Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Glory- for Jane

My sister bought me a book called "The Valley of Cancer - A Journey of Comfort and Hope" by Angelina Fast-Vlaar. Here's part of a poem that I read last night that touched me very deeply. Thank you Angelina for sharing your gift of poetry and writings with those of us going through this terrible valley.

Glory - for Jane
...Jesus said that every hair of my head
is numbered and that not one
shall perish without His knowing.
I ponder these words and hear Him say,
Draw close my child;
let My love be your covering.
Feel My hands
upon your hairless head
and hear My tender words
of compassion and comfort.
Rest, relax, I will cover you
during this time of trial and tears.
And when your beautiful hair
has all grown back there will be
glory of a deep dimension
because you have walked with Me.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Annette,
All the best to you today. Thanks for setting up this website; I'm happy that you have so many supporters. Below isn't a joke and isn't quite as inspirational as the poem you posted, but it's in between. Hope you enjoy.
Sandra Morrill.

A water bearer In China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the
cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke
to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them.

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house"

Unknown said...

That was beautiful.....just like you!!! Thinking of you today and always.

Unknown said...

Annette....I posted this here under your request for thoughts, jokes, inspiration....

My sister and I say a prayer for you everyday when we are on the phone together.....so please know that everday [usually between the hours of 10am and noon] we talk and just as the magical bond you share with your own sister, my sister and I together pray that your journey with this cancer is not too hard on you and that before we know it, we hear that our prayers have been answered by this cancer leaving your body.


The Ten Commandments for Cancer Survival:

Thou shalt regard the word "Cancer" as exactly that: a word. Nothing more, nothing less. For it's original meaning has changed mightily over the years, as have such words as Smallpox, TB, and Polio, all once dreaded ailments, now non-existent as maladies. And thus, too, shalt go thy Cancer. The answer shall come to those who shall be present to hear it. Be present to hear it when it comes.

Thou shalt love thy chemotherapy, thy radiation, and thy other treatments even as thyself, for they are thy friends and champions. Although they may exact a toll for their endeavours, they are oft most generous in the favours they bestow.

Thou shalt participate fully in thy recovery. Thou shalt learn all the details of thy ailment, it's diagnosis, it's prognosis, it's treatments, conventional and alternative. Thou shalt discuss them openly and candidly with thy oncologist and shalt question all that thou do not comprehend. Then, thou shalt cooperate intelligently and knowledgeably with thy doctor.

Thou shalt regard thy ailment as a temporary detour in thy life and shalt plan thy future as though this detour had not occurred. Thou shalt never, at no time, nohow, regard thy temporary ailment as permanent. Thou shalt set long-term goals for thyself. For thou will verily recover and your believing so will contribute mightily to thy recovery.

Thou shalt express thy feelings candidly and openly to thy loved ones for they, too, are stricken. Thou shalt comfort and reassure them for they, too, needest comforting and reassurance, even as thou doest.

Thou shalt be a comfort to thy fellow-cancerites, providing knowledge, encouragement, understanding and love. You shalt give them hope where there may be none, for only in hope lies their salvation. And by doing so, thou providest comfort for thyself, as well.

Thou shalt never relinquish hope, no matter how thou mayest feelest at that moment, for thou knowest, in the deep recesses of thy heart, that your discouragement is but fleeting and that a better day awaits thee, perhaps tomorrow, perhaps the day after tomorrow.

Thou shalt not regard thy ailment as the sum total of thy life but as merely a part of it. Fill your life with other diversions, be they mundane, daring, altruistic, or merely amusing. To fill your life with your ailment is to surrender to it.

Thou shalt maintain, at all times and in all circumstances, thy sense of humour, for laughter lightens thy heart and hastens thy recovery. This is not an easy task, sometimes seemingly impossible, but it is a goal well worth the endeavour.

Thou shalt have enduring and unassailable faith, whether thy faith be in a Supreme Being, in Medical Science, in Thy Future, in Thyself, or in Whatever. Steadfastly sustain thy faith for it shall sustain thee.

Paul H Klein