Janice Menezes

Hodgkins Disease Survivor

jmacmenezes@yahoo.com

 

 

An Alternative Plan

 

 

 

In considering what I believe to have real value since hearing a diagnosis of cancer, I would like to share some spiritual and practical things.

 

  1. I realize that my primary care physician is my trusted Lord because He is the designer and Creator of this beautiful and wonderfully made body.  Furthermore, He has paid the price for my healing, and his power to heal has no limits.
  2. He has left perfect instructions for the maintenance, repair and restoration of this body in every working part and system of this body.  I must only follow the Manufacture’s directions to supply necessary elements for healing.
  3. To avoid stress (a major factor in disease).  He has plainly instructed me in writing to “fear not” 365 times 1 for every day of the year.
  4. To maximize good health, He has described the best foods for sustaining my whole being and what to avoid.  He knows how my body functions.
  5. Finally, Jesus instructed us to eat His flesh and drink His blood in the form of communion and let Him abide in us as we abide in Him like a branch is a part of the vine.

 

You may ask, “How will you live with these values?  First, I will acknowledge that healing is a gift and not a result of my actions or efforts.  Life itself is a gracious gift of God and my life and body are His. 

 

As my praying friends have joined me in the completion of the 66th year of this gift of life (34 since the first malignancy and no recurrence) now agree with me for His wisdom which He gives generously if we ask.  One reminded me of the word that assures me of His presence and guidance:  here is the way, walk ye in it. Secondly, I will continue to choose to be anxious in nothing and to make my request known with praise and thanksgiving.  A dairy will be a good way to count my blessings and record what the Lord has done.  With new grace from God, I am learning to accept prayers for recovery, kindness, care and support of all kinds from friends and family. The diary will record these kind acts. Third, I will choose only the best quality of natural foods to eat and avoid on-foods.  Fourth, I will exercise my faith and my body breathing deeply, drinking in the Word and purest water, resting in the Lord’s peace and enjoying the sweet sleep promised in the Psalms.  Fifth, I will take communion often and remember Him with gratitude and separate myself from fearful negative news of this world and think on those things that are beautiful, virtuous, honest, true and of good report with God’s help to keep this focus.

 

The Chinese characters that represent crisis are symbols for danger and opportunity.  These could also represent a diagnosis of cancer.  How wonderful to come to this cross road and choose the narrow road less traveled. A place for believing and doing beyond learning and talking.  Faith without works is dead.

 

“Dear friends, pray that you may enjoy good health, and that all may go well with you even as your soul is getting along well” (III John 2)