Wayne is an extraordinarily remarkable person. He served our country as a Marine in Vietnam and was exposed to dangerously high amounts of Agent Orange. Today he suffers the consequences.
I have known Wayne for fourteen years and watched as he battled a host of health issues, including cancer. And while I would have been very angry, Wayne, who is a much better person than I will ever be, realized anger would not help the healing process.
Yesterday at church, Wayne gave me a bookmark he picked up at the V.A. Hospital. It epitomizes how he understands the limits of his disease. It comes from The Senior Times. I pray it is as meaningful to you as it is to me.
WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO
Cancer is so Limited…..
It cannot cripple LOVE
It cannot shatter HOPE
It cannot corrode FAITH
It cannot destroy PEACE
It cannot kill FRIENDSHIP
It cannot suppress MEMORIES
It cannot silence COURAGE
It cannot invade THE SOUL
It cannot conquer THE SPIRIT
It cannot steal ETERNAL LIFE
There is no doubt that suffering exists. But suffering doesn’t determine who you are. It is a momentary affliction of this life and will not be with you forever. That’s why Peter said, “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (1 Peter 5:10)
Hold fast to the fact that you are a child of God and that bad things of this world are limited to this life. Someday it will be in the past. That’s because God is the one in control.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, in those moments when I forget the big picture, please remind me of your love, grace, and compassion. Don’t let me be distracted by the things that would drag me down. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
It is people like Wayne that help me see the big picture. I hope you have a Wayne in your life.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 