Taking the “my” out of cancer
A nice scene from a past trip to the Smokies, a place that is very spirtual and healing to me.
As you may or may not have noticed, I gave myself a Christmas break from my blog to spend this special time with my family. It’s been mellow, but nice.
This week, I started a healing support group at my church, New Thought Unity Center. My hope is that it will be a place where like-minded people can share spiritual principles they have used on their healing journey.
I did this because I feel a void when it comes to cancer support groups. I have found that many support groups I’ve attended are often focused on the medical model – comparing chemo regimens, talking about side effects, etc. While this is important, for me, it’s such a small part of the equation.
Medical science says what I have is incurable and eventually terminal. So focusing on the medical aspects, for me, is depressing and defeating. I have to do it to some extent, but I try to limit it. Focusing on the spiritual side, however, is a practice worth indulging. I know that with God all things are possible. I am not my disease or diagnosis; I am a child of God, and I do not inherit illness.
In the words of Joel Osteen, this disease is only temporary. He talks about his mom, who was diagnosed with “terminal” cancer in 1981 and is alive and well today. She never used the words, “my cancer.” She never identified with it. She found scripture passages that confirmed her belief she would be well and went around repeating them over and over again. I’m not a Bible reader; I’m too lazy to figure out all the passages. But she picked out some good ones. I like Psalm 118:17 – I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
I want to scrub the words “my cancer” from my vocabulary. It’s not mine and it’s not welcome here. Joel talks about things like illness, depression, etc. as ”being a foreigner in a strange land.” I guess that makes me one of those xenophobes, because this is one foreigner I would like to deport! By focusing on God and doing my part, it will only be a matter of time before it gets served its walking papers.
Vickie says:
Thanks for posting this, Tami. Sometimes it c an be difficult to find a way around saying “my xx”. I recently came across the wording of “the X affecting my body.” You are so very right in not saying “my cancer.” It is NOT your cancer; you do not have ownership of that. It is the cancer affecting your body. Then, too, every time you slip and say “my”, say “no. I do not agree with that.” Say it out loud or at least whisper it if you can. Spoken words are the most effective.
Don and I will definitely keep you and Mike in our prayers,
Vickie
Sam Elliston says:
Tami,
What a beutiful way to live the beliefs of the founders of Unity. I hope you find many to participate in your support group.
Sam
Louise Be, says:
tammy:
I know you don’t like to hear this but we will all die to go to a better place some day. we are spiritual not physical beings and it is likely that some physical element will take us from this world and thrust us into the next which as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ is a better world. thus, I don’t worry about the death sentence of cancer as I know the one thing we all have in common is the sureness of death some day. When? when our work on this earth is done. How? the lord only knows
thanks.