When that someone has cancer it's compounded.
It's why I'm growing my hair out. When your friend with cancer asks you if you'll donate hair to cancer patients with her you can't say no!
There was a day last week when my status on facebook was something on the order of
"is astounded by the number of people who constantly expend the energy to turn positives into negatives...perhaps we should all try the opposite for awhile"
A texted me a bit later wondering what had inspired it. I told him many things, including Ms N (of driving Miss N) and her tendency to make things sound worse than they are, and the tendency of many of my friends to focus consistently on the negative.
But mostly, I told him, it was because of my friend Sam.
Sam is an example of doing the opposite--turning his negatives into positives.
Sam was the director of music at the university I attended. Very shortly after arriving there, I became his kids (3 adorable girls) consistent babysitter. And Sam and Keli became like family. I spent many weekends at their house, did laundry for free in their machines, house and pet sat when they were gone...
We went to church together--Sam was the worship minister. Shortly after I bought my condo and had began attending and eventually joined the church I now attend, Sam and Keli accepted a position at another church in town. We kind of lost contact over the years, although I have called or emailed a few times.
About two months ago I began seeing confusing (to me) status updates from Keli on facebook...and then from their neice Lizzie who I went to school with...and finally I was directed to Sam's blog.
He's battling acute leukemia, the same kind that killed his father when Sam was still a teenager.
The blog subscription that I added that night left me in tears.
But over the last few weeks, I have been uplifted and encouraged daily by Sam and Keli as they update...and even the girls as they leave comments on the entries.
My status update that day was triggered by a post of Sam's explaining that he is not in remission as we all had hoped. And in the middle of the post he encouraged his readers—his friends and family—not to lose faith in the God he knows is working in this situation.
Powerful.
If HE can believe so adamantly, who are we to waver?
Sam has claimed a song as “his”, though many speak to him at the moment. However, the one he mentions often, the one he encouraged all of us to listen to, is one I already knew well. It’s by Parachute Band, and the title is simple…”Complete”
Sam’s not feeling great today—this second round of chemo is affecting him differently and he’s nauseous and feeling rather weak. There’s not a whole lot I can do but pray…and ask all of you to do the same. I’m not going to share the link to his blog here publicly, but if you would like to remain connected to his story and be uplifted by what he and Keli have to say, message me. I’ll be happy to share the blog address with you.
Today…for Sam
Complete
I bring this sacrifice, my open heart
I offer up my life.
I look to You, Lord
Your love that never ends
It restores me again
So I lift my eyes to You, Lord
In Your strength will I break through, Lord
Touch me now, let Your love fall down on me
I know Your love dispels all my fears
Through the storm I will hold on, Lord
And by faith I will walk on, Lord
Then I’ll see beyond my Calvary one day
And I will be complete in You
Here I am, O God
I bring this sacrifice, my open heart
I offer up my life.
I look to You, Lord
Your love that never ends
It restores me again
So I lift my eyes to You, Lord
In Your strength will I break through, Lord
Touch me now, let Your love fall down on me
I know Your love dispels all my fears
Through the storm I will hold on, Lord
And by faith I will walk on, Lord
Then I’ll see beyond my Calvary one day
And I will be complete in You
I look to You, Lord
Your love that never ends
It restores me again
So I lift my eyes to You, Lord
In Your strength will I break through, Lord
Touch me now, let Your love fall down on me
I know Your love dispels all my fears
Through the storm I will hold on, Lord
And by faith I will walk on, Lord
Then I’ll see beyond my Calvary one day
And I will be complete
Yes, I will be complete in
I will be complete in You
5 comments:
Oh, how heart breaking. . . . I'm so sorry to hear about your friend and his family. But I'm so thankful to read of his clinging to Christ through all of it.
Yes, his story is heart-breaking. I am always at a loss when something like cancer attacks people randomly. Their physical defense is chemo...how horrible. The waiting for results...sometimes bad, sometimes promising or good, is indescribable.
This song is perfect and your friend Sam is an inspiration. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Such a powerless feeling when you're dealing with something like cancer.
I have cut my hair off twice now for locks of love. I have hated my hair both times when I have left the salon (I am definitely not a short-haired girl!), but when I receive that "Thank you" postcard in the mail from Locks of Love with a child's picture, I start crying. I will continue to chop off my hair every time I get 10 inches below my shoulders. I think it is one of the best things that we can do! And, after all. It's only hair...it grows back :)
The post was hard to read, but at the same time, encouraging. I'm amazed at the strength that God supplies when people are suffering. Thank you for sharing this. I listened to the song too. That's a powerful song of worship. Thanks again.
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