gardens, a boat house, the 'Little House' (another cabin) kept them busy improving their property. Her gardens filled with clemantis, daisies, roses, lilies, phlox, astilbe, peonies, morning glories, obedience plants, spring daffodils and tulips, iris, geraniums, petunias, and impatience caught the attention of the local horticultural society and subsequently an author who sought stories and photos of Ontario gardens. Thus the need to come up with a name for their property. Without hesitation she announced, "Paradise Hill". Her gardens received notice in that book.
So here she was back 'home'. She hired someone to rake and clean the garden beds. With all the perennials blooming, the gardens would be 'au naturel'. Because of her arm and leg weakness she was unable to garden. But, she concluded, she would enjoy the naturel beauty of God's creation, instead of trying to create additional years of perfect gardens. She talked a friend into coming and planting some pots with colorful annuals. That would have to be enough!
A rain shower poured down on the land one afternoon. And she marveled. Even the rain had a soft beauty as the drops splatted on the metal roof. Yes, she was glad to be back and ever thankful of this amazing gift of land God had given them.
Soon the 12 grandchildren would arrive and fill the house, screened porch and property with laughter, squeals, busy activity, games of 'kick the can', wet swim towels, shouts from the swimming raft, screams from the water skiers, young fishermen expertly filleting fresh caught bass, barking dogs and appetites hungry for PopPops' waffles topped with delicious local maple syrup! Yes, it was going to be a wonderful summer!
"Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Psalm 150
She named their lake property "Paradise Hill" back in 1992 after they had retired from New Jersey and moved to their newly built house on Sand Lake. Located on the beautiful, little known Rideau Waterway in southern Ontario, they rejoiced every day that God had planned for them to spend their retirement years in an earthly paradise.
For one thing, the Rideau Waterway fascinated them with its history. Built back in 1832 by the British, the waterway canal served as a defense against possible invading armies from that upstart neighbor south of the border, the United States of America. The War of 1812 had given the British much concern as American forces fought on the St. Lawrence River near Brockville, Ontario. (The Americans lost that battle.) So the British enlisted a man by the name of Colonel By to build a canal from Kingston (original capital of the territory) to Ottawa. Many lakes dotted the area so Colonel By, studied the geography and mapped the route.
One of the formidable challenges were the rapids around the area known as Jones Falls, a sizeable drop to navigate. Colonel By supervised building a dam at the Jones Falls site to control the water flow and then proceeded to build four locks so that boats could descend to the next lake. That dam in 1832 was known to be an architectural marvel at that time. Jones Falls is actually located at the southern end of Sand Lake and Davis Lock at the northern end.
At the juncture of every lake throughout the canal system, locks had to be built because of the typographical changes in elevation. They were, of course, hand operated. The charm of the Rideau Waterway is that most of these locks are still hand operated. There is very little commercialism at the lock stations. You can buy an ice cream cone (Canadian ice cream is superior because of the high amount of butter fat - Yum) or fishing lures or perhaps a minor gift item, but nothing high-tech.
Sitting on their screen porch of their lake house this May of 2013, she gazed out over the lake. She saw no cottages. Only the quaint, small white lockmaster's house at Davis Lock could be seen across the water about a mile away. Otherwise, just sandy, rocky shore line with pine and maple trees towering above.
They thought back on how they purchased the property and realized that purchase was God designed. When they first came to Sand Lake in 1969, they had four little children and very little money. They rented a cottage for $35.00 a week! Of course, the 'log cabin' had no running water and an outhouse. But it sat right on the shoreline of a large lake, the children loved carrying the water pails to the pump and drawing fresh water, playing in the clear warm water at the beach and walking barefoot.
Sand Lake had cottages spotted around the lake but they were hidden behind trees. So, for years they looked for a 'place'. Lack of money left them with a dream. Then in 1985 an opportunity lighted! She was employed as a nurse, the kids were rapidly finishing college so they made an incredible offer for seven acres of waterfront. It was accepted and at last they held their dream! Of course one big challenge remained - there was no road to the lot, only water access. But they parked their car at a friend's cottage at the far end of the lake and paddled 30 minutes in their canoe to their dream land. This went on for several years - camping in the 'Shack', gazing at sunsets, fighting off porcupine, making trails through the woods, bathing in the lake (who was there to spy???), cowering at the sound of wolves devouring their prey, awakening in the middle of the night to the osprey's blood curdling squawk, listening to the unique and varied melodious loon songs, keeping close watch on the yearly new pair of loon chicks, fishing and gorging on dinners of fresh large mouth bass and enjoying peace and quiet.
Then the two farmers who owned the land through which they needed road access both died and their widows granted the access. In fact, one of the farmers, Ted Ritz, told his wife as they were in the ambulance going to the hospital, as he was dying from cancer, "Ruby, make sure the Weisigers get that right-of-way through our property!" The road was built in the winter of '88-'89 and in that summer they celebrated Beth and Bruce's wedding in the newly built gazebo. Then in 1992, after much planning, building and praying, a year round home stood on Paradise Hill!
Gardens, a boat house, the 'Little House' (another cabin) kept them busy improving their property. Her gardens filled with clemantis, daisies, roses, lilies, phlox, astilbe, peonies, morning glories, obedience plants, spring daffodils and tulips, iris, geraniums, petunias, and impatience caught the attention of the local horticultural society and subsequently an author who sought stories and photos of Ontario gardens. Thus the need to come up with a name for their property. Without hesitation she announced, "Paradise Hill". Her gardens received notice in that book.
So here she was back 'home'. She hired someone to rake and clean the garden beds. With all the perennials blooming, the gardens would be 'au naturel'. Because of her arm and leg weakness she was unable to garden. But, she concluded, she would enjoy the naturel beauty of God's creation, instead of trying to create additional years of perfect gardens. She talked a friend into coming and planting some pots with colorful annuals. That would have to be enough!
A rain shower poured down on the land one afternoon. And she marveled. Even the rain had a soft beauty as the drops splatted on the metal roof. Yes, she was glad to be back and ever thankful of this amazing gift of land God had given them.
Soon the 12 grandchildren would arrive and fill the house, screened porch and property with laughter, squeals, busy activity, games of 'kick the can', wet swim towels, shouts from the swimming raft, screams from the water skiers, young fishermen expertly filleting fresh caught bass, barking dogs and appetites hungry for PopPops' waffles topped with delicious local maple syrup! Yes, it was going to be a wonderful summer!
"Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Psalm 150
Friday, April 26, 2013
Joy, Joy, Joy!
She was ecstatic! She had just heard good news and she was filled with happiness. She was awed by how God had worked in her life.
The news came back from Dr. Amy's office. Your MRI is clear! Again it is clear! Since August 2010, the MRIs had continued to be clear. That meant...NO CANCER! She felt uplifted, energized and even more eager to exercise and continue therapy. Then she asked Dr. Amy, "What are the chances of someone surviving my kind of cancer?" Dr. Amy responded to her question, "Survival rate is only 15%." Only 15%? She was stunned.
She thought back to July 8, 2010. "Your cancer occurs in about 2-3% of the population....is very rare, aggressive and lethal," said Dr. C., the oncologist at Syracuse. "You have seven weeks to live." But then he added, "We think we have found a chemo that might work."
She couldn't get it out of her head. She had survived a lethal cancer. She wasn't special, she wasn't a star-studded person. She certainly had not lived a pure life. She had not been holy. But God had chosen to spare her. Her work on this earth was not done.
She thought of dear friends who were struggling with cancer. Dave - a man of incredible faith, Helen - now in hospice, Linda - fighting terminal cancer but shining with the light of Jesus. It almost made her feel guilty that she was surviving!
But God had a plan and she trusted His wisdom.
And now she felt abundant joy because she had learned so much during the active cancer. She sometimes had the feeling that she had stepped over the threshold into the spiritual world. She saw things through spiritual eyes. Just the other day while with friends, she felt distanced from their shallow chatter. Why are they even wasting their time on petty, self-centered distractions, she wondered.
Then today while waiting for her appointment with Dr. Amy, she took note of the other oncology patients. The Lord whispered to her to pray for each one as they passed by her. To pray for their finding love and peace with Jesus, that they not fear death, that they not have pain, that they believe in Christ, surrender to Him and thus have the assurance of Heaven.
Her cancer had opened up a whole new world and she wanted to share it with hurting, lonely people. Yes, she felt joy but she also realized many people in this world do not have joy. Could she reach out to them? Would God give her the tools and sensitivity to accomplish that? She somehow knew that the only way she could do what God wanted her to do was in complete, daily surrender to the Lord.
A friend asked her if these 3 years dealing with cancer had been worth it. Most people remarked about her remarkable recovery with "Aren't you glad just to be alive! Even though you have some physical challenges, you're alive!" And, of course, she would respond positively. But she realized it was more than 'being alive'. She had grown. She had taken a 'peek' into Paradise. She had experienced the very presence of Jesus. She knew Him intimately and she knew He loved her. Yes, that made all the past 3 years worth it.
Some might say, "Oh, you poor thing. You've lived through a horrible, struggling emotional time. How much of your senior years you've lost. How sad."
But she knew the secret of joy...real joy. Not giddy, silly, joke telling laughter, but real deep seated long lasting joy. What could be more joyous than abiding in the presence of the Lord?
There is an account of a group of people who were filled with "great joy" when their leader died and left them. They loved their leader, they believed in their leader, they knew that he spoke truth. So why was their response "great joy" when he left them? The answer is found in Luke 24: 50-53.
"When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God." NIV
Through all my struggles, the only lasting joy I've ever known is Jesus. Yes, great joy!
s
The news came back from Dr. Amy's office. Your MRI is clear! Again it is clear! Since August 2010, the MRIs had continued to be clear. That meant...NO CANCER! She felt uplifted, energized and even more eager to exercise and continue therapy. Then she asked Dr. Amy, "What are the chances of someone surviving my kind of cancer?" Dr. Amy responded to her question, "Survival rate is only 15%." Only 15%? She was stunned.
She thought back to July 8, 2010. "Your cancer occurs in about 2-3% of the population....is very rare, aggressive and lethal," said Dr. C., the oncologist at Syracuse. "You have seven weeks to live." But then he added, "We think we have found a chemo that might work."
She couldn't get it out of her head. She had survived a lethal cancer. She wasn't special, she wasn't a star-studded person. She certainly had not lived a pure life. She had not been holy. But God had chosen to spare her. Her work on this earth was not done.
She thought of dear friends who were struggling with cancer. Dave - a man of incredible faith, Helen - now in hospice, Linda - fighting terminal cancer but shining with the light of Jesus. It almost made her feel guilty that she was surviving!
But God had a plan and she trusted His wisdom.
And now she felt abundant joy because she had learned so much during the active cancer. She sometimes had the feeling that she had stepped over the threshold into the spiritual world. She saw things through spiritual eyes. Just the other day while with friends, she felt distanced from their shallow chatter. Why are they even wasting their time on petty, self-centered distractions, she wondered.
Then today while waiting for her appointment with Dr. Amy, she took note of the other oncology patients. The Lord whispered to her to pray for each one as they passed by her. To pray for their finding love and peace with Jesus, that they not fear death, that they not have pain, that they believe in Christ, surrender to Him and thus have the assurance of Heaven.
Her cancer had opened up a whole new world and she wanted to share it with hurting, lonely people. Yes, she felt joy but she also realized many people in this world do not have joy. Could she reach out to them? Would God give her the tools and sensitivity to accomplish that? She somehow knew that the only way she could do what God wanted her to do was in complete, daily surrender to the Lord.
A friend asked her if these 3 years dealing with cancer had been worth it. Most people remarked about her remarkable recovery with "Aren't you glad just to be alive! Even though you have some physical challenges, you're alive!" And, of course, she would respond positively. But she realized it was more than 'being alive'. She had grown. She had taken a 'peek' into Paradise. She had experienced the very presence of Jesus. She knew Him intimately and she knew He loved her. Yes, that made all the past 3 years worth it.
Some might say, "Oh, you poor thing. You've lived through a horrible, struggling emotional time. How much of your senior years you've lost. How sad."
But she knew the secret of joy...real joy. Not giddy, silly, joke telling laughter, but real deep seated long lasting joy. What could be more joyous than abiding in the presence of the Lord?
There is an account of a group of people who were filled with "great joy" when their leader died and left them. They loved their leader, they believed in their leader, they knew that he spoke truth. So why was their response "great joy" when he left them? The answer is found in Luke 24: 50-53.
"When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God." NIV
Through all my struggles, the only lasting joy I've ever known is Jesus. Yes, great joy!
s
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Praise the Lord!
She looked at the pictures and marveled. "I look normal!", she exclaimed with astonishment. " How can that be? The doctors said I only had seven weeks to live! I was in a wheelchair for almost a year! I couldn't blink my eye,.....couldn't move my right side at all,....couldn't even move my tongue to the right side of my mouth,...could barely speak,....short visits from family or friends left me exhausted,....2-3 hour daily naps,.....Wow, I've come a long way!"
The photos shone back to her. Clear illuminating reflections of a woman clearly at peace. She kept staring at the various photos taken by the photographer from the Grand Rapids Press and posted on MLIVE. And in contrast, all the memories and traumatic events of the past 3 years flooded back through her mind. She still could hardly believe that she survived the ravages of brain cancer and continued to physically improve.
Then she flashed back to 'iphotos' and reviewed the photos Dick had taken when she was in Upstate Hospital in Syracuse. She had not had the courage to review these photos for 3 years but she thought now is the time. She felt stronger and knew she had to do this. BUT, now, looking at the hospital photos, she was shocked! These pictures showed a very sick woman lying in a hospital bed with a crooked smile, glazed deep set darkened eyes, unkempt messy hair, shaved bald area on the top of her head where they had done the brain biopsy, edematous feet and legs, arm in a supportive sling, IV tubes, nasal oxygen, struggling to appear 'normal'. Ugh!
The tears rolled down her cheeks. Sobs welled up. How could anyone have loved her during that time? She remembered she had been very ill but now she saw the reality and that was frightening. Dick came to her side to comfort her. "Remember, they told you 'seven weeks to live'. But you're alive! Look at how far you've come! And I never stopped loving you." Dick's words broke with emotion.
They both looked at each other and smiled. "God is so good! I will always praise Him!"
"When did you get to the point that you realized I was not going to die in 7 weeks?" She asked Dick. "I saw you getting better, not worse," he responded. "There was one incident, however, that was pretty scary...do you remember?"
Ah, yes, she remembered. About 10 days after the brain cancer diagnosis, the medical team gave her steroids to accelerate the healing process. That evening she suddenly became acutely confused and was unable to speak or blurt out her name. She remembered the nurse running from her room to notify the doctors who responded in minutes. More questions, more confusion. She remembered feeling frightened as she made unintelligible noises. And then more medicine to counter the steroid. Then hearing Dick and Carin crying. She knew what was happening but had no control over the situation.
Then things began to settle as she uttered her own name. The nursing staff relaxed. Carin stayed with her that night as Dick was wisely sent back to Glenn's for rest. Carin climbed onto the bed next to her and cried. Wrapping her left arm around Carin, she softly stammered, "Everything is going to be alright. Jesus is here." Here she was the patient, but with the power of God's amazing presence, she comforted her grown child like she had done years ago.
She began to think of all the suffering in the world. She thought of friends dying of cancer or cardiac problems or other medical conditions. She thought of the recent monster tragedy in Boston where athletes and bystanders had lost limbs. Disease, accidents, violence changes lives forever. She knew many would question the existence of God in the evil happenings of our current times. But she also knew with certainty that God DID exist. His love showed in the compassion of supporters in Boston. His love showed through in prayers lifted for her healing.
Jesus was alive and well in this world. The Enemy was 'prowling like a roaring lion' but she knew God has the last word. God would win in the end.
This bout with cancer and its residual physical challenges had given her greater faith and trust in Jesus than she had ever known. She had recently heard of a young man who was in a wheelchair because of an auto accident. His comment to observers was "This was the best thing that happened to me." Wow! When she heard that, she questioned her own situation. Could she honestly say what he said?
She also thought of their dear friend and pastor, Bruce Hoffman, who had suffered and died of brain cancer the same time she was struggling with cancer. His faith was so strong and he never uttered those words, "Why me?" Instead, Bruce trusted in Jesus and knew that God's wisdom overshadowed all earthly reasoning.
Over the past 3 years she had often wondered, "Why me?" And also, "What purpose do you see in this, Lord?" And now she was experiencing over and over again the healing, love and care of Jesus. It made her realize no human can fully understand the ultimate wisdom and plan that God has ordained for our lives.
She also knew something else very important. When she spent prayer time praising the Lord she felt exhilaration. When she stood in church on Sunday mornings and sang songs of praise and worship she actually experienced physical healing. That was the key! To focus on Jesus and all He has done for her and brought her out of self pity, worry, fear and stress. She then vowed to keep praising!
"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being." Psalm 146
The photos shone back to her. Clear illuminating reflections of a woman clearly at peace. She kept staring at the various photos taken by the photographer from the Grand Rapids Press and posted on MLIVE. And in contrast, all the memories and traumatic events of the past 3 years flooded back through her mind. She still could hardly believe that she survived the ravages of brain cancer and continued to physically improve.
Then she flashed back to 'iphotos' and reviewed the photos Dick had taken when she was in Upstate Hospital in Syracuse. She had not had the courage to review these photos for 3 years but she thought now is the time. She felt stronger and knew she had to do this. BUT, now, looking at the hospital photos, she was shocked! These pictures showed a very sick woman lying in a hospital bed with a crooked smile, glazed deep set darkened eyes, unkempt messy hair, shaved bald area on the top of her head where they had done the brain biopsy, edematous feet and legs, arm in a supportive sling, IV tubes, nasal oxygen, struggling to appear 'normal'. Ugh!
The tears rolled down her cheeks. Sobs welled up. How could anyone have loved her during that time? She remembered she had been very ill but now she saw the reality and that was frightening. Dick came to her side to comfort her. "Remember, they told you 'seven weeks to live'. But you're alive! Look at how far you've come! And I never stopped loving you." Dick's words broke with emotion.
They both looked at each other and smiled. "God is so good! I will always praise Him!"
"When did you get to the point that you realized I was not going to die in 7 weeks?" She asked Dick. "I saw you getting better, not worse," he responded. "There was one incident, however, that was pretty scary...do you remember?"
Ah, yes, she remembered. About 10 days after the brain cancer diagnosis, the medical team gave her steroids to accelerate the healing process. That evening she suddenly became acutely confused and was unable to speak or blurt out her name. She remembered the nurse running from her room to notify the doctors who responded in minutes. More questions, more confusion. She remembered feeling frightened as she made unintelligible noises. And then more medicine to counter the steroid. Then hearing Dick and Carin crying. She knew what was happening but had no control over the situation.
Then things began to settle as she uttered her own name. The nursing staff relaxed. Carin stayed with her that night as Dick was wisely sent back to Glenn's for rest. Carin climbed onto the bed next to her and cried. Wrapping her left arm around Carin, she softly stammered, "Everything is going to be alright. Jesus is here." Here she was the patient, but with the power of God's amazing presence, she comforted her grown child like she had done years ago.
She began to think of all the suffering in the world. She thought of friends dying of cancer or cardiac problems or other medical conditions. She thought of the recent monster tragedy in Boston where athletes and bystanders had lost limbs. Disease, accidents, violence changes lives forever. She knew many would question the existence of God in the evil happenings of our current times. But she also knew with certainty that God DID exist. His love showed in the compassion of supporters in Boston. His love showed through in prayers lifted for her healing.
Jesus was alive and well in this world. The Enemy was 'prowling like a roaring lion' but she knew God has the last word. God would win in the end.
This bout with cancer and its residual physical challenges had given her greater faith and trust in Jesus than she had ever known. She had recently heard of a young man who was in a wheelchair because of an auto accident. His comment to observers was "This was the best thing that happened to me." Wow! When she heard that, she questioned her own situation. Could she honestly say what he said?
She also thought of their dear friend and pastor, Bruce Hoffman, who had suffered and died of brain cancer the same time she was struggling with cancer. His faith was so strong and he never uttered those words, "Why me?" Instead, Bruce trusted in Jesus and knew that God's wisdom overshadowed all earthly reasoning.
Over the past 3 years she had often wondered, "Why me?" And also, "What purpose do you see in this, Lord?" And now she was experiencing over and over again the healing, love and care of Jesus. It made her realize no human can fully understand the ultimate wisdom and plan that God has ordained for our lives.
She also knew something else very important. When she spent prayer time praising the Lord she felt exhilaration. When she stood in church on Sunday mornings and sang songs of praise and worship she actually experienced physical healing. That was the key! To focus on Jesus and all He has done for her and brought her out of self pity, worry, fear and stress. She then vowed to keep praising!
"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have being." Psalm 146
Monday, April 8, 2013
You are marvelously created!
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." John 1: 1-5 NIV
How she loved those verses. Such depth, such incredible insight and understanding into the truth of Jesus! She had memorized the verses and repeated them on many a sleepless night which had brought comfort and peace.
Her recent experiences with physical rehabilitation had given her pause to think on the whole aspect of creation of the human body. As she thought about the details and workings of her physical body she marveled again at the Creator. She rejoiced and worshipped over this marvelous omnipresent God who continues to be the designer.
She remembered as a student nurse working in the delivery room and actually seeing a baby being born. The exultant moment as God brought forth a new life into this earthly world. What a miracle to realize that a tiny egg joined with a tiny sperm and by God's design a new life was formed. In the nine months following conception that new life took on amazing development all pre-ordained by God! Each new life had promise and meaning. Each new life dearly loved and cared for by the Creator. What blessed thoughts! And to think that every human being that has ever existed and will ever exist is distinctively unique.
As a nurse she knew that the body itself was created with wonderful attributes. Just the simple everyday functions that everyone takes for granted can be scientifically challenging to duplicate. Take swallowing, breathing, blinking the eyes, speaking, walking, lifting an arm..... Ah..and this is where she realized day to day functions can face challenges.
Since her brain cancer had effected her left thalamus, which governs motor skills, walking and lifting her arm proved challenging. However, God has also created a highly functioning muscle unit...the brain... that can be re-trained to compensate for injury or trauma. How incredible! She began to realize that probably 50 years ago she would have been put 'on a shelf' and forgotten, due to her brain cancer. As a nurse back in the late fifties and early sixties, she knew there did not exist any viable research on brain rehabilitation. But now there is notable evidence that the brain has great capacity to re-learn bodily functions.
Critical to the bodily rehabilitation, however, is the determination and positive attitude of the patient...the person undergoing rehab/therapy. From the first day she entered Upstate Hospital in Syracuse, NY, prior to her confirmed diagnosis of brain cancer, she forced herself to get out of bed and walk. She remembered how the nurses expressed concern (and a little alarm) that she would stumble out into the hallway, hang onto the hospital railing and struggle to walk around the unit. A physical therapist was immediately called who gave her a walker for assistance. No one wanted her to fall. But she knew that in order to prevent muscle atrophy she had to keep moving.
That determination has continued since that June of 2010 when she entered the hospital. Oh, there have been moments....of depression, tears, helplessness, frustration! But during all that time there was the powerful presence of Jesus. He physically appeared to her while she was in Syracuse and again was there at her bedside in Spectrum, Grand Rapids, during those once a month week long treatments of the powerful chemotherapy, methotrexate. She saw Him standing there next to her, arms outstretched, loving and caring for her and constantly watching over her. His presence gave her hope. His presence gave her encouragement as she faced the most difficult time in her earthly life. Jesus wanted her to heal. Jesus wanted her to get her life back together. Jesus wanted her to remain determined and positive. Jesus did not want her to give up.
Now as she worked with the therapists at MaryFreeBed she grabbed onto powerful words. Repetitive! and Quality! As Liz and Janna encouraged her, she understand the words. Repetitive....repeat the exercise but don't overdue. Quality....concentrate on the individual exercise to give it your best but don't push to exhaustive quantity. "Yes, Janet, remember, the brain can be re-trained and you can do it!" They even instructed her to talk to her hand as the fingers moved and to talk to her leg reminding the knee to bend. The brain was being reminded of its functions and research had proved that worked.
All the time God was by her side. He had created her. He had known her in her mother's womb. He had known what He had planned for her life. He rejoiced that she knew Him and loved Him and listened to Him. Her earthly life was not finished just yet. He had more for her to do.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ........All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139: 13-14, 16
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." John 1: 1-5 NIV
How she loved those verses. Such depth, such incredible insight and understanding into the truth of Jesus! She had memorized the verses and repeated them on many a sleepless night which had brought comfort and peace.
Her recent experiences with physical rehabilitation had given her pause to think on the whole aspect of creation of the human body. As she thought about the details and workings of her physical body she marveled again at the Creator. She rejoiced and worshipped over this marvelous omnipresent God who continues to be the designer.
She remembered as a student nurse working in the delivery room and actually seeing a baby being born. The exultant moment as God brought forth a new life into this earthly world. What a miracle to realize that a tiny egg joined with a tiny sperm and by God's design a new life was formed. In the nine months following conception that new life took on amazing development all pre-ordained by God! Each new life had promise and meaning. Each new life dearly loved and cared for by the Creator. What blessed thoughts! And to think that every human being that has ever existed and will ever exist is distinctively unique.
As a nurse she knew that the body itself was created with wonderful attributes. Just the simple everyday functions that everyone takes for granted can be scientifically challenging to duplicate. Take swallowing, breathing, blinking the eyes, speaking, walking, lifting an arm..... Ah..and this is where she realized day to day functions can face challenges.
Since her brain cancer had effected her left thalamus, which governs motor skills, walking and lifting her arm proved challenging. However, God has also created a highly functioning muscle unit...the brain... that can be re-trained to compensate for injury or trauma. How incredible! She began to realize that probably 50 years ago she would have been put 'on a shelf' and forgotten, due to her brain cancer. As a nurse back in the late fifties and early sixties, she knew there did not exist any viable research on brain rehabilitation. But now there is notable evidence that the brain has great capacity to re-learn bodily functions.
Critical to the bodily rehabilitation, however, is the determination and positive attitude of the patient...the person undergoing rehab/therapy. From the first day she entered Upstate Hospital in Syracuse, NY, prior to her confirmed diagnosis of brain cancer, she forced herself to get out of bed and walk. She remembered how the nurses expressed concern (and a little alarm) that she would stumble out into the hallway, hang onto the hospital railing and struggle to walk around the unit. A physical therapist was immediately called who gave her a walker for assistance. No one wanted her to fall. But she knew that in order to prevent muscle atrophy she had to keep moving.
That determination has continued since that June of 2010 when she entered the hospital. Oh, there have been moments....of depression, tears, helplessness, frustration! But during all that time there was the powerful presence of Jesus. He physically appeared to her while she was in Syracuse and again was there at her bedside in Spectrum, Grand Rapids, during those once a month week long treatments of the powerful chemotherapy, methotrexate. She saw Him standing there next to her, arms outstretched, loving and caring for her and constantly watching over her. His presence gave her hope. His presence gave her encouragement as she faced the most difficult time in her earthly life. Jesus wanted her to heal. Jesus wanted her to get her life back together. Jesus wanted her to remain determined and positive. Jesus did not want her to give up.
Now as she worked with the therapists at MaryFreeBed she grabbed onto powerful words. Repetitive! and Quality! As Liz and Janna encouraged her, she understand the words. Repetitive....repeat the exercise but don't overdue. Quality....concentrate on the individual exercise to give it your best but don't push to exhaustive quantity. "Yes, Janet, remember, the brain can be re-trained and you can do it!" They even instructed her to talk to her hand as the fingers moved and to talk to her leg reminding the knee to bend. The brain was being reminded of its functions and research had proved that worked.
All the time God was by her side. He had created her. He had known her in her mother's womb. He had known what He had planned for her life. He rejoiced that she knew Him and loved Him and listened to Him. Her earthly life was not finished just yet. He had more for her to do.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ........All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139: 13-14, 16
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Graduation
"I am calling it a graduation, not a funeral," she announced.
She had been thinking about this for a long time. Having gone through a near death experience with her recent bout with brain cancer, she had a refreshing and open attitude about death. She had compared her feelings with other cancer patients and discovered that those cancer victims with a Christian faith now had no fear of death. Cancer is such a frightening, paralyzing word that everyone associates that word with death. But death can come to each of us at anytime, not necessarily from cancer. So how does one prepare?
She realized that everyone basically ignores, denies or fears death. Today's culture worships life with all its comforts, joys, pleasures, materialism, physical fitness, fashions and self-glorification. Why be worried or even bothered with the thought that life will end one day; however near or far. Life had so much to offer....certainly things would go on 'forever' just as they presently existed.
That's the frame of mind she had been in. Life was good....no health problems (her yearly physical exams were close to 'boring'), four super accomplished well educated children, twelve healthy wonderful grandchildren, no financial worries, a husband who adored her. What could be better? Oh sure, she knew someday the end of life would come...yes....someday....somehow. And she had a strong faith. She believed Jesus. She believed He rose from the dead. She believed she would go to heaven. After all He had promised that and she had accepted Jesus into her heart.
But then reality and 'the day' had arrived. "You have a rare, aggressive cancer in the brain. You have seven weeks to live." The words of the oncologist rang in her ears. That had been the unexpected moment....the 'bell' had sounded.
The week before the brain biopsy was the worst week. The cancer had not yet been clearly identified and therefore no treatment had started. She was acutely ill. Family members later told her she was dying before their eyes! Hideous nightmares flooded her brain. She could not sleep. The nightmares interrupted her sleep as she experienced an eerie, strange battle going on. She felt an evil spirit engulfed in a dark, oppressive cloud trying to pull her toward him. And yet she felt loving arms encompassing and holding her. What was going on?
And then it became obvious to her. Satan was trying to pull her to him and Jesus was lovingly holding her. At one point she said, "Why are you trying so hard to get me, Satan? I'm not that important."
A dear friend of Glenn and Stephanie, Maya a powerful prayer warrior, came to her aid and strongly commanded Satan to leave, in Jesus name! The nightmares stopped.
On the day of the brain biopsy, she had a strange dream. She was in a tunnel, sitting in a wheelchair. The tunnel was quiet. A continual procession of figures, cloaked, with faces unseen, passed slowly and quietly by, from left to right. She had the absolute impression she was on her way to heaven. Then suddenly, someone turned her wheelchair around and she woke up in her hospital bed. She often thought of that moment. She knew the Lord had made a decision that he wanted her in this earthly life for a while longer.
She had concluded this earthly life is a school. There is so much to learn, choices to make, we have free will to live the life we choose. God is always present in this earthly life to teach us, to give us choices. As she looked back over the many years she had lived, she knew that she had made many mistakes, done a lot of stupid things, said insincere and hurtful comments....yet God loved her and forgave her. The naive, self-centered schoolgirl had studied, followed the Biblical coursework and would at some time 'graduate'. Probably not with 'honors' but at least with 'recognition'....true and faithful servant.
So now she was preparing for that glorious "Graduation Day" when she would graduate from this earthly life to spend eternity with Jesus. Instead of a 'funeral' or 'memorial' she wanted it called 'graduation'. And on this Easter Sunday, what better way to celebrate that thought. "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6) What an incredible gift! Jesus rose from the dead! We have the assurance we will enter Paradise because Jesus defeated death!
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3
She had been thinking about this for a long time. Having gone through a near death experience with her recent bout with brain cancer, she had a refreshing and open attitude about death. She had compared her feelings with other cancer patients and discovered that those cancer victims with a Christian faith now had no fear of death. Cancer is such a frightening, paralyzing word that everyone associates that word with death. But death can come to each of us at anytime, not necessarily from cancer. So how does one prepare?
She realized that everyone basically ignores, denies or fears death. Today's culture worships life with all its comforts, joys, pleasures, materialism, physical fitness, fashions and self-glorification. Why be worried or even bothered with the thought that life will end one day; however near or far. Life had so much to offer....certainly things would go on 'forever' just as they presently existed.
That's the frame of mind she had been in. Life was good....no health problems (her yearly physical exams were close to 'boring'), four super accomplished well educated children, twelve healthy wonderful grandchildren, no financial worries, a husband who adored her. What could be better? Oh sure, she knew someday the end of life would come...yes....someday....somehow. And she had a strong faith. She believed Jesus. She believed He rose from the dead. She believed she would go to heaven. After all He had promised that and she had accepted Jesus into her heart.
But then reality and 'the day' had arrived. "You have a rare, aggressive cancer in the brain. You have seven weeks to live." The words of the oncologist rang in her ears. That had been the unexpected moment....the 'bell' had sounded.
The week before the brain biopsy was the worst week. The cancer had not yet been clearly identified and therefore no treatment had started. She was acutely ill. Family members later told her she was dying before their eyes! Hideous nightmares flooded her brain. She could not sleep. The nightmares interrupted her sleep as she experienced an eerie, strange battle going on. She felt an evil spirit engulfed in a dark, oppressive cloud trying to pull her toward him. And yet she felt loving arms encompassing and holding her. What was going on?
And then it became obvious to her. Satan was trying to pull her to him and Jesus was lovingly holding her. At one point she said, "Why are you trying so hard to get me, Satan? I'm not that important."
A dear friend of Glenn and Stephanie, Maya a powerful prayer warrior, came to her aid and strongly commanded Satan to leave, in Jesus name! The nightmares stopped.
On the day of the brain biopsy, she had a strange dream. She was in a tunnel, sitting in a wheelchair. The tunnel was quiet. A continual procession of figures, cloaked, with faces unseen, passed slowly and quietly by, from left to right. She had the absolute impression she was on her way to heaven. Then suddenly, someone turned her wheelchair around and she woke up in her hospital bed. She often thought of that moment. She knew the Lord had made a decision that he wanted her in this earthly life for a while longer.
She had concluded this earthly life is a school. There is so much to learn, choices to make, we have free will to live the life we choose. God is always present in this earthly life to teach us, to give us choices. As she looked back over the many years she had lived, she knew that she had made many mistakes, done a lot of stupid things, said insincere and hurtful comments....yet God loved her and forgave her. The naive, self-centered schoolgirl had studied, followed the Biblical coursework and would at some time 'graduate'. Probably not with 'honors' but at least with 'recognition'....true and faithful servant.
So now she was preparing for that glorious "Graduation Day" when she would graduate from this earthly life to spend eternity with Jesus. Instead of a 'funeral' or 'memorial' she wanted it called 'graduation'. And on this Easter Sunday, what better way to celebrate that thought. "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." (Matthew 28:6) What an incredible gift! Jesus rose from the dead! We have the assurance we will enter Paradise because Jesus defeated death!
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:1-3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)