The Power of Love

Recently my sister, Janet, responded to my blog post on the subject of kindness, drawing my attention to the importance of reminding ourselves of the power of love. 

In this world so full of problems, my first response to life and all it entails has not always been one of love. At the time of my diagnosis I remember feeling shock, unbelief, a feeling of being completely out of control.  I did the usual, "Why me?" before coming to the "Why not me?" stage of acceptance. Nowhere in this process could love be found.  But it was there.

Love first became apparent to me through the love of my family.  I did not have one moment when their love didn't surround me.  Then came the love of friends in waves.  Love came to me in the form of the many kindnesses of the nurses and doctors at the hospital.  And on and on it went.  I felt useless and incompetent, yet surrounded by love at the same time.

Gradually, as I began to adjust to my new reality, my searches into what God had to say about love became an important focus.  I began to understand how His placing me in a wholly dependent position could possibly reflect His love for me when the two just didn't naturally go together.  And here I am today, experiencing His love more completely than ever before.

I am reminded again and again of the reality that love is a decision, not merely a feeling. Countless times I have found it necessary to make the decision to love when it was not a natural inclination and I can't remember a single time when making that decision was the wrong one.

I learn in Scripture that faith can move mountains and I believe that love can move mountains as well. I have been brought from a helpless, weak person whose spirit has been challenged to a strong, confident and hopeful person because of the amazing power of love.....God's love and the love of many beautiful people.

Regardless of our foundational beliefs, we can all find a place for love in our lives. Love means putting self in a secondary position and it is a very valuable exercise from which we all can profit.

So, through this amazing journey through cancer I have learned that focusing on the disease and all the challenges it presents, then responding by constantly complaining about my state, is counter-productive. A far better use of my energy is to use it in the giving and receiving of love.

"Rehearse your troubles to God only."-Mrs. Charles Cowman (Streams in the Desert)

"And now these three remain:  Faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."-1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV).

On the health front:

With a good mental attitude things aren't going too badly.

Next week brings two of the Nasty Shots to jump start my body into remembering to do what it's supposed to do on its own.

Keep praying, please☺