Children with cancer

I realize that this is not the happiest of topics to begin my blog with, but it is something that has pricked my heart severely in the last two weeks. I, personally, do not know anyone right now, that is battling cancer, but for the past two weeks, I have had a very tiny glimpse into what a parent might go through if they suspect their child has cancer. My 6 year old daughter suddenly developed a chain of lymph nodes up one side of her neck and they have remained painless and quite large for two weeks. ( indicators of Hodgkin's Lymphoma) After reading all the worst case scenarios online, we took her in to the doctor. Unfortunately he couldn't figure out what was wrong, but put her on antibiotics to see if it would help. She has had Lyme Disease twice this summer, so we weren't sure if it wasn't somehow related to this. I have been a basket case for the past two weeks. I have prayed continuously and on a few days, I could hardly function at all. I simply jsut wanted to hold my little girl, color with her, play with her and not let her out of my sight. The thought of my child developing cancer was absolutely heart wrenching. In the end, the antibiotic worked and more than likely she had a simple case of cat scratch disease from one of our cats. God is good and he is merciful. He is the Great Physcian. But, as I tried to move on and glory in the fact that my daughter was well and happy, I couldn't help but think of all those parents whose news was not good. I have prayed many times for these parents and these children whose lives are full of uncertainties, pain, and helplessness. I have no specific names to pray for, but God knows who they are and he will do what is best. Do you know someone who has cancer? Do you have cancer? If so, post your story. What have I learned from the past two weeks?....Life is short. We are not in control, God is. We are all appointed to death eventually. No matter our circumstance, sick or healthy, poor or wealthy, we all need God's forgiveness and we only get that through following and trusting in his son Jesus. Do you know him? Are you ready when your time comes? And lastly, I have learned that children are beautiful. They are gifts from God, each with an eternal purpose that only God knows. They should be wanted, loved, and respected as the God-given rewards that they are. ( Psalm 127:3).