October 17th 2004 was the
Thanksgiving service in IMC (Indiranagar Methodist Church). We looked back to
thank God for all the mercies we have received during the year. Yes, I look
back… A year has gone. October 17th 2003 I had my biopsy which confirmed that I
was in stage II of breast cancer. This year I stood with the congregation as we
praised and worshipped the Almighty. I cannot translate the mercy and grace God
has bestowed upon me into anything - the best I could do is share my experience
and remain a witness to His grace.
Last year around this time I stared blank at a Doctor
(whom I had never met before) as he diagnosed me in stage II - Cancer?? Who me??
I have no family history, I feel fit, I work long hours at office, I workout in
the gym five days in the week, I take care of my home without domestic help. I
eat right, I don't indulge, I have never been sick. I seldom have a cold and I
have never been in a hospital-was the Doctor talking to me?? I looked at a
Surgeon who said "yes you need a surgery". Overnight the world around me
changed. All I could get myself to do was whatever the Doctors advised. Yes,
tests, investigations, and the surgery. On 29th Oct. was my surgery. Doctors
said I could leave the hospital in four days - the third day I developed very
high fever, post surgery infection of any kind is not a comfortable stage. The
Doctors were unable to identify the cause. Till that day I had done all that was
needed. My spirit was sagging. As I lay in the hospital bed alone I asked my
Creator… Why am I here? What is happening to me? Heal me O Lord! Carry me thru
this. Yes, His answer was instant- "The Divine blood is healing you"- I heard
these words loud and clear. I have not been in the habit of reading spiritual
material or watching spiritual channels on TV. The words "Divine blood, healing"
were new to me. It gave me hope, I knew I would step out of this phase only by
His grace and mercy. Yes, HE showered on me unmerited grace. He heard me in my
distress. The fever was diagnosed as some severe form of malaria and I responded
to treatment and was discharged the 11th day.
Chemotherapy is the follow up treatment to Cancer. The
treatment has an emotional effect along with the physical one. I was counseled-
the Oncologist had sessions with me initially with the family and then alone.
The toxic drugs administered have severe side effects. Nausea, blisters in the
mouth, loss of hair were the primary ones I was advised about. You will vomit at
least a dozen times a day, blisters in the mouth will prevent intake of food and
hair lost will grow back over a period of time I was told. I had prepared myself
for all these - I had no choice. I look back… Its been a year.. I have not
thrown up even once due to normal indigestion. I was not only able to eat
normally I also walked 4 km every day to my office and back during these
sessions. In just three weeks I was back in my room at office immersing myself
in daily routine. The drain attached to my body to draw the lymphatic fluid
remained for seven whole weeks. The Surgeon would shake his head every third day
and say No I can't remove it now. I was back in my office with it attached to my
body.
Yes, I look back today… was it possible? Did this
happen? Yes, it did only because of a Mighty Healer- He has healed the blind,
the deaf, the paralytic and the epileptic. The lady who ailed for long when she
touched the hem of His robe was healed instantly- Scriptures say that Jesus did
this yesterday, I have seen it happen in my life today- He is the same forever.
He never rejected or refused anyone who asked him to heal not only themselves
but also their loved ones. Yes, Jesus did not tell me- You repair your life- I
will heal you later. I asked and I was given instantly, I sought and I found His
grace, I knocked to be let in. He laid no conditions to bestow his grace upon
me.
The only side effect that I experienced was the loss
of hair. Today I thank God for putting back every single strand I lost, Yes, He
is a Lord who restores, rebuilds, revitalizes and reconstructs. I believe that's
the physical manifestation of the change in me as I surrender myself to the
Almighty. Yes, HE had to break me and melt me cause I want to be moulded to HIS
will.
It is mandatory to have all checks and tests done as a
year completes after surgery. In mid September this year I had my tests- Every
report had "normal study" under inference. Yes, I look back. I have not captured
all that happened to me during this phase for want of space but I reiterate "the
Divine blood flows from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet therefore
my body can only be in ease and never in disease"- Sometime ago I wrote to
someone "So what if I had the big C? I have a bigger C in my life"- Yes, cancer
is insignificant in the presence of Christ. From a common cold to cancer HE is
the healer- Healing comes only from HIM. We live in the 21st Century where
science has developed, medical technology has progressed , yet mankind has not
found the exact cause or the complete cure to this dreaded sickness- Cancer is
not the end of life-- in Christ it's the beginning of a new one…Yes, JESUS IS
THE ONLY WAY! AMEN.
Jayashree jayashree@answers2prayer.org
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