New Vocabulary

I recently learned some new vocabulary:  adenoid cycstic carcinoma.  It is a very rare cancer.  Only 1200 people a year a diagnosed with it.  Most doctors only see 4 cases in their career.  Someone very close to me has it.  It is not myself, and I'm not going to tell who it is because I haven't exactly asked permission to blog about this.  Plus, the diagnosis is so new.  How does one go about telling their loved ones they have cancer?

We are all hopeful.  Is there anything else to be?  Despite being rare the 5 year survival rate is good.  89%.  In a town all about odds, these are pretty good.  The 15 year survival rate is 40%.  Not as good, but there's no choice about it.  We're on this roller coaster whether we want to be or not. 

But the beauty of life is that despite anything that happens to us we can still have hope.  My favorite book of scripture happens to be the Old Testament.  The story that keeps coming to my mind is that of Job.  Job was a righteous man.  He did everything he was supposed to do.  Then Satan tries to tempt him.  He takes away Job's family, lands, wealth, and even his health.  Job's "friends" pretended not to know him.  How does Job take it all?  He still has a testimony.

Job 19: 8-26

 8 He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.

 9 He hath stripped me of my glory, and taken the crown from my head.

 10 He hath destroyed me on every side, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.

 11 He hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies.

 12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.

 13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.

 14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.

 15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.

 16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.

 17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.

 18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.

 19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me.

 20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh, and I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.

 21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends; for the hand of God hath touched me.

 22 Why do ye persecute me as God, and are not satisfied with my flesh?

 23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!

 24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!

 25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this ^abody, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Sometimes just reading his story makes me feel a bit better about whatever is bothering me.