Wednesday, November 5, 2008

God Uses People for Encouragement


PHOTO ON LEFT: Charlie, 4 months post-transplant, is growing hair again.

Throughout our journey of mantle cell lymphoma the Lord has been with us. When the diagnosis was still new to us many times the Lord would send someone to us to encourage us. Of course we still have encouragement from many, but we are now wishing to be an encouragement to others that are going through a rough time especially with medical challenges.

Last December, while waiting in a check-out line in Wal-Mart with my daughter, I invited a man to our church's Christmas concert. I told him that my husband was facing a battle with lymphoma and a stem cell transplant and that he would probably be singing in the choir for the last time for quite awhile. To my surprise he told me that he beat lymphoma and was doing fine. After briefly chatting in the check-out line, I headed for my car. As I approached my car, I heard the same man calling me. Apparently, he wanted to encourage me even more. He wanted to know my husband's age. It just so happened that he was my husband's age, worked in the same industry as my husband at one time, and also lived in the same area in Louisiana as we did when he was doing this work.

Sleet and snow continued to fall as we chatted in the Wal-Mart parking lot, but that didn't hinder me for I wanted to know what this man had to say to me for encouragement. I learned that this gentleman was once a member of our church and had loved attending our church. He had only left to attend his fiance's church, but admitted that he had since broke up with her and had not attended church recently. Of course, I encouraged him to visit our church again. He thanked me and realized that God had allowed our paths to cross. Likewise, thanking him for his encouragement, we departed. I now had great confidence that my husband too would survive lymphoma.

7 comments:

Rebekah Tastet said...

What a blessing and a wonderful story! The Lord is sure awesome!

John L. said...

Awesome God. Awesome testimony. Awesome folk and family. Awesome way God is using you. We will continue to pray, only wish we could do more. We love you all. BTW we got our first granddaughter!! Anna Joy born 11-01-08. Will send pics via email as soon as we get them.

Luedkes

Nancy M. said...

I am so glad God used this man to encourage you when you needed it!
What a blessing! And what a blessing your family continues to be. I enjoyed seeing your husband serve and your son sing! lv-nancy

Nancy M. said...

Glenda,
Praying for you that you will find the right dr for this condition.
Bless your heart! Take care. lv-nancy

Nancy M. said...

Glenda,
Praying for you that you will find the right dr for this condition.
Bless your heart! Take care. lv-nancy

Glenda said...

Nancy,
I am so much better tonight. I know that it is because of prayer. The new xray that was taken today shows great improvement. I am not short-winded any longer. I have been able to get around better today than I have in a very long time. Thanks for praying.

Nancy M. said...

I am so thankful you are strong when your husband needs you now! I will continue to uphold you both in prayer. You both are a great testimony to so many! lv-nancy