What the world sees as a curse God can turn it into a blessing if we allow Him. To the world cancer is such a hideous word. Never have I heard anyone using the word ‘cancer’ with a positive undertone. It always denotes something unwanted or dreadful. I have heard people murmur that it is the worst form of curse and that it obliterates a person’s life completely. Not only have I hear the word but experienced the full blow of cancer. In the last 3 years, I have had 3 major surgeries and over 40 chemotherapy sessions (and still counting) not to mention the endless blood test and scans owing to the aggressive nature of my cancer. However, contrary to everyone’s belief cancer did not destroy me. Sure I had my moments of great anguish, pain and tears but I didn’t wallow in it for long. Peace and joy resurface in my life again and again and astound me as well as everyone around me. Some people think I am in denial or that I am too obstinate to accept defeat. However, it isn’t so. You see it is an open secret. ‘For not by my strength but His’.
Someone greater than my cancer gives me back my joy. Someone who loves me gives me strength to endure all things. Every time I go and meet my doctor he manages to trump the previous report by telling me that my body is failing even further. My doctors have always determined my life expectancy in months. I have reached the stage where medically I am a hopeless terminal case. I felt for a long time that this is indeed a curse. Why not? I am losing the best years of my life to cancer. Where I should be building my life and settling down, cancer made me a regular to the hospital bed instead. But today as I reflect on my life in totality I realise that cancer has been anything but a curse.
Had it not been for cancer I would never have experienced what people say leaning on God a hundred percent for every second of your life. I would not have learned to depend on God for everything-physical, emotional, spiritual and financial and seen it being fulfilled. I understand how to smile and laugh through pain and experience the power of prayer and the fellowship of believers. I have learned to be a comforter to friends who need to be comforted. I saw the value of true friends and the love of family. I have experienced that a simple word of kindness and a comforting hand can brighten the gloomy day and a word of encouragement or prayer can revive extraordinary strength within me. I see the truth and wisdom in the word of God and the power it has over our lives. Above all, I got the opportunity to be a testimony of God’s grace in my life. So you see even though in the past 3 years I have battled some terrible moments, cancer isn’t a curse. For God is faithful and if He has seen me thus far He will see me all the way.
Even as I believe that my cancer is not a curse I do not mean that everyone should go through what I have gone through to experience the grace and love of God. You who are healthy and have a good life - pause to thank God for all that you have and go to Him when everything is well with you. Be a source of joy to the down and weary. Through your lives, be a testimony to God’s faithfulness. You have the perfect opportunity to show the love of God to people around you.
But I know there are some who are going though storms, some worse than mine. My dear, keep walking but don’t take your eyes off the cross. When Joshua was leading the Israelites they had to fight a lot of wars but I love how God kept reminding Joshua ‘to be Strong and courageous’ and He will win the battle for them. Many a times, we lose out on life’s battle not because God gives up on us but because we give up on Him. Life’s trials don’t define but refine us to rekindle our relationship with our Father. So, in good times learn to appreciate the goodness of life and in bad times be always strong and courageous in Him and wait patiently. David proclaims these beautiful words in Psalms 27:13-14 “For I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Be of good courage and wait upon the Lord and He shall strengthen your heart”.
This is a testament of God’s faithfulness in my life and even though I do not know what tomorrow will bring I know who holds the future and as long as I stand in Him everything will be all right. For like Paul said to live is Christ and to die is gain, I say the same.
HOPE
Hope, a word that brightens a benighted day.
A word that brings a smile amid the tears.
A word that comforts the bereaved soul.
A modest word, but profound if experienced.
For what would men’s life be without hope?
The meaninglessness of life would devour men,
Desperation would drive them to the edge,
But Hope makes that same man wait for a better tomorrow.
So, in happy times, hope that it will continue.
In sorrow and pain, hope that tomorrow will be good.
But at all times, never abandon Hope,
For when you do, you give up life.
Mhadeno Jamio
This is the testimony of Lt. N Mhadeno Jamio. She was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer in the summer of 2012. Doctors gave her three months to live but God had different plans, she lived beyond her medical life expectancy and witnessed Gods abundant grace in her life. Even after writing her testimony she had to undergo two more surgeries and more rounds of chemotherapy but it did not dampen her spirit. Through it all she saw the beauty of God in her life. The pain of this world became momentary for her because she knew where she was heading to. She embraced the fact that heaven is real and earth was a temporary dwelling place for her. We her family want to publish her testimony to especially encourage people suffering from various stages of cancer - Know that God is there by your side. To all the caregivers stay strong and look unto God for he will strengthen you.
Mhadeno fought the good fight and went to be with the Lord on 2.05.2015.
