Waiting and Leukemia

I live with a friend who has been in a war with leukemia since the end of January. Since then, my job has been to take care of her house and her precious pups. Actually, not pups but two standard poodles, which ... wait ... I digress. Watching my friend over these last 6 months, I have learned so very much about waiting ... waiting in the active, ready-to-go, on-red-alert stance. There is never a moment to let down but a myriad of moments to let go ... of control. It's this paradox of praying in the confidence of God and the power of His Spirit within us and the humble relinquishment of our inability to do anything to change the situation.

6 chemo treatments, 6 bone marrow tests, 1 remission, 1 relapse ... a return of leukemia cells to over 70%. And, now we wait ... as we live each day beginning with prayer to our Mighty God. We live each day recognizing that He is God and we are not. And, we live each day in the hope of resurrection life ... in this present moment, right now, in this day ... resurrection life today. We live as we wait. Live ... in the active, ready-to-go, on-red-alert stance.

And, I live these days amazed ... in awe.

And, I learn.

What do I learn? To pray with all that I am to our God who loves us so much that He gives us life ... and then live it! Not just getting through today or making it to a certain day or date, but living life today ... living abundantly because God has blessed us with so very, very much. It requires vigilance (thank you Terry for that word) to keep our thoughts focused on the goodness and grace and gifts that surround us ... a mantle of God-ness ... his character in action that blesses us. And, it requires relinquishment ... letting go of wanting to control and looking for the ways God is at work ... looking for His blessing ... and then receive it, offer thanks and praise for it and ... live in it.