If you have been following my blog posts on Journey Thoughts in recent weeks, you will
read that I am once again battling cancer.
Uterine cancer to be specific, and I had my first round of chemo on June
25th, with five more cycles to go to be administered every 21
days. There may be follow-up radiation
as well, so I am in the throes of the battle once again. I battled breast cancer in 2001 so I know all
about what I am facing and the toll it will take on my body.
First to go will be my hair.
1 Corinthians 11:15 talks about a women’s long hair being her crowning
glory, her pride and joy, and her hair given to her for a covering. Proverbs 16:31 calls gray hair a crown of
splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. I remember losing my hair in 2001. For many women going through chemotherapy,
myself included, it was devastating to lose what was considered crucial to my self-esteem,
my femininity and outward beauty. I
covered my bald head with a wig and head coverings but it wasn’t the same as my
natural “crown of splendor”. I have
ordered new head coverings and my daughters picked out a sassy new wig for me but I must be a
lot less vain than I was nineteen years ago, because I’m not nearly as stressed out
about losing my hair this time around.
In fact, I’ve learned that all women who battle cancer should wear their
crowns boldly and fearlessly, and learn to embrace our beautiful bald heads that are after all well-earned battle scars that will eventually heal in time.
The verse I have embraced with regards to my hair loss is
Luke 12:7, “Indeed, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many
sparrows.” God is with me regardless of
whether or not I have a full head of hair.
He looks at the heart, and the true beauty that is found there.
Chemotherapy wreaks havoc on the body. It’s hard to explain to someone who has never
experienced chemo. It’s a weird feeling
having chemicals purposefully pumped into your body that can cause a host of
unpleasant side effects. Chemo is also
known to have long term and sometimes detrimental consequences to your health for years after. Yet, it is the crucial part of the arsenal for this
battle, and with every treatment I just pray cancer cells are sought out and
destroyed. I will gladly go through this
season, in order to once again declare myself to be cancer-free!
As I look at myself in the mirror over these next few
months, I may find myself despairing over my appearance, but I need to constantly
remind myself to look at myself through God’s eyes and not my own. I am valuable, God breathed into me the
breath of life (Genesis 2:7). I am
created in His image (Genesis 1:27). I was
knit together in my mother’s womb and I am fearfully and wonderfully made
(Psalm 139: 13-14). I am a brand new
creation for I have died to sin and all my unrighteousness has been cleansed by
the blood of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:11; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 John 1:7,9). I am saved by grace (Ephesians2:8). I am being transformed into the
image of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). I
have a glorious future (Romans 8:18). (From desiring
God – What God Thinks About You by John Rinehart)
Amen!
Lynn Dove is the award-winning author, of the YA “Wounded Trilogy”- a contemporary Christian fiction series with coming-of-age themes. A wife, mom, grandmother, and free-lance writer with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books, her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner. Readers may connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and at lynndove.com
Hi Lynn. Thank you for your honesty, forthrightness and vulnerability in this post. My closest way to relate to what you write is through my mother who battled cancer for twelve years and went through many, many bouts of chemotherapy and radiation throughout her years. I think she lost her hair about five times! I know that that part was a real battle for her but she sure handled it with dignity and we all saw her as beautiful as ever. I wish you peace as you go through this. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGloria, I so appreciate your kind words of encouragement! Thank-you for your prayers!
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn, Thank-you for sharing this post ... and I had a dear friend who battled fiercely against cancer, including some serious facial surgery-I admired her strength & courage and ability to trust God in the battle. As women we do care about our looks. I have often joked about God keeping count over hairs on our heads-surely He would have more important things to do; that has been in response to the natural thinning that has happened with aging, but I love how you have taken this verse as an encouragement. Strength is really beautiful!! Blessings & prayers in your journey.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jocelyn for your prayers and encouragement!
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