Bowel Cancer
PRAISE IS RIGHTFULLY YOURS, GOD, IN ZION. . .FOR YOU ANSWER
PRAYER PSALM 65:1
Six years ago I was diagnosed with bowel cancer that necessitated major surgery
and a six-months follow-up course of chemotherapy. As I awaited my turn outside
the operating room, an unbelievable sense of peace pervaded me and I felt as
though the Lord was standing by my side.
Some days after surgery a nurse said to me, “Don’t despair, you’re one of the
lucky ones. You have been given a second chance.”
Yes, I am one of the lucky ones; yes, I have been given a second chance; and
each new day is an added bonus for which I praise and glorify the Lord.
After three doses of chemotherapy I was ready to quit and accept the
consequences. What happened next I believe was Divine intervention because
neither the special home visiting nursing staff nor surgeon was able to pinpoint
the problem. My local G.P. just happened to telephone to enquire how the
treatment was progressing and when I explained the severe doomsday-like symptoms
effecting the mind and continuous restlessness I was experiencing, she realised
they were caused by an adverse reaction to an anti-nausea drug. Once the drug
was stopped there were no further problems. During those months of stress, the
presence of the Lord was very near to me - an anchor in my personal storm.
Walking through the Dandenongs one day in Spring, three months after the
chemotherapy course ended, I smelt the delicate perfume of roses, I saw the
Creator’s marvellous handiwork in the many glorious hues of rhododendrons and
azaleas, in the clinging laziness of the purple-flowered clematis vine, in the
brilliant colours of king parrots and crimson rosellas, in the superb mimicry
and dancing display of the lyrebird and two frolicking foxes. The wonders of
God’s love intoxicated me.
In a letter to a woman’s magazine, a 70-year-old woman wrote, “I have been blind
from birth. I have been told the sky is blue, the grass is green - but what
colour is blue, what colour is green?” and I realized just how much I had to be
grateful for.
Our youngest son, who has Asperger Syndrome, was in grade six at primary school,
and as is only natural in our mortal make-up, I was extremely concerned what
would happen to him if I didn’t “come through.” Many tears were shed privately
when the initial diagnosis was given in 1995 and last week tears flowed once
more when my Oncologist informed me there was no need to see him again, only
this time the tears were different - they were tears of joy. Clear! What a
beautiful word! I felt like shouting it from the mountaintops - proclaiming it
to the world.
Walking along the footpath, silently praising and thanking my Best Friend, I
noticed a crumpled, discarded page that had been torn from a Bible and dropped
on the ground outside the Lilydale Post Office. The word ‘Praise’ caught my
attention. Stooping down, I picked up that page and read: “Praise the Lord! I
will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright and in
the congregation.” (Psalm 111:1) Coincidence? No, Someone was giving me a gentle
nudge.
To my ‘congregation’ I sincerely praise and thank the Lord for healing which has
lengthened my life by at least six years and enabled me to experience the growth
of four special grandchildren; to witness our youngest son’s Year 12 graduation
and passing V.C.E; the honour bestowed on him at Speech Night in October; to
behold the love he has for his Maker that resulted in his baptism on August 17;
to see our eldest son and his wife answer a call to Volunteer Ministry at the
Swan Hill Church; and for the privilege of serving my Creator. I can empathize
with the lame man at the gate Beautiful, who, when healed, went ‘leaping and
praising God’, and with the liberated prisoner released from his confining
shackles. No word of thanks can adequately express my appreciation to my
Heavenly Father.
The power of prayer - our mortal link to Immortality - is awesome, really
awesome. “Let me sing the praises of Yahweh’s goodness, and of His marvellous
deeds, in return for all that He has done for (me) us and for the great kindness
He has shown (me) us in His mercy and in His boundless goodness.” (Isaiah 63:7)
Amen
Elayne Stanford <iggie41@yahoo.com.au>
(Received on Saturday January 19, 2002)
