Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Cor 1:3-4, NIV)
I remember the day like it was just yesterday. My late wife was riddled with cancer, hair all messed up, in her pajamas, couldn’t eat because she was so sick. I put my arms around her carefully, and gave her a kiss.
I told her I loved her and asked for her hand in marriage.
She was so shocked, and she looked at me with a tear or two and said “why would you want to marry someone like me?”
She even told me that I could leave the relationship if I wanted to so that I would not have to look after her when she really got sick.
I said something like
“well I know you are not OK, but I still can see who you are, and thats who I love.”
“And THAT is OK.”
“The sicker you get, the more I will love you.”
And the rest of our time together was filled with true love, and a closeness that I know I will experience again in God’s time. Now I know, it’s OK to not be OK. I am me. I am who I am. I am not all the terrible things that have happened to me. And neither was my wife.
Today, I rejoice that our experience, our story, our not being OK, is now something that can encourage and comfort others across the country. I actively support cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers because of the terrible things my wife and I had to go through.
It is my experience that
“just as I am is all God has ever wanted.”
When we are weak, He is strong. (2 Cor 12:9)
Jesus. He will carry you too. (Isa 46:4). And you don’t have to be OK. Not one of your tears is ever wasted. (Psalms 56:8).
And now I look for stories of others who are not OK. The power of story telling is energized with light and love. This is what I will bring to my next love. To my next story.
“Just as you are is all I want.”
Here below is an amazing story of someone who has a wonderful way of telling people “Its OK” when its not OK. I have no idea what this lady’s beliefs are, but she has a powerful statement to make to those of us today who are not really OK.
This young lady sings an amazing story, the story of her life, and of dealing with cancer. This is what she said about whats happening to her:
“Its important that everyone knows I am so much more than the bad things that happen to me”
– by Night Bird
It is my prayer that this post will encourage and inspire cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. There is power in story telling. Please share your story below in the comments section at the bottom of this page. We would love to hear it. And would be honored to share it with others on this web site.