It had been a long grey day in a long grey week. The new chemotherapy drug they had said would be easier wasn't. It knocked me to the ground then stomped on me until every bone ached. I was seriously thinking about canceling the next dose. I didn't think I could do it.
Then, late one afternoon, I opened my eyes. A thin beam of light had pushed through the clouds, through my living room window, and along a slim tendril growing out of my small Spider plant. The tendril had looked so fragile as it reached out, pale and oh so thin. But when that beam of light touched it, it began to glow. Then the light illuminated the tiny white flowers that had just bloomed. The flowers glowed in that ethereal light. It took my breath away. And hope blossomed. I managed to get up off the couch and find my camera. It took a few tries to get a picture that wasn't blurry. But I managed to steady my hands and do it.
Hope. At that moment it was a living dimension - a shaft of real light that slipped into my living room along that tendril of plant at just at the right moment. At just the right moment God reminded me that he was here, watching, waiting with me and smiling as he made that tiny flower glow.
"When Jesus spoke to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12
The light of life, the light of hope. It's Him. Jesus Himself. Right here. Right now.
As writers of faith this is the hope we are called to communicate as we send our words like a beam of light into the lives of our readers, causing hope, faith, and even love to blossom. May He find us faithful.
Marcia Lee Laycock writes from central Alberta Canada where she is a pastor's wife and mother of three adult daughters. She was the winner of The Best New Canadian Christian Author Award for her novel, One Smooth Stone and also has two devotional books in print. Her work has been endorsed by Sigmund Brouwer, Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and Mark Buchanan. The sequel to One Smooth Stone will be released in 2011. A collection of devotionals for writers has just been released here. Visit Marcia's website
In the Name of Jesus, may that tiny light, that resilient hope ignite your heart, Marci. May it bloom like those flowers and grow white hot. May your body be filled with His healing in His time. And may we cover you in prayer as He covers you with His Blood.
ReplyDeleteMarcia, I admire how you have continued ministering to others with your writing, even through your battle. May there soon be many more good days than bad. God bless.
ReplyDeleteStanding with you, Marcia... that your strength would be multiplied every day, and your best work would ignite your imagination, even now, refreshing you, and encouraging you that "Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
ReplyDeletePraying that your hope will continue! My aunt is fighting cancer and dealing with chemo treatments right now. It has been incredible to see the other wordly strength and hope the Lord has given her as she works to maintain her job and take care of her family. Hope is so important. I pray that is what readers see when they read the stories I write. Keep fighting! He is faithful. Nahum 1:7
ReplyDeleteThank you for your honesty Marcia. My heart of prayer is with you. Thank you also for reaching into my life and sharing your hope. Sometimes it comes form the most unexpected places. Like a plant.
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading a book for review where a woman was dying of Leukemia. She wanted some family pictures taken outdoors but the family protested. Finally they gave in and while they were being photographed a red bird flew down in front of them. It looked directly at the woman and her daughters, hopped over to them before flying away. The woman who was ill spoke. "I do believe God was just here."
It was a beautiful scene.
Let us all keep our eyes open for the times when God visits us and leaves his fingerprint of hope!