Saving Face With Faith
The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe. Proverbs 18:10
TESTIMONY ...
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Dr. Davis, and the staff, of the Emory Dept. of Radiation Oncology had been administering pinpoint radiation to my facial area for 5 days a week. At this time I was at week number 6, my LAST week!!! We were excited! I felt that the radiation had drained the life out of me. I had to muster all my energy just to stay positive enough to take the treatments. My tongue was very cracked, dry and swollen. It looked and felt like the skin of a lizard.It hurt continually. My throat was always parched, swollen and dry. It was very painful.It was hard to talk, swallow, eat or drink. It really hurt. By this time my hair and beard had fallen out to the point I had to shave what little was left or it looked strange. Now I had no nose, no roof of mouth, no top lip and no hair. I was tired but determined to GO THROUGH this with a good attitude and to not let this totally get me down. I like to laugh, joke and have a good time, even when the going gets rough! It was the Monday of my final week. Only 4 treatments after that one! Dr. Davis came in and told me that he was going to add another week of treatment. WHAT!? He informed us that as the cancer was very aggressive he didn't want to take any chances. I felt that his words knocked the wind out of my sails! My attitude changed immediately! I was mad! I wanted to yell out, I wanted to cry! All the way back to the Hope lodge I kept asking,"WHY????" Nothing the doctor or my wife said made it any better. Sharon was praying for me in the living room and I went into the bedroom to pout. We liked Jude and everyone at the Hope lodge but I wanted to go home! As I was lying on the bed I started asking God, "Haven"t I been through enough Lord? Haven't I had a good attitude through all of this? Why God? WHY? WHY?" I kept on and on. Finally I heard a stern voice speak to me in my spirit,"PATIENCE DONNIE!!!" HE got my attention IMMEDIATELY!!!!! I said, "Patience Lord? Haven't I been patient? I had a good attitude most of the time, even when I feel so tired and so weak? Lord, I don't understand!" He spoke to me and said, "Donnie, look around this room" I looked around. He said, "Donnie, there are 34 patient rooms in this building. You can only see what is going on in this room."I" see what is going on in all 34 rooms! And beyond these walls, and beyond these walls and beyond these walls!" As HE spoke I watched the whole world pass by. I realized that HE is in control! He has always been! I did not know why I was having to stay another week but HE did. I knew then that everything was going to be okay. I didn't know it then but a young man named Terrence had been watching me for weeks. He was a stem cell patient. The stem cell patient has to wear masks most of the time around others. They even cooked and ate in a separate area most of the time. Many people approached Sharon and me and told us that we had the best attitude and that we were a blessing to them. They blessed us as well! Terrence approached me one day and said "Donnie, I have been watching you. You are always laughing and joking with everyone. You are always praying for people and encouraging them. You make sure people feel good. When I first got here I stayed in my room most of the time because I was ashamed of having to wear a mask in public. Watching you and everyone's reaction to you has REALLY helped me and I thank you." During that last week many people approached us; in grocery stores, at the mall, in department stores and at the Hope lodge. They'd want to know why I was wearing a mask. We used every opportunity to tell people what the Lord had done for me. We couldn't go anywhere without people asking. They weren't being rude, I feel that God sent them to me to witness to them, and we DID! We never know what people are going through and who might need to hear what God can do! I became more bold in my witnessing. The last week was not about me having to go through one more week of radiation! It was about the Lord opening doors so I could tell so many about HIS love, mercy and grace and how he can help you whatever your circumstance may be! We often ask the Lord to lead, guide and direct us and when HE does, we grumble and complain about the way HE choses to do it. We never know what piece of the puzzle God is working on in our lives. Now I know why He said, "PATIENCE DONNIE!" Top of Page