Thursday, April 1, 2010
While I’m lying on the table receiving radiation, I’ve found myself using those 15 minutes for prayer. Some are memorized prayers I’ve said since I was a child. Some are petitions as I think about family and friends who need strength to face their own struggles. Some are just moments of thanks for the blessings that come my way each day.
And, I pray for healing. Instead of the treatments increasing my anxiety level, I come away refreshed and blessed.
Tonight for Holy Thursday, I con-celebrated mass at the local parish. Sometimes it’s difficult to find people willing to get their feet washed, but here many folks eagerly participated. That ritual does inspire in me compassion and renews God’s call to service.
This community attracts people from all over the world, and the prayer intentions reflected that. Parish members offered their petitions in English, Arabic, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Lingala, Gaelic and Spanish. Despite our differences, we’re all united as members of God’s family.
Dear Fr. Steve,
I’m sorry to say that I have taken a turn for the worse.I haven’t been keeping up withvyour updates which always gave me the courage and the strength to proceed with what I have to go through. Last weeks scrapings were excruciating to say the least.The doctor was more than a little aggressive with my legs and I was in agony for more than a week. I have been treating my legs to soaking showers and wrapping and elevation since going there. I really didn’t want to go back because of the pain I have been in but, my husband forced me to go odwnfor another treatment. We were too late to have the doctorscrape me again. Boy was I relieved when they told me that next week they were going to give me awoman doctor who wasmore compassionate to my situatuion. Mary, my nurse at the hospital told me that they were going to put a stronger Lidocane on the cuts and more agressive pain blockers. And if I felt that I needed it they could even knock me out.
I tell you Fr. Steve, if I have to go through that kind of pain again they’d better knock me out and give me some pretty good pain killers on top of that. Even my pleas to Our Father couldn’t help me out any.
P.S. Our prayers are still going strong for your recovery and quick return to the children you love so and who so do love and miss you. In my note before it might have sounded as if I were losing my Faith. This is not so and I know God hears all prayers and answers all prayers. Just wanted to clear that up. Awaiting your next update.
Sincerely,
Nancy & Kenny