Good News, Great Joy!

Okay, I totally stole the words for this post title...my boys had their elementary christmas performance a week ago and one of the songs from it is trapped in my head! I can really only recall a few words from this catchy tune...and they are oh so appropriate for this day! The song, of course, is referring to the good news and great joy of the birth of Christ. For me, today, it's the kindness and goodness God has shown me. 

Today was my pet and ct scans. I also had my monthly bloodwork. Dan, my former chemo nurse, was spot on with the IV start (he had to actually try 2x and was frustrated at himself for that:).

"Thank you Jesus that Dan was working today"

"Thank you Jesus for a quick and successful vein access"

My scans went well. I'll go over the results at my appointment Tuesday with my Doctor. Shortly after, I received my bloodwork. (This is where I start singing , "good news, great joy!")

My bloodwork was good. But the best part was that my CA153, the blood test that is used as a tumor marker (level of cancer I guess it could be called in laymen's terms) had gone down from 43 to 35 in just one month!

"Thank you Jesus that the chemo Is working"

This truly is a gift from Him. I know that things can change anytime, and it's completely out of my control. But my heart swells with gratitude at His goodness and the gift of health and energy that He has given me right now. 

And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord....Psalm 35:9a

No bad days

 

If you think you are having a "bad day", think again. If this 2 year old can laugh and smile after all she has been through and still going through, you too can make it through whatever seems to be your mountain today. There is always someone in a worse situation than you. This doesn't discount your situation. Nor does it make your feelings invalid. However, there is always, always, something to be thankful for! 

I've been reflecting this year about how last time around (2011-12), I struggled with feelings of anger, frustration, doubt. This time, even though the territory is a bit more unknown, I don't struggle with those same feelings. The reason is because God is gently teaching me to surrender. I have surrendered this stuff...my wandering mind, my future, my family, my cancer...

I Peter 5:7

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you

By emptying myself of all that negative "what if", I leave myself an open vessel for Jesus to pour Himself into it.

If I walk through this cancer again, without learning lessons, then it's all in vain. Wasted. Truly it would be a life not lived to the fullest. By using my "mountain" as my spiritual school I am living my richest life. I can honestly say that this year is the richest year we have had...as a family, as a couple, me personally.

I'm writing these thoughts now, less than a week away from my scans, to mark the progress my chemo is making, incase I need encouragement (or a swift kick in the butt;). It's all a process. We never arrive. Life is a journey. 

Acts 20:24

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

*Pictures taken from prayersforkylie.com