May 24
Do you remember the old game show “To Tell the Truth”? My mother and I enjoyed watching that daytime show in the ’60s, but if you’re not familiar with it then or the later remakes, here’s the gist. Three people introduce themselves as the same person–a real individual who has an incredible story to tell. …
Mar 17
“Oh, my grandmother had that kind of cancer—she didn’t last long.” “My neighbor has what you have—he’s in so much pain.” “I thought you’d be over this grieving by now.” Heard any such insensitive (dare I say “stupid”) remarks? I think I’ve heard them all and then some. I remember bumping into a church …
Mar 03
My Dad would have turned 96 today if he hadn’t passed away in 2011. I can still recall my last phone conversation with him after the hospice nurse called to say his time was short. We lived several hours away and even though we left as soon as we could, we did not get …
Mar 18
Why doesn’t God keep little children from getting cancer? Why didn’t God protect that family from the drunk driver? Why did my friend have to bury yet-another spouse? Why did God allow……………..you fill in the blanks. We sometimes struggle with not sensing God’s nearness, not feeling His presence or not seeing His power in the …
Feb 05
When I was in the hospital after my cancer surgery, a friend came into my room with a big smile and announced: “God is going to teach you great things through this trial!” I wanted to take the IV out of my arm, stab it in hers, and tell her, “You get in the …
Sep 25
Have the trials of life caused you to doubt God? Are you wondering why He hasn’t shown up in answer to your fervent prayers? “Doubt rises up to obscure His presence and disillusionment settles into despair,” writes Dr. James Dobson in When God Doesn’t Make Sense. “The greatest frustration is knowing that (God) created the …
Mar 13
A diagnosis of cancer or any difficult trial brings with it many responses, but “Hallelujah!” is not usually one of them. When I found out my cells had gone awry and allowed cancer to grow inside me, gratefulness was pretty much the last thing I felt. But I kept thinking about the admonition in the Bible to …
Sep 12
When you believe in a good God, it can be hard to come to terms with the fact that He has allowed adversity to touch your life or your loved one’s. Think about it. If God knows everything, this diagnosis did not surprise Him. If God sees everything, He saw the bad news coming. …
May 23
One of the side effects of my chemo is that my right tear duct was irreparably scarred thereby making that eye “water” all the time. Because of this annoying condition, which often prompts total strangers to ask me if I’m OK when they see me “crying” in public places, I’m probably more fascinated with …
Jun 28
You can beat this. Think positive. You can do it. Stay positive. I know people mean well when they say those things to people facing serious tough times, but I must admit they often rub me the wrong way. Many caring people uttered those kinds of “encouraging” phrases to me after …
