Cancer and Faith?

[Cathie]

I have told people many times that having cancer taught my more than it ever took away. And I hope I'm a better person for it. I wouldn't wish it on anyone but I learned to be kinder. I learned to be patient. I learned to appreciate the small things and the big things. I really like me now. You know.... a like that comes from the inside, deep inside, from my heart, from a spiritual inside.....yes I am a Christian and I'm thankful to God everyday.

Blessings

Cathie

[HopeForJesse]

Maggie - a wonderful question and topic to bring up.
For me, I phrased the answer to this question best in the book I wrote about my journey with cancer this year. Here's the excerpt:

"I cannot emphasize enough how absolutely blessed I am to have a loving family, an amazing husband, and a God that gives me his strength when mine is just not enough. If you want to know how I can get through something like this, how I can face those terrible questions and what-may-be's, that's how. I'm not strong enough. Not even close. Not on my own. Thankfully, I'm not on my own." ...
"I don't believe that it's God's fault people get cancer, but I do believe he can use it for his glory if we have faith. We can be a light in the darkness with our words, and our strength and even by just surviving, because life is a gift. So this is my prayer. Whatever the future holds for me, I hope that this, my journey, shines a light for others. That I am able to give someone hope by having hope. That I can let someone know they can survive, by surviving. Even if it kills me.

Because surviving isn't about living so much as it's about how you live.

I'm going to live my life, every second of it that I am given, in the light."

Hugs and Prayers,
Tracy

Beautifully stated, Tracy. God bless you!

I am glad to see this topic resurrected (no pun intended ). I have tried to be sensitive here in this area but also don't want to miss the opportunity to share the peace that faith provides on a daily basis and especially in this cancer battle. Had dinner recently with some atheist friends and the topic came up - not from me btw but from them. My encouragement to simply seek God was well received and I think that is always a great place to start for non believers and believers alike. Just seek God. You may be surprised what you find

[WriterGirl1969]

Beautifully stated, Tracy. God bless you!

I am glad to see this topic resurrected (no pun intended ). I have tried to be sensitive here in this area but also don't want to miss the opportunity to share the peace that faith provides on a daily basis and especially in this cancer battle. Had dinner recently with some atheist friends and the topic came up - not from me btw but from them. My encouragement to simply seek God was well received and I think that is always a great place to start for non believers and believers alike. Just seek God. You may be surprised what you find

Thanks HFJ.
I agree - this is a great topic to have re-circulate. And I understand what you mean about trying to be sensitive, but I feel so compelled to share the hope and peace. So many people are so afraid and alone and don't have the support that they need. It just breaks my heart. I figure if I just love on people as much as I can, that's a way I can help. It's wonderful that you are able to share your faith. I think sometimes it's harder to do than we think, and easy to side-step chances, but when we let our light shine it's a pretty amazing thing. And if one thing is for sure, it's that it's nice to be able to still be powerful in some way when dealing with this wretched disease that likes so much to steal our power.

God bless and keep you!
Hugs and Prayers,
Tracy

[jortego128]

This is what she wrote back in January 2013, she was originally in Tualatin, Oregon. I feel she may be with her ancestors by now. If she had
achieved a miraculous healing, would have knocked the Kardashians off social media, yeah?

Thats kind of a strange and insensitive thing to say...? I know she originally posted in 2013, its been 3 years-- I wouldnt necessarily consider it miraculous if she was still here fighting...

[Maggie Nell]

This is what she wrote back in January 2013, she was originally in Tualatin, Oregon. I feel she may be with her ancestors by now. If she had
achieved a miraculous healing, would have knocked the Kardashians off social media, yeah?

......- I wouldnt necessarily consider it miraculous if she was still here fighting...

But the people of the Phillipines would, and that makes all the difference.

[Nik Colon]

My personal opinion. I don't know how I feel tbh. My dad is a miracle (the term many say) as he should have died many times, especially yrs ago. Ruptured aortic aneurysm, collapsed on side of road around 830pm, surgery 1100pm. Should be dead, but not new to his odds. Other unexplained things I have seen. Won't go into all.
I do believe in the afterlife and spirits, many things I have encountered personally.
My recent one...I was at the gyno the other day, my doc came in and introduced himself to my dad. Dr said nice to meet you Brett (not my dad's name). I didn't say anything at the time. After our talk I said to him "My brother was Brett" (who died 2012). He said he swore my dad said his name was Brett. Anyway, long story short...weird. I feel my brother was there. Not the first time something like this has happened with my brother or others who have passed in my life. Many other odd things, even lights or things moving, and other things. Even my hub was a skeptic until he seen and had his own experience.
Believe what you will, that is your right, but no one can unconvince me of what I have witnessed, heard, felt, etc.

[BeansMama]

I find my faith being strengthened through my journey. I have had too many things just fall into place recently to call it coincidence. Yes, the journey has not been easy but the renewal of my faith helps give my the strength.

[Maggie Nell]

As an aside, the annual hard-rubbish collection is happening in my community - which is like christmas. I 'rescue' fabrics to use in my
textile art and, funnily, today I found a little pillow with silk ribbon roses and an embroidered message: If mums were flowers,
I'd pick you.

Spring 1994, when my mother was dying, we were sorting out her funeral. I asked her what flowers she wanted:

me: how about chrysanthemums?

her: No, they stink.

me: you're not going to be able to smell them!

her: Yes I will. They stink to High Heaven.



In view of the recent threads about mothers, I could think that somebody is looking over my shoulder and cackling away.

[Wonderfullymade]

Spring 1994, when my mother was dying, we were sorting out her funeral. I asked her what flowers she wanted:

me: how about chrysanthemums?

her: No, they stink.

me: you're not going to be able to smell them!

her: Yes I will. They stink to High Heaven.



In view of the recent threads about mothers, I could think that somebody is looking over my shoulder and cackling away.[/quote]

Thanks for the laugh!!
I am grateful we are able to talk about our faith on this forum! It is so much apart of my recovery and comfort through this time of what would be sheer panic if I didn't have faith in a loving God and a better place waiting for me at the end of this ... well I just can't imagine. I do pray for all those with this dreaded illness and try and let my light shine to those I meet so that they will ask what is the hope in me...so that I can pass it onto them.

[Maggie Nell]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exVYHLfNzgM


"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy".

[Maggie Nell]

[Nik Colon]

Love them!

[Maggie Nell]

Does my butt look big in this egret?

[Nik Colon]

Does my butt look big in this egret?

You are one of the oddest people I know, humor to match! (Not a bad thing, unique)

[Maggie Nell]

Jaysus Schweppes, Nik....I'm not odd.....I'm a Melburnian!

Watch Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Muriel's Wedding and The Castle and listen to the
serenity of a sequinned lama wedding frock.