False Hope

"Everything will be just fine, it is going to be okay." These are words we say and hope to will into being true for those we love, who are going through a hard situation. What would be more helpful would be to assure them, "No matter what happens you are not alone."

A year ago, I went with my friend to her doctor's appointments where she heard reassurances from every doctor we saw that it would not be cancer. Fortunately, she kept pursuing treatment because all the doctors were wrong. She did have cancer.

So this year as she goes back for her regular 4 month check up our encouraging words seem hollow as we all tell her there is nothing to worry about. She is smart enough to know that there are no guarantees and that although we hope and pray the cancer will not come back it could. None of us have a crystal ball to see what the future holds. The statistics are in her favor yet someone has to be a part of the 5% that has cancer recur.

I am going to try to be more real with her and with others from now on. The worst sometimes happens but we can get through it together and with God beside us. Fatih, friends, and family are the chords of strength that we hang onto when life presents us with difficult circumstances. Our hope is not that bad things will never happen but that we will have the strength and support to get through whatever life brings.

In Him,
Joyful
3-24-11