Celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, and especially the passing of a loved one stops us dead in our tracks. How did the time go by so fast?! I never planned to get old…that is for OTHER people who obviously want to! And whether young or old, though we don’t usually say it out loud, most of us are thinking, “When is my time up?”
I’m getting to the season now where many friends and loved ones are dealing with cancer, aging and the loss of life. It rips my heart out that three of our very dearest friends are battling cancer. As a believer in God’s Word, and the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for ALL who believe, confirmed by His resurrection, I do have hope of eternal life. But that does not take away the fear of aging, illness and actual dying, which we all must do.
So on that cheery note (don’t bail yet!), here are some encouraging words from one who suffered with cancer:
Cancer is so limited.
It cannot cripple love. It cannot shatter hope.
It cannot corrode faith. It cannot eat away peace.
It cannot destroy confidence. It cannot kill friendship.
It cannot shut out memories.
It cannot silence courage. It cannot invade the soul.
It cannot reduce eternal life.
It cannot quench the spirit.
It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection.
Amen?amen.
Bernice Chambers, 1987 Breast Cancer
When we look beyond the temporary, and cling to God’s eternal promises through Jesus His Son, we can safely make it through to the other side. No growing old. No chemo. No fear of anything! There all the birthdays and anniversaries will be joyous occasions!
And we will have eternity to say with freedom and gladness, “How did the time go so fast?!”
