As I have written many times on this blog life is a journey with decisions, interersections , stop signs, yield signs and off ramps that require us to make decisions of where we want to be and what we desire to accomplish daily. In my life prior to Cancer my daily road trip was go,go,go and by a wing and a prayer God helped me to make all of my personal dreams become reality and all of the ends meet. I had choices that seemed far less complicated. ( so I thought.)
After Cancer and my diagnosis the conventional wisdom would say that I need to stop. I was being told in subtle and not so subtle ways that our/ my choices were limited at best. I actually allowed this thought into my head for 10 seconds. If I did not fight that thought then it was poor Danny time, oh, he is a victim. Well, that could not be how I was ever going to be defined. None of us is victims as long as we believe that God has our situation.
After saying this, with all of the Cancer patients that I talk to daily many are the same as me. I am not unique in that way. When we become afflicted with a illness such as this we do not turn inward. It is to the contrary. Our response in what I have lived and witnessed in others battling their affliction get up and get on with it. We even in our weakened state still reach out and wrap our arms around our loved ones and friends to let them know we feel their pain and feel at times responsible for their stress and sadness. We attempt to bring comfort to those that we love and want to protect. Meanwhile the family and friends that love us are reaching around us to hold us firm and steady.
Now, that’s Jesus Christ in carnate in each person. Further proof that God is with us.
I was speaking today to a new friend Tony today who Is being treated for pancreatic cancer and I will tell you, he inspires me. He was out singing in his choral group last evening and had to share with his family the news about the need to change Meds and have a port put in.
While I was talking to Tony I was reassuring him that God has this, him and his family and that he needs to tell God that he fully inticipates Gods removing his cancer. If that is Gods will then God can do anything.
Like Tony and I discussed none of us can prevent what happens to us but we can take control and decide how we respond.
Well, back on point. About a month ago I came to yet another personal revelation and decided that the extra weight that I am carrying on my body is not adding any value to my life so I once again began to do my due diligence and starting to look at ways in which to safely lose weight while I am pushing my body to heal. It was by the grace of God only and I know that this new option was brought to my life.
A beautiful family member had started a diet program early last summer and I watched her plow through the Holidays without 1 cheat and lost a lot of weight. Honestly she was always beautiful but she desired a healthier version of herself. She then inspired other family members by her quiet demonstration , great result and firm resolve.
One night I was saying to her while we visited that I went and checked out a weight loss place right down the road. I went in got weighed. And payed a $15.00 fee to get an overview of the plan.
After 15 minutes listening to the other people there the majority ended up being life long members. Back again, to start over .It was like a club of friends all catching up. Believe me I am not judging it is hard. I wish them well but I needed something life changing if I wanted to give my body the best shot at a full restoration I needed a full reset.
I sat there in the weight loss center quietly and said God, what am I doing here? As I sat a that weight loss center . I just knew that it was not right for me.
Well, my family members who never push me said, Danny I think you should ask your doctors and do the plan that I and many others are or have done. She then laid it out and showed me on the computer.
It seemed to fit that moment and intersection on my life that I was at. I decided to take was the right hand turn on heathy street. My wife wants me to do whatever I feel I need to do whereas it costs a little bit of money. It’s around $11.00 a day after the initial sign up. Not a lot for a guy who seldom buys anything out.
So, all excited I called my primary care Dr. And he was out off the office so I left him a message the information on what I was planning on doing. His assistant gave him my message and he was not sure it would be good for me. He was not real familiar with it. I was bummed out at first but I had such a conviction and peace in my heart that I knew this was for me. So, I got on the phone and contacted my oncologist and told them that 2016 was the year that I intended on getting my body to healhliest place it can get to. In my heart I feel that whatever weight that I carry is an impediment to my body . Specifically my left side mobility and low energy.
I contacted my oncologist and sent them the required paperwork that needed to be signed they responded immediately with 2 thumbs up. Next I called the program counselor and explained the situation. She said the oncologist had sent in the paperwork and she had not heard from my primary. I told her that he was not familiar with the program she said oh, I will forward the program info. Knowing what she was doing I crafted a letter telling my Primary stating that my Oncologist was aware of this program and signed off on it thinking it would be great. I also stated that I felt called by prayer to this and would not take no for an answer.:) I love my doctors. They know I am careful but I am also Driven.
My primary responded back to the clinic with a yes , so I now had a green light. I was so excited.
The diet is called. The Ideal Protein Diet and it is incredible at the end of week one I lost 6.2 pounds. I can see that there is a path that will bring me into my new life with all hopefully all of my energy in my body going to my healing of my left side. My thought being that without the extra weight I will be more agile and capable of moving hence I will build my lung function, my ability to build muscle and very importantly the strength to stand in place and weight bare.
I have a dream, a seed planted in my heart and soul that God has given all of us. We need to Believe in God and have faith.
Another thing that saddens me is how many old friends and acquaintances that I know look at me and say your a Miracle! Like I did something.
You know yesterday, was a beautiful reminder” Easter “of what God, Jesus Christ has done for us all. He rose from death to save us from eternal death. I am here for one reason . It’s not because I am more special that anyone else clearly God has work for me in this moment. My guess is as good as your😀
One of my old friends said to me over 4 years ago while I was at his home who’s goes to church anymore? My response was we do.
Yet another friend said laughingly that her daughter had been asking them to go to church. They never did.
These people were kids that had Catholic school background and had no beef with the church or school they feel away because I guess sports or social event.
One of my friends posted a post that Pope Francis said you do not have to attend mass etc in order to be in Gods grace. It was a lie from the pit of hell people responded oh that’s great! Like wow! I felt so bad that my friend misled others possibly from their eternal reward.
It was right on snopes as a false posting again evil. Without mass for a Roman Catholic perspective you need the mass to receive the Holy Eucharist , penance etc.
also, the lying Pope Francis post said that you don’t need to support the church financially. Oh, really. Only 10 percent of parishioners are carrying the other 90 percent. But, when they need a church particularly for funeral and family life events they will certainly use it resources. Suddenly God is needed.
Finally, another friends son approached me and asked me how to pray. I discussed it in easy and general terms with the child. I said you really should talk to your parents. I felt that that was the appropriate action.
So, this blog has covered way more territory than I thought that it would . But, that’s God for you.
Remember the bible states that we will not be saved by our works alone. Often times our charitable works are done for our self benefit as well.
According to the Holy Bible God requires a personal relationship with us all. That’s number one. Whatever you faith or tradition. Stay close to God.
I would also like to say thank you to a very Dear women who kept me company many days as I laid in my chair and fought my brain cancer. She loved me, she prayed with me and she discussed how much God had done for me and you too. She helped me to invoke St.Michael to do battle for me and for St. Raphael to protect me from my disease.
Her soft, confident recitation of the Most Holy Rosary to the fear of death from me and gave me confidence that Gods word was real. His promise was Real. It was everlasting.
My dear friend was taken home yesterday Easter Sunday which does not surprise me because her life was living and teaching of Gods love and his Glory that he is so deserving of.
My Friend was an angel who had her own crosses to bare but built a huge orgizination from nothing because God told her she could and she believed in his promise.
Rest in peace Dear Mother, Thankyou for your humble service Amen.
i am praying for you all. With much love
this is song sums up how Mother felt about service to God and the crosses that she bared,
Danny
Just Danny Speaks 