September 15 (Tuesday)...another “easy” day of chemo. Mainly rash on neck and legs but the time went by quickly so not much to say on that part of my day. I had my Tough Nurse again today but it was an easy run so all was good and we chatted about family today.
Forgot to mention yesterday that my mom got some lab work back and showed her cholesterol was improved from last set of labs done in March. She attributes this change to some of the essential oils she started taking when this all started six weeks ago. She also started back on her low carb/low sodiun diet but only in the last two weeks so not contributing to her change yet. She did have some high levels in other tests, so we continue to pray for her improvement. She has another test on Friday.
With more time to reflect on the concept of suffering, I thought today was a nice follow up on yesterday as we celebrate the traditional feast in honor of Our Lady of Sorrows. It must not have been easy being the mother of the Savior. She faced the sorrows of his arrest and persecution that would lead to his crucifixion. Yet she stayed near him throughout that day and his dead body was laid in her arms before burial.
We read the following passage today at Mass:
“In the days when Christ was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” Hebrews 5:7-9
Jesus became man...knowing he would die. And yet, he still cried out in prayer to the Father. And he was obedient.
The last line is puzzling...it states “he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” The passage just speaks of suffering and I can only take this to mean that we are also asked to suffer out of obedience as Christ has done. Yes, we will follow in his message of joy and hope as well, but obedience cannot stop with what makes us happy. However, if we can accept the suffering times in our lives knowing the hope of a better end, we can unite our sufferings with Christ as Mary does. And we will also have the joys of eternal life with Christ in heaven.
The Mass ended today with this prayer:
“Rejoice when you share in the sufferings of Christ, that you may also rejoice exultantly when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:13
“Having received the Sacrament of eternal redemption, we humbly ask, O Lord, that, honoring how the Blessed Virgin Mary suffered with her Son, we may complete in ourselves for the Church’s sake what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.” Amen.
I feel this desire to share in the sufferings of Christ knowing that I can one day rejoice. But also in the hope that others gain from this shared suffering and turn to Christ in a more profound way. God is working through me in amazing ways. I have never been so blessed. I know God will be with me through it all. How i can i complain about that. It seems like a good place to be. I pray for my family (and friends) to know this blessing through my cancer so they do not have to suffer. But really we all have a journey of suffering in our lives. So i just pray that they learn to see God working with me so they remember that God will help them when they are suffering one day.
May God bless you all in all the joys and sufferings in your life as well.
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