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Fighting c with C

Deborah Quiniones Marcos / 2021-10-14

 I would like to give a background of why I chose this topic for today. 

 As soon as I open my eyes every morning,  my routine is that, I read a passage in the Bible, meditate on it and then go to our Father in prayer. 

 Last Tuesday, the passage in the Bible was in Mark 5:19.  This is a story of a man possessed by darkness.  This man approached Jesus. Jesus spoke to the demons inside him, drove them away and set the man free.  When Jesus left, the man begged to go along. But Jesus did not allow him. Jesus reply in  Mark 5:19  says, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he has compassion on you”.  This response of Jesus struck me to my deepest core. Like He is talking to me.  I feel compelled to share this message to you all, because just like that man, I also have been healed.

 MEETING THE GIANT

I was diagnosed of Stage 2 Breast cancer February 21, 2020 after a regular mammogram.  It felt like receiving a death sentence.  I went through 5 months chemotherapy from March 24- August 4, 2020, my first surgery September 9, 2020, then second surgery last September 28, 2021, 19 days after the first.  Then radiation treatment from November 9 to December 1, 2020.  If I may use the word, I literally went through hell last 2020.  December 2, 2020, my Oncologist said that I was on remission, or simply, cancer-free.

 When I was diagnosed of cancer, I asked God, “Why me?  Am I not good enough? Are you done with me??”.  In my mind I had a list of the things I knew I had done well in the past. I was very proud. But I was wrong.  I realized that God has chosen me to be a vessel of His blessings. Because every difficulty is God’s opportunity to show His power.  God’s opportunity to show His grace.  God’s opportunity to show His mercy.

 THE FIVE STONES

 And so just like David who prepared 5 stones to fight the giant Goliath, I also have 5 stones battling cancer.

 FIRST STONE - BACK TO BASICS

 In 1 Corinthians 6:19, it says that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Do not get me wrong, I’ve lived a relatively healthy lifestyle.  I am not into drugs, not into alcohol, not into smoking.  What I mean is I put more conscious effort taking care of my self, conscious effort to make healthy choices. I mean having to sleep from 6-8 hours. Eating healthier foods like vegetables and fruits, if I have a choice, I’d choose organic products. Exercise like walking as tolerated.  Learning to phase out or handle stress.

 SECOND STONE – SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS

This was really hard to do.  It was already hard to admit what I was going through to my immediate family.  I went to the appointments alone so they did not hear the verdict of me having cancer. How can I admit having a dreadful disease when I did not feel anything wrong? How can I admit I have cancer when I was always perceived as strong?  Since my brother died in 2016, I am the eldest in our family, I am a charge nurse at work.  How will I tell them that I am sick?  Eventually, I did.  It took me a lot of courage to do this. It is both humbling and liberating to allow people to take care of you.  On the other side, it feels good knowing that there are people who truly cared for you.  I am tempted to mention the names of those who have helped me in this battle in one way or the other but I am afraid that I might miss some names. And so, I’d rather not mention names but please accept my sincerest gratitude for everything you have done and continue to do. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

 THIRD STONE – STRENGTHEN THE FAITH (POWER OF PRAYER, READING THE BIBLE, SINGING HYMNS).

By this I mean that I remained active both physically and spiritually. To those who are battling with something right now, be it physical ailment, mental, emotional, financial, never allow your mind to be idle. Flood your thoughts with God’s promises.  It is when I am alone and my mind is   idle when real battle happens. The arena, my mind. The real battle happens when I am not doing anything and my mind is just blank. It’s the middle of the night when I wake up at night and feel alone, or when I am off from work, or when I am driving to and from work. That’s when negative thoughts and emotions flood my mind. It is during those times when I am tempted to just curl, cry, pity myself, and plan for my own funeral.  I did not allow that to happen.  During those times when I am alone, I’d whisper a prayer. Or I listen to Church hymns and sang with them, that I mean every word. Or when I do not even know what to pray for, Id read or listen to audio Bible. I reminded myself of God’s promises and the healing stories in the Bible.

 THE FOURTH STONE – BEING COMPLIANT

 In 2 King chapter 5, there was a man named Naaman who had Leprosy.  He was sent to Elisha to be healed. I would like to quote 2 Kings 5:9 onwards.

 â€œNaaman went with his horses and chariot and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean”.  But Naaman became furious after and went away, “He will surely come out to me and call on the name of the Lord his God and wave his hand over the place and heal the leprosy? Are not the Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?”  So he turned away in rage.  And his servants came near and said, “My father, if the prophet has told you to do something great, will you not do it? Has he not actually said to you, ‘wash and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean”.

 Being compliant means doing what the medical team says.  My manager who was also a cancer survivor (she had already passed away 2 months ago) told me to go against the chemotherapy.  She said that certain “targeted drug” is better, that I will loss my hair with chemotherapy.  She even advised me against undergoing radiation therapy because she said, “you will not allow them to burn your body down.  You are too skinny, you will not make it”.  Despite her discouragements, I went through all the procedures and treatment that my oncology team suggested – 5 months of chemotherapy, 2 surgeries, 16 sessions of radiation therapy, now on oral and injections hormone therapy for the next 5 years.  I told my manager, that I, my family members, my friends, my church are all praying for my healing, for wisdom of the medical team.  Who am I to say no?  I believe that God blesses all those people I come in contact with, so they will make the best decision for my case and help me fight this battle.  I went through all of it because at the end of the day, whatever this cancer brings, I don’t want to live in regret, and not be bothered with  “what ifs”. 

 FIFTH STONE – BIG C - CHRIST

 And the 5^th stone which covers all the other 4, is CHRIST.

 The best decision I ever made in my life was when I accepted Christ as my Savior through baptism about 20 some years ago.

 The process of obeying the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

            *Hear the truth – John 8:32

            * Believe in Christ – John 8:24

            *Repent from sin – Acts 17:30

            * Confess Christ – Matthew 10:32

            *Baptize – Romans 6:3-5

            *Remain faithful – Rev 2:10

 I say it is the best decision because being a Christian is a process. What I am saying is that it took me years to develop my faith.  To get to a point that when I read the Bible, or sing hymns, they really penetrate to my deepest core.  To get to a point to stay grounded in my faith. To get to a point that, whatever happens, I am at peace because in the grand scheme of life, my battle is just a dot in it.

 Going back to my manager, when I first told her that I have cancer, she gave me a picture of a saint. And told me that that the picture and the novena, healed her. She even told me the schedule of Novena, etc.  If I would have been new in my faith, I would have recited or prayed the novena like what she told me.  But I told her, “I will accept this like a gift from you. But please know that my faith is not based on this saint, but it is based on the Jesus found in the Bible.”

 I know I still have a lot to learn, I am still a Christian in progress. But I am resolved that whatever happens in the end, I will continue to follow the examples of Jesus Christ.

 Christ did not deliver me from cancer. But He walked with me through this battle. God is a God of details.  He took care of my every need. He orchestrated everything. He prepared me for this. Let me name a few:

 Â·         coming to the U.S.  Had I been in the Philippines at the time of this diagnosis and treatment, I would have been bombarded with tons of medical bills.  Plus the health care system in the U.S is much more advanced than what we have in the Philippines

 Â·         working in a bigger health facility where my co-pay for my medical needs is almost nothing.

 Â·         Working as part time.  Two years ago I requested my manager to convert me from full time to part time because of my long commute. Initially, she said no because I am a charge nurse.  But after 2 months, she came and told me that she can open a position for me to work 4 days/ week, off Tuesday and weekends. When I had my chemotherapy, lo and behold, I was scheduled Tuesdays for my treatment, when I was off from work.

 Â·         Even the COVID worked in my favor.  Because of COVID:

 

-          There was less traffic, shorter driving time to work which meant more time to rest.

-          We started video appointments to our patients, that means I did not get to see them in person, thus avoiding any possible infection.

-          My husband got furloughed. He had his extra day off on Tuesdays to drop me off in my appointments.

 

I could go on and on with my list. Everything points to the One who prepared me for this.

 Because I obeyed Christ in baptism years ago, I am assured that I will only die once - just physical death (in case I die before Jesus comes).  I will not go through the second death which is spiritual death as it is written in the Bible.

 Before I end, I would like to ask you:

·         Who is fighting your battle?

·         Is it just you?

·         Do you have the Big C fighting for you?

 If you have the Big C fighting for you, you are already assured of your victory.  Whatever the battle may bring you, you will be at peace just like I am.

 I am hoping and praying that you were inspired with my testimony. This is my first time to come out in the open to share my journey with cancer.  If there’s anyway I could help you in your battle, please let me know.  If you would like to know more of the Big C (Christ) written in the Bible, please call us at Golden Gate Church Christ or attend our Sunday service either in-person on via Zoom.