Good morning…
As we gathered around our friend in the prayer chapel, we gently laid hands on her and our pastor led us in a familiar song then opened our time of collective prayer. Many faithful voices prayed blessings of hope, of healing, of whole-hearted love before our friend opened her mouth to pray. “LORD, thank You for cancer,” astonished us all. She continued with words much like these: “Thank You for all of the people who have helped me along my cancer journey. Thank You for all of the cancer patients and their families I have been privileged to support. Thank You that cancer has shown me what is most important: family, friends, and the gift of each day.”
I have heard this powerful poem spoken before:
“What Cancer Cannot Do”
Cancer is so limited…
It cannot cripple love.
It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith.
It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence.
It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the Spirit.
Author: Unknown
But I have never heard a loved one prayer, “LORD, thank You for cancer.”
Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit, 1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 (NLT),
Sue
