I started my day today, July 9, 2018, as I always do…reading my devotional and spending time in prayer. The lessons I am learning from my devotionals and prayer time are absolutely priceless.

My first devotion was about having an attitude of gratitude. Basically, the question is, how do we act in the midst of adversity?  What is the attitude of our heart?  Do we complain during our times of adversity?  It is during these times that we must remember to thank Father GOD for the Promises in HIS Word. When we have an attitude of gratitude – GOD will surely honor us.

My second devotional was about following and relying on GOD’s Wisdom, which in turn will certainly teach us humility…there’s that word! I felt as though I had been humbled way beyond anything I could have ever imagined.  But, as this reading points out humility is not the belittling of self, rather it is the forgetting of self.  The author went on to say that only GOD’s Wisdom can correctly decide on any matter and in return settle any problem.  If we rely on HIM – all will go well.

These were two very encouraging thoughts to ponder as I have a very intimidating day & week ahead of me.  Today I will be having an Eco-Cardiogram done to make sure my heart is strong enough to withstand chemo.  After that fun adventure, I will have a bone scan which will reveal if I have anything in my bones…no pressure 😉

The gentleman who did my Eco-gram was from Spain, living and practicing here in the U.S. He said he had just gotten in that morning at 1:30 a.m. from holiday in Portugal. His plane had been delayed inbound to Austin, TX.  Once he landed in Austin, he had the 3-hour drive back to his home.  He had just gotten to work. You would think he would have been groggy and maybe a bit grumpy, but he was truly the nicest man.  We began to chat as he started the Eco-gram.  He asked me what I was being screened for and I told him I had been diagnosed with breast cancer…I still could not bring myself to say I had cancer. He told me about his brother who had cancer and about the family’s strong faith. He asked me if it would be alright if he gave me something before I left.  I told him yes, so once we finished the Eco-gram, he told me when I was ready to let him know and he would be back in with something for me. When I was ready to go, I let his assistant know and in a short time he was back in with me, giving me a Catholic prayer to pray to the Saint of cancer. He told me it didn’t matter if I was catholic or not, we all are praying to the same GOD…he is right.

After my Eco-gram I had to have an injection for the bone scan. Once the injection was done I was told I could go have lunch and to be back in an hour. The dye they injected had to be in my body for at least an hour before they could do the scan.  We had been there since very early that morning and had not eaten, so I was happy to hear that.

When we got back to the hospital, after eating, I was called back fairly quickly. I was put on a table that went back and forth under a dome sort of machine, that was the size of half a room! It scanned my whole body, back and forth for all of sixteen minutes and it was done!  And guess what?…it wasn’t as bad as I had imagined it would be.  The doctor told me the CT Scan I was going to have on Wednesday, would be very similar to this one.  I was so relieved! There is so much crammed into the days leading up to surgery and/or treatment that it can be overwhelming. The procedures, the scans, blood work of various kinds and the ginormous machines they put you in to run the scans…it is all so intimidating and scary.  But, through all of this, I have each time, been cared for by one of GOD’s angels. Each person I have encountered along the way has been a Believer in Christ and His Word. I have been so Blessed.  I am reminded of one of my favorite verses…

“This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Do not be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but GOD’s. – You will not even need to fight. Take your position; then stand still & watch the LORD’s Victory. HE is with you. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD is with you!” ~ 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

I like that the Bible uses exclamation points.  HE is serious about HIS Promises.  HE uses such emphasis on HIS Word as HE tries to get HIS (exclamation) point across to us 😉.  HE is taking care of me…I do not need to be afraid or discouraged…HE is with me and that gives me courage! 😊