i'm gonna be really real with you today....finding things to be grateful for is tough this morning. sure, there's plenty of little things; the arrival of fall, a warm cup of coffee, my puppy's first birthday. but this weekend was a rough one.
my dad has been battling cancer for the past sixteen months and has been on new chemo treatment for the past nine weeks. he had some chest pain on thursday night and my mom took him down to penn, where he's being treated, on friday. after a chest ct scan, they discovered that the tumor in his lung had grown and that the chemo wasn't working. this blow, this set back, makes me want to scream, "whyyyy???" and just get angry with god.
it's not fair that my dad is going through this. it's not fair that anyone goes through this. he was otherwise completely healthy and the diagnosis came as a shock, and now, with every treatment, we hang onto hope that this, this will be the thing to kick it to the curb. it's weekends like these that make my heart feel less-than grateful, but the only way i've found to deal with this roller coaster has been to find the positive, and lean into jesus.
so i'm grateful today that we discovered this setback. i'm grateful because it gives my dad's medical team a few days to figure out the next step, the next treatment before he goes for his regularly-scheduled appointment on thursday. i'm grateful that today, he's feeling a little bit better. i'm grateful that he's learning to rest and abide and not go, go, go. i'm grateful for the community of believers and friends who have risen up around us to support us. and i'm grateful for the hope that's found in christ, because i don't know how anyone walks this road without that hope.
i covet your prayers today, friends. prayers for peace, for comfort, and most of all, for healing. i'm grateful for you.
so stop by the grateful heart link-up …i encourage you to go check it out, read some of the other posts, and consider participating! if posting on a monday doesn't suit your blogging schedule, good news! the link-up is open all week long!
what are you grateful for today?
I can't imagine what you are feeling right now. I'm praying that they can find something that will work for your dad. I'm also praying for you and your family. You are an amazing support system for him. Keep your chin up girl. He's got God on his side!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being real and sharing what your going through. Cancer SUCKS! My mom had breast cancer last year. I am so sorry your dad is going through this and I can totally relate with being upset and asking God "WHY?" I do it all the time. Your so right we do have hope in Christ and I don't know how anyone goes through this life without it.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your dad. Will be praying for him.
ReplyDeleteBetsy--I'm fiercely praying for you and your family! What a blessing it is that you are able to find gratefulness in a time such as this--such a testimony! Please let me know if I can do anything outside of prayer for you! <3
ReplyDeleteThe entire situation is tough and, I am sorry to hear that the new treatment is non-reponsive. Thank God that they were able to determine what the issue is and begin to work on a new plan.
ReplyDeleteI commend you for fighting through this battle as it is not easy.
I am praying for your family and trusting and believing God that by His Stripes...
My prayers are with your dad, you, your family, and his medical team.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, my heart absolutely breaks. I can't imagine how hard this is for your dad and for you and for your family. Praying some pretty fierce prayers over here... you, your dad, your family, and the doctors are in the Heavenly Father's hands... hands that can heal and comfort... but most of all, hands that provide us with the greatest love we'll ever know. I pray for complete healing, I pray for comfort, and I pray that Jesus wraps you all in His great love. XO
ReplyDeleteAll the prayers for you my friend. I have a few friends battling cancer right now and it never gets easier, especially with unexpected setbacks. I pray for healing for your dad, and for comfort for your family!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, Betsy-- as always.
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful. I am struggling right now with be grateful. this was exactly what I needed right now.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry about your dad. Praying for you & your family <3
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry about your dad. I will keep him in my prayers, as well as your family. I definitely know how hard it must be, my husbands dad is currently in the same battle. I am grateful that he loves the Lord and has eternal hope in Him!
ReplyDeleteThank you friend. That means so much. I love that this community rallies around those who need prayer! I appreciate you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Mariel...no one should shave to go through this....but yes, praise God that we can have eternal hope in Him!
ReplyDeleteThank you Hannah!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessa...gratitude is definitely not always the easy choice, is it?
ReplyDeleteThanks Daisy. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Cassie...it's just an awful journey...but we continue to praise God and hope for big things. He can do all things!
ReplyDeleteThanks Em...it sucks, to put it frankly. Your prayers mean the world....skype this week?
ReplyDeleteThank you Marci! We are trusting that God will lead the doctors as they make decisions this week!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words and prayers Yulunda, It is definitely a tough battle...but we are believing for a complete healing!
ReplyDeletethanks friend. i so appreciate those prayers!
ReplyDeleteSarah, you are the sweetest. Thank you so much for those prayers...they were felt today! Love you, friend!
ReplyDeletethanks Anna. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so so much Faith...that means a lot! Those prayers are definitely felt. Love you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kelsi!
ReplyDeleteSo true...it's the worst. Such a tool of the enemy to drag us down. I can't imagine facing it without Jesus!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kendra! That means the world...we're hoping and expecting good things from his appointments later this week.
ReplyDeletePraying for you and your family. for comfort. for healing. for hope.
ReplyDeleteLots of love Betsy. I hope good news finds you soon!
ReplyDeleteI am so, so sorry for you, friend. Prayers your way.
ReplyDeletelots of prayer for you betsy. proud of you for seeing the positive and holding on to that even though it must be very hard. hope--a powerful thing.
ReplyDeleteWow, praying for you and your family today, my friend!
ReplyDeleteBetsy, your heart is amazing. I love you so much! I am praying for you and your family and most importantly for your dad's recovery. I love you all and I know that God is using this in a confusing way to bring you all close, use your dad as a light in the hospitals and to his doctors, and teaching us all the power of prayer and trust in Him. He will see you all through this and bring you multiple blessings for your continued faithfulness.
ReplyDeleteWow! Praying for you and your family in this time. It's in times such as these that out faith is truly tested. We are allowed to feel, it's what we do. But as we recently lost my sister in law i have been consciously reminding myself that God has purpose in it all. No thing happens by accident and you are doing a great thing by finding gratefulness and being thankful and hopeful in a time such as this. Be blessed my friend and i pray for the complete healing of your dad and peace for you and your family as you all continue to be his strength.
ReplyDeletesweet Betsy...your family is going through a rough time! But man, through the hard times, God is so faithful to you guys. And he's going to use your family's testimony to glorify him. I'm praying that God will heal your dad entirely!
ReplyDeleteWow Besty I am so sorry to hear of that hard news...your famil and especially Dad will be in my prayers? What is his first name?
ReplyDeleteI have felt the same way watching my dear aunt (who is like a second Mom to me/my sibs) fight stage 3 ovarian cancer, so difficult sometimes.
I'm so very sorry <3 <3 ::big virtual hugs:: Cancer runs very high on both sides of my family, so I know where you are coming from. Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteVery sorry. My mom used to have melanoma in her eye and she still has flare up as a reaction from the chemo she had a decade ago. I understand how you feel. It's so scary when a parent has cancer
ReplyDeleteYes!! This is SO good! I can't imagine going through this, my heart is heavy for you, but your perspective...right on. Lifting you and your family up.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear the news... your strength + faith are beautiful. Lots of prayers for your family!
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