A Blessing I Needed
Cancer really is a blessing that I needed. I know it sounds weird. Nobody will wish to get cancer. I know I never will and will never even wish for it for my enemies or people I hate. But I needed this to put my life in order. When you see me from the outside my life looks perfect but I really was a "White Washed Tomb", smiling on the outside but so dark inside. Like many others, I too was seeking peace and happiness. It seems that in today's world, we are constantly caught up in the busyness and stress of trying to achieve more and more in the hopes of finding happiness. We are always on the go, with little time to savor the present moment. Our schedules are jam-packed with work, social obligations, and family commitments, leaving us feeling stretched thin and pulled in many different directions. Despite being everywhere, we often feel as though we are nowhere at all. I used to constantly try to please others, but no matter how much I did, I never felt like it was enough. Eventually, I lost sight of my own identity in the process.
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I always thought people didn't like me but I got to experience real love. God showed me the amount of people who really love me and care about me.
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These three years taught me a lot ...really a LOT
GOD CARRIED US THROUGH THIS AND IS STILL CARRYING US
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Have you ever experienced a challenging time in life that seemed impossible to overcome, but somehow you managed to pull through? He has prepared the necessary resources to cater to any of your needs. He has provided solutions to every challenge that you may ever face.
Long before any need arises, Jehovah Jireh has already created a solution. There are stories of God's provision of food and other necessities of life. For instance, when He sent manna and quail to the Israelites in the desert or had ravens carry bread to Elijah in the wilderness.
It's just like how God provided for Elijah and the widow during a time of drought. God showed up for the widow by sending Elijah to her, and for Elijah, God directed the ravens to bring him food. It's truly amazing how God can provide for us in unexpected ways.
What we can learn from this is that God is indeed our provider and sustainer.
When Elijah was in Cherith during a time of separation and preparation, God fed him by ravens. The mystery of the ways in which our Lord works is eye-opening in this biblical account. We can look at Elijah’s provisions and be reminded of the unique ways in which God always cares for our needs.
In 1 Kings 17, Elijah told King Ahab that the Lord was sending a drought. God led Elijah to a dry land called Cherith east of the Jordan (1 Kings 17:3). He tells Elijah that he will drink from the brook and ravens will give him food (1 Kings 17:4).
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This might seem like a strange story to you. Why would God provide for Elijah in this way? Why would the Lord even make him go live in an obscure dry place? The context of 1 Kings 17 is during the rule of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. They were absolutely evil and disobedient to the ways of the Lord. What we learn in 1 Kings 18 is that Jezebel was killing the prophets and Obadiah was hiding them to rescue them while Elijah was in Cherith. They wanted Elijah dead and looked in all of the other cities. This may have seemed like an odd location to Elijah, but God in His sovereignty was saving his life.
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Is there someone who you can radically bless? Maybe you are the one to be a special provision and be used by the Lord like the ravens? If God has gifted you with finances, a good listening ear, cooking skills, strength, etc. Ask the Lord how you can step into the hardships of someone else’s life who needs it. Scriptures help us to see the love of Christ and then learn how we can reach out to the world who is in great need of the Savior. I challenge each of us to ponder our giftings and learn how to share God’s love through them to another in their Cherith.
Last verse in the famous poem "Footprints in the Sand" it says
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He whispered, "My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you."
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It's so true!! I can really say that God has been carrying me through this entire journey. Right from the time of diagnosis to till this date he has been carrying us and providing every need of ours. I have had to and still go through a lot of physical pain but other than that every need of ours is met some way or the other.
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To me, cancer was the blessing that I really needed. It changed my life but it changed my life for good. Through cancer, God taught me a lot of things in these three years. Roshan, me and kids experienced tremendous love from people. Before I was diagnosed, I used to feel lonely. I thought people didn't people like me or I wasn't good enough.
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God blessed me with fantastic church family. So thankful to all the people in church who rallied around me with gifts, food, cards, flowers.
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My friends who checked in on me, uplifted me in spirits and shared with me in suffering
FINDING HAPPINESS
The materialistic things of this world don't matter to me anymore. I learnt to appreciate little things.I'm grateful for Roshan and my kids.
SUPER POWER
Cancer changes your life forever. As a cancer survivor, you see life through a special lens and even though it may sound crazy, I am grateful for these special glasses. I stopped worrying about "what will people think". I learnt that people can think whatever they want. It's their problem not mine.. and I can't control other people's thoughts. You learn what's important and you learn to have hope. You are grateful to wake up every day and also grateful for my new 'Super power' of being fearless