Seven Good Things About Having Cancer, Part 3C – by Gerald Givens

Half – Content – Empowered

“Not that I am speaking of being in need,
for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”
Philippians 4:11 English Standard Version 

Is half a loaf better that no loaf? I don’t know, but a friend gave me half a dozen doughnuts yesterday, and that was lots better than no doughnuts.

Cranberry Loaf On A Wood Cutting Board Side ViewWhat about half a glass. Do you see it as half full or half empty?  If half full, are you happy you have some, or disappointed you did not get a full one, or did you get more than you wanted? If half empty, are you happy you got some, or disappointed you with what you got?

At 1345 12 October halftime is over.  Karen and I are going for my fourth infusion of Chemo.  We or rather I have a tendency to count things.  Not a necessarily Biblical concept.

For the record this is the fourth of six infusions.   I have been doing this for 64 of 126 days. If you had asked me last week was a bad one.  In addition to other complaints my eyes and nose are dripping – no cold or allergy – just dripping, and my nails and fingers have gone south.  But on Friday I visited the oncologist for blood chemistry check and check-up and his comment was, that’s the best round you had, let’s keep it up!

This morning I read in the paper about Cheyenne Dyess. She is a ten-year old who was diagnosed in late January with cancer, ‘T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.’ “The next day she began an aggressive chemotherapy treatment that will last for the next two years.” Her smiling can be seen in this 9News blog.

Hmmm – I got to go to Alaska before I started Chemo, she started the next day. I had seventy pretty healthy years, she started with ten. I am enduring six treatments over 166 days, she gets 2 years.

Cheyenne is now on my prayer list!

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:13 English Standard Version

About Douglas Brauner

I'm a retired pastor, blogger, and photographer. (Oh, and did I mention husband and father?) I encourage people who wrestle with life to focus on Christ so that they experience hope and joy on life's treadmill.