Joshua had a spinal tap along with his regular dose of intravenous chemo on Wednesday, and we buckled in for what is usually the worst 5 days of the 12 week cycle we're on. And people prayed. And Joshua didn't cry. He didn't throw fits. He didn't lay on the couch. He played, laughed, and even mowed the grass (man, can't wait till he can do that himself). How about that - God doing what He does - answering a mass of prayers from His people for that random kid in Tennessee.
Thank you.
We also passed another mile marker without calling much attention to it, but in case you're counting, we are now past the halfway point in leukemia world. Actually we're well past it. Joshua has now been in treatment for leukemia for 19 and a half months. Halfway point was 18 months. And now, sitting on the back half, maybe there's room for a few more reflections. I don't think God wants us to be thankful for leukemia; I don't think that's what giving thanks in all circumstances means. However, He has been faithful to remind us on a near daily basis what the true meaning of redemption is.
To redeem - to buy back. That's what we see happening here. We see our good God buying back Joshua's sickness in a thousand tiny ways. He's teaching us to laugh more, cry more, hurt more deeply, and feel joy more fully. He's teaching us to hold loosely to stupid things and grip tightly those things that are significant. He's teaching us about the nature of hope, and that hope by its very nature involves a measure of pain. He's teaching us about contentment and joy. And we are doing our best, sometimes better than others, to listen.
And maybe that's one of the best things any of us can do. We don't respond perfectly, or even very well, when the days are trying. But maybe we're learning to listen better.
5 comments:
yeah! I am so glad he had a good week on steroids. We are gearing up for Wednesday. We plan to come to TN in July and would love to see you. Think of you often!
beautiful words...thank you.
Sweet words of wisdom.
jana, they can ace the AP exams, just can't be 10 when they do so. if they are, i'm going to throw something at them and you.
"We see our good God buying back Joshua's sickness in a thousand tiny ways. He's teaching us to laugh more, cry more, hurt more deeply, and feel joy more fully."
i love this. i think that's the beauty of the work that God does. There is joy and beauty in, through, and in spite of tragedy, bad choices, or the pain in our lives.
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