Cancer . . . a blessing?

Two mornings ago, Hubby and I were in sitting in the bed, watching TV and sipping our morning coffee. He was flipping through the channels and just happened to stop on The 700 Club. Now, we don't normally watch this show. Not for any particular reason except that mornings are usually busy for us. But anywhoo, he paused and we saw Tony Snow. For those of you who may not know, Tony Snow, is the White House Press Secretary. Well, soon to be former White House Press Secretary. He has submitted his resignation this summer. You see, he's fighting colon cancer. Hubby and I have been of a fan of his for years. You know, back when he was on Fox News. Anyway, back to the interview . . . oh yes, they were interviewing Tony Snow and he was talking about the President -- about life at the White House, about how he'll miss being there and miss seeing those familiar faces. And then of course, the interviewer asked, "What about the cancer. Do you ever ask why me?" And then he answered, "Never. When I married my wife, I didn't ask why me. When I got the great job at Fox News, I didn't ask why me. When I got the job at the White House, I didn't ask why me. I didn't deserve any of those blessings. So, why would I ask why me now?" Wow, how profound. I often wonder if I were in that same situation, with cancer or some terminal disease, would I be praising God. Would I be giving God the glory in the midst of my storm. Would I trust the Lord God Almighty. I sometimes think of my selfish nature. Would I beg and plead with God to keep me here to watch my little babies grow, and spend nights cuddled in my husband's arms. I feel like I haven't had enough time with him or with my children. And yet, I know that the Lord has a plan. And then these verses came to mind:

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 says:

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

How true, how true! And I came to this conclusion, I'd rather be dying in the Lord's will than living outside of it.

May God give comfort to Tony Snow and the many others out there suffering with illness.

Words of Encouragement

Good Monday morning to you all! We had a guest speaker at our church yesterday. He shared these wonderful words of encouragement -- something I really needed to hear. I hope it blesses you too!

THE RACE

"QUIT! GIVE UP! YOU'RE BEATEN!" They shout and plead,
There's just too much against you now, this time you can't succeed.
And as I start to hang my head in front of failure's face,
My downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.

And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene.
For just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.
A children's race, young boys, young men; now I remember well.
Excitement, sure, but also fear; it wasn't hard to tell.

They all lined up so full of hope. Each thought to win that race.
Or tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they went, young hearts and hopes of fire.
To win, to be the hero there, was each young boy's desire.
And one boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd,
Was running near the lead and thought, "My dad will be so proud."

But as he sped down the field across a shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win, lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his hands flew out to brace,
And mid the laughter of the crowd, he fell flat on his face.

So down he fell and with him hope. He couldn't win it now.
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished to disappear somehow.
But as he fell, his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
Which to the boy so clearly said, "Get up and win that race!"

He quickly rose, no damage done - behind a bit, that's all,
And ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.
So anxious to restore himself to catch up and to win,
His mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.

He wished that he had quite before with only one disgrace.
I'm hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn't try to race.
But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father's face
That steady look that said again, "Get up and win the race."

So, he jumped up to try again. Ten yards behind the last.
If I'm to gain those yards, he thought, I've got to run real fast.
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.

Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.
There's no sense running anymore - three strikes and I'm out - why try?
The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had flew away.
So far behind, so error prone, closer all the way.

I've lost, so what's the use, he thought, I'll live with my disgrace.
But then he thought about his dad, who soon he'd have to face.
"Get up," an echo sounded low. "Get up and take your place.
You were not meant for failure here, get up and win the race."

With borrowed will, "Get up," it said, "You haven't lost at all,
For winning is not more than this, to rise each time you fall."
So up he rose to win once more. And with a new commit,
He resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn't quit.

So far behind the others now, the most he'd ever been.
Still he gave it all he had and ran as though to win.
Three times he'd fallen stumbling, three times he'd rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.

They cheered the winning runner as he crossed first place.
Head high and proud and happy; no falling, no disgrace.
But when the fallen youngster crossed the line, last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.

And even though he came in last, with head bowed low, unproud;
You would have thought he'd won the race, to listen to the crowd.
And to his Dad he sadly said, "I didn't do so well."
"To me you won," his father said, "You rose each time you fell."

And when things seemed dark and hard and difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy - helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and down and all,
And all you have to do to win - is rise each time you fall.
"Quit!" "GIVE UP, YOU'RE BEATEN." They still shout in my face.
But another voice within me says, "GET UP AND WIN THE RACE!"


Author according to the internet is Dee Groberg.