The Corner of my Mat.
By Donna Hottinger.
I am at the end of my cancer fight with my last round of chemo this past week. As I’ve gone through my battle with cancer, I have come to realize that I couldn’t have done it without my God. He has been there with me through every up and down. I am on the road to recovery and my numbers are getting closer and closer to normal.
He has provided a respite for me that I so desperately needed. He always seems to know when I need to slow down and take care of myself. My problem is, I have to be hit over the head to remember this. Anyone else have this problem?
Psalm 103:1-4
1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion.
I have a friend that I have known for almost 50 years now. Tami and I met as young teenagers at a church campout. She and I were inseparable for many years. Then life happened for both of us. She got married and moved to another town and we didn’t talk for a while. Not because we were mad at each other, but because our focus was on other people and other things.
We reconnected and it was like no time had passed at all. Both of our marriages had gone south, so reaching out for each other again made sense. I called her one day and asked her if she wanted to go on a road trip to see my dad in Vegas. We had the best time! My dad’s sister was there as well, and the conversation moved to her single son, my cousin. The funny thing is, they dated a few times in high school, but her mother put a stop to it because he was too old for her (5 years). Long story short, they talked on the phone, had a long-distance relationship and married a year or so later. She’s always wanted to be a part of my family and now she officially is. This makes me very happy. It’s always nice to have a BFF in the family.
Upon my diagnosis, she offered to come and stay with me each month for a week during my chemotherapy treatments. They were two consecutive days every four weeks. She has been my caregiver, my friend and my prayer warrior through all of it. I want to publicly thank her for everything she has done for me. Friends forever, for sure!
This, of course, reminds me of a Bible story.
Luke 5:17-26
17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
My friend, Tami, would surely have had one of the corners of my mat leading the charge. And I would have hers. I thank God for all of the prayer warriors that lifted me up to the throne room of God. I’m also grateful for the forgiveness of sin and the power of our Lord for healing and restoration.
I’m not sure what is in store for me in the future, but God has a plan. He is the author of my story, and my story continues as long as I have breath.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Comments are closed