One More Day

I've had this song below running around in my head for several weeks, "One More Day" by Sons of Sunday. I liked it when I first heard it on Air1. But then it became more meaningful recently. A girl I went to school with, CJ, was diagnosed with advanced stage 4 pancreatic cancer in August. I looked up the statistics on life expectancy for her, and it's an awfully short timeline. CJ wants what we all want, which is one more day. And another after that, please.

This hits home with me for a couple of reasons. It was my mother's birthday recently. She would have turned 79. Mother was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer. Hers wasn't as advanced as CJs, so mother lived twenty months. In hindsight, mother wished she had opted out of the harshest treatments to better enjoy the time she had left. More time to enjoy family, friends and her favorite things before this insidious disease took her down. Because with stage 4, you're just trying to beat it back rather than eradicate it.

The other reason I've been so touched after hearing of CJs diagnosis is because I think about how her daughters are feeling since I've been there with my own dear mom. They're about the same age as our girls. Too young to lose your mom. Honestly, though, I don't think you're ever ready to say that goodbye. But I'm afraid they'll be finding out sooner than any of them expected. Or wanted. I was blessed to have my sweet mother for 54 years, but not everybody gets that. So I can't help but feel empathy and a crushing sadness when I contemplate how my girls would handle stage 4 news. How CJs girls are undoubtedly devastated at the thought of losing her as reality settles in.

But God, y'all. He is the Great Physician. Jehovah, the Lord who provides. And He hears our every prayer, those spoken and unspoken. But we don't always get the answer we want. One more day, month, year. So we must lean into our faith and rest in the knowledge that our Almighty Father walks with us in the valleys. He carries us when our strength falters, and provides comfort as no other can. He alone is worthy of our praise, and so I offer up thanks that He erased the stain of sin and overcame death for me. And you, too. Our healing may come in this life. Or it may be after we've drawn our last breath in this fragile earthly body God gave us to use for a while. But either way, I know I'll be healed for eternity, and raised to life everlasting with my Savior. I hope all of you have that same assurance!

A psalm of David. 

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along right paths for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  Psalm 23 (NIV)