“I will give them comfort and joy instead of pain and sorrow."
~ Jeremiah 31:13
They arrived early for the first
of (hopefully no more than) 8 chemotherapy treatments and scanned the cancer pavilion. What a cruel gathering of bald heads, steroid-swollen
faces, and weary forms. The old seemed childlike, the young acted
senile, everyone in between looked disheartened. It was never a club they’d expected to join.
When the oncologist explained the possible effects of
chemotherapy in detail, cancer’s reality sunk in. His wife’s treatment would require painful,
expensive, eco-harmful drugs. But there she
sat waiting for her battle to commence. “Carrie
must be so scared,” Russell thought, trying to look confident … fooling
absolutely no one!
After the last of the fluids entered the port under her skin,
a nurse removed the needle and they headed for home.
The following three days were good; no side effects from the
chemo what-so-ever. She’d gotten through
the whole ordeal just fine … and then it began to happen!
Nausea and exhaustion were expected yet manageable. But soon her entire upper body hurt terribly:
neck, arms, glands, abdomen, back, throat, head; even eyeballs and fingernails. Carrie cried as if her brain was being
shredded from the inside; sobs only interrupted by the need to draw breath.
In that moment his arms squeezed a fraction tighter and Carrie
breathed more slowly, her body melted into his as every muscle lost its tension. He’d hugged her before, but never like this. There was something so warm; so reassuring. She let her body sag; her worries lost their
sting, her optimism restored.
Russell felt it too, as if the world stopped still on its
axis. There was no time, no wind, no
rain. His Almighty Father was hugging
him too, gently caressing his burdened shoulders and rubbing out the rawness of
his own desperation.
He felt Carrie’s body press in, now quiet and at peace. “I love your Russell,” she whispered before
dozing off into a restful slumber.
It was the relief he’d waited for, prayed for. He inwardly thanked God for offering His
affection and never being too busy to embrace His human creation.
God hugs are timely gifts. They soothe, comfort and calm. His compassion never fails. His mercy flows fresh every day and remains present
until healing occurs. He never lets go!
Your Father in Heaven can’t wait to embrace you in your
shame, stress or success. He runs to
greet you with warm acceptance, so throw yourself into His arms. Cast your cares on Christ and surrender your
life to Him.
Precious Lord, let me rest in Your arms and
cherish Your sweet embrace. Search out
my heart and change me into the person that You desire me to be ... whatever it
takes. Amen
