Walking behind Steve, as Kim Clinard was wheeling him down the hall at MDA, I heard Steve describing how nervous he was about the MRI procedure and results. Steve is claustrophobic, so every MRI requires sedation, which itself is always a risk. Those days before the oncology reports are unnerving to say the least. Today was not an exception.
I have never been one to vocally break out in prayer in public buildings outside of church, but today marks month 20 of knowing we have brain cancer. (I say “we” because anyone who walks through the “shadow of cancer” with a loved one takes on the disease as if it were their own.). I have prayed in public in church many times throughout my life, prayed before we eat in restaurants, and prayed in other peoples homes. But, Thursday was a public, all-out-there praying for the peace only the Lord Jesus Christ can give when fear is staring you in the face. Public or not, if they wanted to listen or not, that calm, quiet (it didn’t require a megaphone), conversational prayer covered that hallway and that peace, that passes all understanding, swept over us and calmed the storm! Steve was calm, Kim was calm, and I was calm.
That peace did not leave us there in the hallway, that perfect peace followed us to the radiation area. (We didn’t have to wait….now that’s peace:). The MRI technician was a believer and quietly shared with us about how well Steve was doing with the back surgeries and that God was so ever present in his life. He loved his job, and found it a joy. It showed in his face. The nurse told us that she was a Christian and attended a church in Pasadena. I left him in good hands, and went to wait in the waiting room. All was well. Peace be still.
Prayer changes things. We see it every day. Changes us and our reaction to others, and their reaction to us. We find ourselves breaking out in verbal prayer at any time and anywhere. Our car is so covered with prayer for those that are also fighting cancer that we don’t want to sell that Holy of Holies. We find that it is the best time to get our minds off ourselves and think about others. (Make good use of that traffic time, Houston.)
The storms of life are ever so present, but so is HIS peace.
Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 NASB)
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27 NASB)
