Unexpected encouragement from God was just what I needed on the day of my fourth chemo treatment.
Going to chemo was always a very long day. First was lab work and then to see the doctor and then finally to the great chemo floor for a 5-to-6-hour regimen.
This was to be the deciding day of whether we would be doing 6 or 8 treatments. I previously had a CT scan to see how chemotherapy was affecting my cancer, and the doctor would be discussing that with me.
My treatments were given every 21 days. As time goes by chemo begins to have a cumulative effect. In other words, the fatigue and side effects start to take a toll. I wasn’t really excited about going but I was in my usual good mood.
We were about to leave when I heard someone at the door. I opened it to find the Terminix man. He was here to do our annual inspection for termites. When we told him we were leaving he said that he could inspect outside without us being here. So, we loaded up and off we went.
As we were leaving our driveway, the Terminix man came and stopped us. He said that God had told him we needed some encouragement today. He proceeded to ask if he could pray with us. Well, I knew I needed all the prayer I could get, so of course he could pray. Who turns down prayer?
As He prayed, we could feel the presence of God in our midst.
You never know when you might need an additional dose of encouragement, but God always knows. As it turned out, I needed it that very day.
As we were waiting to see my doctor, a “fellow” came in. Better known as a doctor in training. Each time I went to the doctor I had a lot of questions, and this time was no different. Knowing that he didn’t know me, I wanted to see what he might tell me about my cancer. However, as he began to answer my questions, the picture wasn’t as positive as I had hoped. I began to be really discouraged very quickly.
My doctor came in and he knew right away that my demeanor wasn’t quite right. After my answer to his “how are you doing?”, he looked at my husband and asked what was wrong with me.
Jim told him that his “fellow” had totally discouraged me and told me some bad news about the statistics of my cancer. Dr. McCollum, my oncologist, being the intuitive doctor that he is, told me he had my CT results and that everything looked great, so much so, that we would only be doing 6 treatments. That was the best news I could receive that day!
The man that had prayed for me that morning had received direction from the Holy Spirit to pray for me. Obviously, I needed that extra measure of God’s encouragement that day. He knew what I would come up against and how I would feel. It is amazing to me that God would send an angel to minister to me in that very moment and a totally unexpected way. Even sweeter is that the angel was obedient and took time from his work to pray for me even though we had never met.
When I called his office to tell him how much he meant to me, they told me that they had no record of anyone at my home. I truly believe he was here just for me that day. That man will never fully know what he meant to me that day.
Our all-knowing, ever-present God knows what is coming long before we do. I’m so thankful that He would send someone to give me that extra boost for the day, as unexpected and unexplainable as it was.
Today I want to encourage you to be available. Don’t ever underestimate what your words of encouragement, a card, a visit or a prayer can mean to someone. It’s so easy to be busy, but stop and look around, there is probably someone that needs encouragement right in your path.
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11
Fun fact: During my journey I received over 500 cards and letters from friends all over the world. I kept these on a wall in my home as a reminder that people were praying for me. Now they are in a cherished box. I am so thankful for the encouragement God provides when we need it most.