Healthy Today in Every Way … Thank You, Lord Jesus

When you’re faced with the reality of your mortality, it’s not unusual for priorities to shift and facts to clarify. What I’ve learned since hearing of my lymphoma diagnosis is, for me, it’s not so much the fact that mortality triggers uncomfortable thoughts … it’s what’s between now and then that gets the mind going wild.

That is, if I let it, and I’ve chosen—chosen—to not go that route. Instead, I’m in the present, taking care of what needs to be taken care of, doing so joyfully and gratefully. What other way is there to live LIFE?

Which brings me to my blog title. It’s been my affirmation since I first found out about this current challenge. It came with no pre-thought, no urgings from anyone. It was there that night as my head hit the pillow, with all sorts of thoughts running through. This affirmation made so much sense. Why?

Three reasons:

1. “Healthy today….” Today is always today. No matter what day it’s spoken or written, it is today.
2. “Every way….” All sorts of health—mental and physical, as well as relationships and work and pleasure.
3. Giving gratitude where it should be given … for me, that goes to my Lord, Jesus.

With this affirmation simply handed to me by Divine Guidance I’ve used it daily, every day, written and spoken. When the news is hard—the affirmation is there. When each individual event has been faced—the affirmation is there. And when times are really good—the affirmation is there.

But has it done anything but offer warm fuzzies? Since I don’t believe in coincidence … yes. When I went in for the first chemo treatment, my oncologist explained things again. Then he looked me in the eye and said, “You’re young and you’re healthy. You’ll get through this fine.”

The evening after the first chemo was administered, my blood pressure rose. It wasn’t horrible but not knowing what was okay, and what should be reported, we called the oncologist on-call doctor number. My personal oncologist had said in that earlier meeting that records were computerized for the practice and available to all doctors 24/7. Whichever doc was on-call at any given time need only call up my name to speak directly to my needs.

The on-call doctor called back quickly. After he reviewed my records and symptoms, he advised that what was happening wasn’t unusual. I thanked him and said we could all go to bed now. He responded, “You’re young and you’re healthy. You’ll get through this fine.”

Though he and my oncologist are part of the same practice, I seriously doubt they practice their lines. I’m not all that “young” but I s’pose in comparison to a great number of their patients, since I'm 54--and, of course, famous ... I qualify.

So call it what you’d like … I call it, again, Divine Guidance. Or actually, not “again,” but ongoing. That word, “healthy,” continues to pop up in conversation, as it popped up in my head from the get-go. And since this sort of challenge is affected heartily by one’s emotional state in addition to the physical, I’m going with, “Healthy Today in EVERY way … thank you, Lord Jesus.”