Perfect Weakness

Recently, my scheduler at work has been putting me on a different unit than the one I was trained on. Of course I had no objections. I should have remembered that God is God everywhere, not just in my heart. Anyway He had me meet an incredible resident that this piece of chocolate is dedicated to. I want to mention that she gave me permission to share a piece of who she is with you. So, let’s call her Pink Ribbon Chocolate…Pink for short. As you can guess, Pink is battling cancer. She lies in her blue hospital gown, which totally brings out her eyes. You can see the evidence of chemo treatments by her Sinead O’Connor hairdo and the colorful shapes on her tummy showing where chemo has been done. Recently we had to up the dose on her pain meds to make sure that she is comfortable. She doesn’t have the freedom to get up and go shoe shopping, (which we both love to do). However, DO NOT BE DISMAYED. This woman is a mighty woman of God. And although her body is weak, it is a blatant show of God’s strength in her. Every staff member that I’ve talked to about her all love her. She is a perfect picture of the scripture verse “His strength is made perfect in our weakness” as well as “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” When we talk about the Lord in her little room over a warm honey bun, I don’t see a woman with cancer, I see a woman with character. I don’t see a woman who can’t get up and enjoy her freedoms, I see a woman whom Christ has set free…and who knows it. We could all learn from her example of courage and peace in the midst of a storm. I was telling a few different people this week. “I sure am glad that the Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Of all the things that God could have chosen to be a strength, He chose JOY! He could have chosen suffering, sickness, or self-pity. What a relief that he didn’t!” So, today I want to leave you all with some scriptures about strength that you can draw from in your time of need. Exodus 15:2 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. Nehemia 8:10 And Nehemia continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Psalm 139:9-10 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. Philipians 4:13 For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Let’s remember Pink Ribbon Chocolate when we feel weak of heart or isolated and remind ourselves that the Pink Ribbon Chocolate strength that she has in Jesus is also available to us. Amen! Enjoy a wonderful piece of chocolate this week and I’ll write again on Friday. Love, Dede