Dear Cancer, This Is Not The End….

In April of 2007, I wrote a post entitled “A Miracle for Marisa” in an effort to raise prayer support for Marisa as she battled cancer.  I have never met Marisa in person but when I read her husband’s post Dear Cancer, a victorious testimony to the power of the risen Christ, I was captivated by her journey.  Perhaps, her story resonated so profoundly with me because I had just lost a dear friend, also a young mother, to cancer the previous Autumn.  In the months that have followed, I have faithfully read her blog and prayed for her and her family.

For the last two days, God has burdened my heart continually to pray so I was not at all surprised to find a post on her site this morning by her loving husband which announced she is in the hospital and “heaven is near”.  So, today as I went about the mundane tasks of my life I have offered near constant prayer that her journey to paradise would be peaceful and that God would now work the miracle of surrounding her husband and three small children with comfort and peace.

I want to honor Marisa today.  I want to celebrate her life and so, I hope it is not too presumptious that I have written cancer a letter too….

Dear Cancer,

You must have been shocked by her tenacity.  She was a much fiercer competitor than you imagined, wasn’t she?  Perhaps, you are smug today as you anticipate the end you have labored so tirelessly to bring about.  Oh, foolish, foolish Cancer…you don’t really think you’ve won do you?

This is not the end.  It never is for the child of God. 

As a matter of fact, I don’t see how you have won anything at all.  You strove to weave together for them sleepless nights, anxious minds, and troubled hearts…

But the Comforter was always, always near.

You thought you might coax them into turning on the Creator of All.  Perhaps if your vengence was vicious enough, brutal enough, they would bend, break, and turn away from Him.

But they glorified Him until the end.

You must have envisioned the finish line as you rampaged throughout every cell and at last took up residence in her pure, sweet heart.

But Cancer, you forgot something. 

Foolish, foolish Cancer, has the sound of the Babe in the manger’s cry already faded from your ears?  You plotted death, Cancer but when He took His first breath He breathed life for all of us. 

Foolish Cancer, it is not the end.  It is the beginning!  Soon, she will breath strong and free and in the blink of an eye we will all be there with her, because a thousand years here is only but a day in that Eternal Place. 

Foolish, foolish Cancer…

You have won nothing at all.

“Go in peace, Marisa.  We are saddened to be separated from you for this little while.  Thank you so much, for sharing your light with us.  We are all better for it.  Perhaps today will be the day our Savior returns and we will all always be with the Lord….”

“Lord Jesus, come quickly.  ~Amen”