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1.04.2013

Prayer of Strength

Yesterday morning I woke up to my phone ringing.  It was my mom.  The decision was made to go ahead and have my parents head to Houston on Sunday.  My dad just can't eat.  So this means he isn't able to get the nutrients his body needs in order to become strong enough for his major surgery that is scheduled for Jan 24th.  We've tried everything to get protein in him, but his body is just rejecting it.  It's been a tough road, but these last few weeks have not been fun.  Seeing my dad in pain and wanting to eat, but not being able to is NOT fun.  And knowing how tired my mom is and all her efforts in coming up with ways to get him to eat.  It's exhausting, really.  It has just sucked.  So, though we are all happy to have a set plan, yesterday I was just feeling weak.  I felt like I needed an extra push of strength and confidence that everything was going to be ok.

I turned to my best friends.  A specific bunch of girls that have been there through just about everything in my life since college, if not before.  I sent them an email asking for them to please prayer specifically for me, that I needed strength.

One friend in particular decided to write her prayer out for me so that I would know specifically how she would be praying.  I wanted to share it.  I will carry this with me and read it when I have moments of weakness from now on during this battle we are fighting.

God, I pray that You would give Catherine strength and hope over the next few weeks. I pray that you would provide her comfort and peace beyond understanding. I pray she would come to You as the only one that can provide strength, peace, and comfort. I pray she would grow closer to You during the next few weeks and despite the situation surrounding her, that she would trust in You, in Your timing, and Your will. I pray You would show her tangibly and intangibly Your love for her, and for her family. I pray you would answer prayers and have her dad's surgery go well and for his protein levels to go up as needed for his other surgery. 
Then she shared some quotes and verses....
"Do not strive in your own strength; cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you. Strive in prayer; let faith fill your heart-so will you be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might." - Andrew Murray
Isaiah 41:10  fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 Chronicles 16:11  Seek the LORD and his strength;  seek his presence continually!

"His ways are higher than our ideas of how things should go. But I can tell you this: It is possible. He hears your prayers and He is not indifferent to your plight. God loves you. Above all, don't equate your suffering with how God feels about you."

Thank you, dear friends, for being there and praying so hard for my family.  I told my mom last night the statement "battling cancer" is SO TRUE.  It is w/out a doubt a battle!  My dad is strong and he will fight and win this battle, no doubt!

Love you all, sweet friends :)

2 comments:

Adam Traylor said...

You've been amazingly strong as has dad and mom and all the rest of us. I'm glad that both of us have such a great core group of friends that are willing to pray and lift us up. I'm not sure how we'd be anywhere without them. Stay strong and know that I am always here for you.

Linda said...

Catherine, as a daughter who has also gone through what you are experiencing right now, I can tell you that these are the times in life when your faith grows and your strength grows. You would not be the kind, loving person you are if you weren't feeling all the emotions you are feeling right now. We will all continue to be strong together as a family, knowing that the prayers of your friends will be lifting you up even when you are too tired to pray for yourself. Thank you for the support and strength that you give to me. I thank God for your friends because family and friends are the most important people in your life. To have such good friends, means you have been a very good friend. I love you, Mom