Difficult Seasons

Late Monday afternoon, we received really good news from Dad’s doctor.  The pathology report on the tumors and surrounding tissue removed from Dad’s bladder last week turned out to be a noninvasive, non-aggressive type of cancer, and it had been completely removed.  That means that he doesn’t need additional surgery or chemo or radiation and can just be checked every three months for reoccurrence.

As my daughter Sara said on hearing the news, “The quality of life just got better for all of us.”

We’re certainly rejoicing in this unexpected good news.  Our thankfulness is hard to even express.

But my joy and thankfulness is tempered by awareness of what is happening to others.

• That same evening Eloise and I attended the viewing for a dear friend, spending some bittersweet time with his wife. They were like extra grandparents for our kids when they were young, even keeping all three to allow us a special trip to Amsterdam.  Less than a week elapsed between his cancer diagnosis and his death.
• At the same time as our good news was being broadcast in our church’s prayer email, the news was also sent out that a friend’s mom diagnosed with lymphoma six weeks ago was going home with hospice care.  She passed peacefully last night.
• I did chaplaincy rounds yesterday afternoon at M.D. Anderson, spending time with several people who have not received good news.

My awareness makes me realize all the more how special good news is, and it fuels my thankfulness.

My awareness also makes me more compassionate to friends and sojourners whose news is not good.

And I understand better that life is a bittersweet mixture of rejoicing with those who are rejoicing, and mourning with those who are mourning, and that both can be happening at the same time.

Good News

Good news is precious.

We, like the shepherds long ago, know that, because we have all been the receivers of bad news.

Someone we love has died.  We or someone we love dearly has cancer, ALS, Alzheimer’s, or some other dreaded disease.  A spouse says they don’t want to be married any more.  Our job is gone. Or a tornado or hurricane has destroyed our home and memories.

Here’s what the angel said when he came to visit the shepherds:

“I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2: 10-11)

What is this “good news of great joy?”

“For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

We’ve experienced enough of this life to understand why the hope of an eternal life free from the injustice, loss, and pain of this earthly life is precious.

And that’s why we celebrate the coming of Jesus.  His coming brought with it the hope that’s so precious to us, that keeps us going through the unimaginable.

Merry Christmas, folks.