HONEY IS HOME
Let me share with you a true story about one of the most cheerful cancer conquerors I have known. Most call her Susan. For some like us, we fondly call her Honey. She was my dancing buddy. We used to choreograph dances just because we loved to dance to Christian praise music. We echo each other's giggles, laughter and endless chatter.
Life on the move brought us farther and yet in many ways our lives were in parallel. More than 15 years later, I started to think of her so I wondered where she was. God put her name in my spirit to pray for her. It was my sister who told me where Honey was, even without asking for her.
We reconnected only last year. We sounded the same. Yet life has changed. We were no longer feminine, we were now fighters for life.
I survived stage 4 cancer while she was battling stage 4 lung cancer. No amount of cancer could erase our cheer. We chatted for about 2 hours.
"Doctors said that I have incurable cancer," Honey told me.
"Well, welcome to the club!" I replied.
While stem cell transplant extended my life, doctors of today have not found a cure for my type of cancer. I have been in remission for 4 years, but my new normal requires me to undergo periodic blood tests and medical scans just to make sure those sneaky cancer cells do not invade me.
We shared our adventures. I gave her tips. Lots of them!
Honey made me laugh. She didn't sound sick at the time we had our online reunion. She did so many daring feats that I have not dared to do even now that I am in remission.
She exuded the amazing grace of God even while undergoing treatment. Each time she has a pocket of strength, she would prance in the snow for a selfie, paint a masterpiece, clean her home like a crazy hyper woman and even putter in the garden.
"Please relax and stop doing housework!" I begged her. I forbade her from tinkering with soil while on chemo.
She even sunbathed. Ahhh! Chemo pills cause skin cancer, I advised. Honey was fearless and funny and full of faith.
"What are you thinking?!!!" I asked her every time she is doing "normal yet naughty for a cancer patient" activities.
CHEERS! That is what she is thinking!
CARE to enjoy life. That is what she is thinking.
GOD-CONFIDENCE in her life. That is what she is thinking.
She dared to walk to the nearby hospital on the way to her radiation treatment...only to realize that she didn't have the strength to walk back after the treatment. Oh, Honey! her child-like faith is extravagant! Her fluctuating physical strength could not keep up with her
elevated spirit strength.
Whenever I talked to her, she never complained.
I call our two-member club - The Incurable HOPEfuls! Cancer can never erase our hope.
She was inspired by my miracle story of healing beyond cure. I shared with her that God has different plans for each of us. I reminded her that the HOPE FOR HEAVEN is always better than Hope for healing on earth. I reminded her to always be ready. When it is time to go, go with full faith and cheer as Jesus grants us "joy-that-is-our strength" beyond than this world.
I told her that my theory on our life tests is to show our testimony to the world that loving Jesus in full faith is what empowers us to be God-confident and cheerful even when circumstances are painful and threatening. This is our new life calling. Let's give it all we've got. Yeah!
Honey's faith never wavered to the end. I envy her that she is now pain-free and more than dancing 24/7, she must be soaring with her new heavenly fashion.
I salute her for glorifying Jesus, our Savior, with unwavering faith and devotion. She is now promoted to heaven. WOW!
I send hugs to her family who dearly loved her. I thank Paul for his endless love for Honey, for keeping her cheerful always.
Thank you Lord for the life of Honey who lives up to her name. Sweet love.