“Our Father…
It seems that those words have taken on new meaning for me in the past 3 and a half years. In those 3 years, I have done the best I could to care for my son. Through sickness and hair loss. Through crying nights and days of questions. And for much of the time, I have felt myself hanging on by a thread.
But You? You know so much better than I do what it means to watch your Boy suffer. And because You do, I believe You have poured Your grace and mercy upon us. That grace has been far more profound than just the ability to get through the day, though You have been continuously faithful for doing that.
The fact that we are still here – all of us – is a testimony to your persevering power.
But You have gone beyond giving us our daily bread. You have sat with us in quiet rooms. You have rocked with us in hard-back chairs. You have cried with us as we have seen friends leave this world and go to be with You. You have lifted us up and born us on your strong back.
Over and over again, You have proven Yourself to be abundantly, exceedingly, and wonderfully able.
I think this morning of what our son’s name means: The Lord is Salvation. And the truth of that statement is starting to seep in. You have saved, are saving, and will continue to save us. And through these troubles, amazingly, we have become more convinced of Your love in Christ – from which we will never be separated – in us.
We have believed, and yet you have helped our unbelief. I confess at times I have accused You of sleeping in the boat while the wind and the waves raged around us, but I know deep in my heart that You do not slumber or sleep. You have been ever watchful, ever mindful, and ever good.
Thank You, Father, for keeping us in faith. For prospering us and not harming us. For giving us hope and a future.
And now, will You, by Your grace, continue to uphold our family as we move forward. Help us not to forget Your faithfulness. May the remaining decades of our lives ring with the stories of Your goodness. I pray that our little boy would become convinced of Your good work in His life, and that we might faithfully be a comfort to others with the comfort we have received from You.
May it be done for the glory of Your own suffering Son who now sits victoriously, interceding for us even at this very moment.
Amen.”
**Today is the last day of intravenous chemotherapy for Joshua, 3 and a half years after his diagnosis of leukemia. After his treatment today, he will take his pills for 5 more days. The last pill is Sunday.
Michael, this prayer touched my heart. Even though I have not known you or Jana long or very well, I am amazed at what God has done through your family. I have prayed for Joshua as you have given updates and what season of praise you have entered.
Janna
I found you through Zach Nielsen’s blog (we are friends of a friend of his). Thanks for your words. I quoted you today on my own blog, as I deal with multiple trials: a daughter’s encephalopathy of unknown origin, loss of an ectopic pregnancy, and my current isolation for thyroid cancer treatment/scan. Thanks for the encouragement.
http://turquoisegates.blogspot.com/2009/12/confession.html
Thanks for your kind words, Janna.
Genevieve – Thanks for clicking over and for sharing about what’s going on in your life. I was encouraged by the genuineness and honesty I read on your blog today, too.
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i am so glad Joshua is done with his treatments! i remember hearing the news when he was first diagnosed, and it’s so good to read about what God has done since then, and so exciting to read about him going through his last bit of treatment. it is good to know God as healer.
I know you only through this blog and have enjoyed the content here as well as your work with THREADS. I have been and will continue to pray for you and your family and for the healing of your son. The Lord is Jehova Rophe and our trust is in Him!God bless and thank you for your example through this walk of life God has placed you in.
[…] been chemo-free since late December. This morning is sort of the final stage in Joshua’s completion of his treatment as he’s having a surgical procedure to remove the port from his […]
[…] 5. A Prayer for the Last Day of Chemotherapy The text of my prayer the day my 5-year-old son took his last dose (after 3 years) of chemotherapy. […]
Today is the Last Chemo Treatment for my daughter Lia. I just read this Beautiful Prayer above and I ask The same for my daughter. I also ask You to Pray for my Daughter Lia and Her 3 Sons who have been there for her. She has been Strong from Day 1 of finding she had breast Cancer, She is a Trooper. Thank You in Advance for Your Prayers
Just as I finish writing the above Post, My daughter called to say, Dr. called to say, her blood count is too low can not take last treatment. She is upset. We are to attend my other daughters Wedding next week end. I told her, Be positive, all will be OK. PLEASE Pray for Lia that, All will be OK, She will not be sick after treatment and We will have a Great time Next week end. God is Good