At last...a prognosis

We left home at 7:15am in order to make it to the long anticipated meeting with the oncologist (a doctor specializing in cancer treatment). It was raining, so I dropped Jannie of at the front door of the clinic and went to find a parking place. When I oppened up the back door to check on the doggie, she jumped out. I had the end of the leash secured inside the vehicle, so in case of such a surprise, she couldn't go far. Well, she came to the end of the leash, it tightened, and then the snap on the harness simply gave way. The harness simply fell off Daisy. There she stood, in the big city of Kelowna, off leash, and only knowing me for five days. This could be the makings for a disaster!

I kept calm, and gently called "Daisy, Daisy, come Daisy." The little bit of command training that I have done over the past two days, paid off. Daisy slowly walked to me. I quickly placed the harness back on her, and then we went for a little walk, to stretch her legs.

While walking the dog, I turned on my cell phone. A minute later, it rang, "This is Jannie" the voice said, "where have you been? I have been trying to call you."

(Great! I just avert one disaster and before I can feel good about it, I am in hot water with my loving wife.)

I hastily told Jannie about my dangerous situation with Daisy and then went to the Kelowna Cancer Clinic to meet her. (I wasn't late...there was still seven minutes before our scheduled meeting with the doctor.)

The doctor told us some good news. The chest X-ray and the bone scan did NOT show any indication of a spread of the cancer. Then, over the next 55 minutes, she explained the recommended treatment plan for Jannie. There was a lot of technical verbage, but it boiled down to a 15 month treatment plan. The first six months were chemo therapy. Jannie was told that she would lose her hair. Then there would be nine months of follow up treatments which would include five weeks of radiation. It is going to be a long haul, but God's grace is sufficient for each day.

I was thinking today about how important it is for us to submit to our Loving God. Romans 8:28, 29, & 32 speaks of His totally positive intentions for us. Nothing can come into our lives apart from God's will. That includes this current challenge of cancer. It didn't surprise God. God didn't hear the prayers of many friends and say, "Oh my!! Jannie has cancer!! I didn't see that coming!!!..."
No, He uses events in our lives to make us more like Jesus (v.29). He also uses events to reveal to us where our hearts are really made glad. If we claim to love God, but get wacked out because of events, then we may need to admit that we love this world more than God. But, if we really love God, we will be able to trust all things into His loving care. That includes cancer, and yes, death.
So, submitting to God, is the key to knowing the Peace that passes all understanding.