The phone rang while I was having lunch with friends in my office. It was my sister-in-law's doctor requesting to personally see me. I immediately agreed because I had to know the results of the bone marrow test of my sister-in-law
who has been confined in the hospital for a week now.
She told me that she had Acute Myelogenous Leukemia ( an aggressive type) and she had a few months to live. It was a terrible jolt and an awful dread swept over me. After she left, I immediately went up to the hospital chapel to pray for strength for I had to relay the sad news to her husband and two sons (ages 12 & 16).
Before I could say anything to them when they came into my office, I already broke down into tears. At this instance, my cellphone beeped and it was my daughter replying to my sad news. Her message went this way..."Let's be strong for her right now. Hope is a gift from God. Let's use it to assure us that God's plan is greater than ours. Don't show her pity and sadness but rather we need to help her prepare her spirit for God's purpose in her life. There is still time. God can do wondrous things in just a snap of His fingers. We need to believe that there is hope because if we can't do this, how are we of any help to her? God loves her more than we do. Be strong in your faith." From that moment, the grip of panic fell away, and I had peace. This helped my brother and my nephews accept the news in a different perspective.
Starting that moment, we will commit to take the step of faith. By doing so, the action will wash out the fear, and faith will take its place. For faith and fear cannot exist simultaneously. We will nurture this through prayer and action for it to remain a strong force as we go through this difficult time.
