Rise above

Thankfulness 

To be forever thankful.

God has asked this of us,

Never forgetting from where  we came,

Of His boundless love,   that is, Testimonies.

Of all His blessings,

Poured out upon us from Heavens gate.

Of all we have in this life,

Only given through His grace.

Of the trials we endure,

Blessings in disguise.

Of the hope we receive,

That by His blood, now we are secure.

So let us not complain

At what we might not possess,

When we realize what we do.

Family.

Friends.

 life.

So let us be thankful.

A thankfulness of which we should express.

*

One can never be too late to be thankful. I know the season typically known to us in America to be thankful, has past, and we have moved onto Christmas carols and  sweaters that should never be worn. But I have my own season of thankfulness right now. By the grace of God, and through His strength. Through the long days spent with doctors, and the nights of no sleep.

 My father is in remission!

*

*

I know that this wasn't the most aggressive cancer out there, but cancer is still cancer. No matter the type. No one wants to hear their family member is going through that. We (The family) were even told it was a highly treatable cancer. However, so far in the medical books, not curable. It was described to us this way, my dad will most likely die WITH cancer, but not OF. Huge difference.

In July of this year (2016) my dad was diagnosed with a type of lymphoid cancer. Again, highly treatable. He was given a few choices of treatments and chose what he and the doctors thought best for him. He began Chemo therapy in early August.

Months of doctors visits, needles, long days, restless nights. Pain. I wasn't able to be there for him in person, and when I was, it was hard to see him like that; He just wasn't himself. Part of me wanted to be there for him, but part of me knew it best to send my love from afar. I mean, this is my father we are talking about here. The man who taught me how to walk, eat. He taught me so many valuable lessons in life. How to pray, and why we pray. And most importantly he continues to lead by example a life following Christ, and how to have a relationship with Him. So no, I didn't want to see my father this way. Weakened by a chemical.

Like I said, this was one of the highly treatable cancers. So as far as I know he only had minor reactions, nothing (to my knowledge) to worry the doctors about. But again, cancer is still cancer. And Christ did not create our bodies to go through something like this. So no matter how small your cancerous cells are, or if you have a cancerous tumor the size of a softball, going through radiation / chemo therapy will take a toll on your body.

*

The staff here at Palomar are amazing. Each week we gather together for a bible study and prayer. Each week they listened as I gave them updates, and they so willingly lifted my dad up in prayer. Now, weeks/months later, my daddy is finally better. He is in remission!

I am so thankful for a team of highly knowledgeable doctors and nurses that helped my family through this. I am thankful for my home church in Washington who came along my dad and supported him, and I am so thankful that they were so understanding the whole journey through. I am thankful for the team I work with here in California, that they've prayed and inquired every week on his health. I am so very thankful for the woman Christ has so thoughtfully placed along side my father, the beautiful and tenderhearted lady I call my mamma.  I am thankful that He (Jesus) gave her the strength as well to be by my dads side at every doctors appointment and treatment. And most of all, I am ever so grateful for The one who fist loved us, that is, Jesus Christ. I am thankful He (Jesus) gave my father the strength to put one foot in front of the other everyday, even through the pain. I am so thankful for the example my father is in his relationship with Jesus that when I asked my dad every now and again how he was doing, he never complained, instead gave God the glory by saying,

"I'm learning each day what Gods grace means."

My father still has a long road ahead of him. For it seams there is always one after another medical need. But what I love is that through all of his physical trials he has gone through, he relies on our Lord to pull him through, and He (Jesus) has every time, and helped my dad become stronger. So I stand (technically sitting, :) here rejoicing in one victory, but ask for continuing prayers for overall health.

To God be all the praise and glory that is due Him, Amen?

*

Isaiah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

- Danielle