Lady in the Lobby

How do you keep your joy when the circumstance is bad? Going through chemo and radiation you sit in the lobby of the Oncology department a fair amount of time and you hear other people talking. This one lady was fretting and crying on her husband’s shoulder and saying how was she supposed to handle all this with her and another person in her family at one time going through it? She was saying all the fear and trouble that had landed on her and no one knows what I am going through. So, I spoke up and told her,” I am in your same situation. My brother is going through chemo right now at the same time as me.” I told her, “you are not alone in what has hit your family.” She just looked at me with a really angry face and sat down.

I told the Doctor when I saw her about the encounter and that I was surprised she wanted to stay upset. She said, “Attitude and faith are the difference here. We see it every day. The ones who are positive and have hope and faith do measurably better. A lot of people wrap themselves up in fear and a poor me attitude and they suffer but mostly… they hang on to it and will not let it go.”

My attitude was the polar opposite of that lady!

Why? All the years of walking with God and trusting Him in the trials of life had convinced me that I can trust God for anything but I have a part in it. I have to keep my joy, guard my words and be grateful and stay in faith not fear.

How? I read the Bible to know and remember all the promises and grace Jesus provides at the cross. I knew I could receive my healing because Jesus had already done it at the cross. He wasn’t going to do it again. My part was to RECEIVE it, say positive things, be grateful and thankful and keep my joy no matter what. This combination is what I apply to any trial. It takes effort but the lady in the lobby was exerting tremendous effort, but in the wrong direction. That can be deadly, no thanks!

Having Christ in my life is much more than just salvation to go to heaven….He says, “My peace I give to you, spiritual well-being a sense of hope, abundant life full of help and contentment, healing, identity, authority….You will have trials, but count it all joy in every circumstance the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you me be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Hallelujah!!!

Yes, thank you!

Love you, Teri