The Routine

I am so blessed.  My body is responding very well to the chemotherapy.  I have felt exceptionally well – no nausea, little fatigue, and I have a good appetite.  I have a small spot of blood on my eye from the chemo.  This effects my vision a little, but is getting better daily.  One alibi from the last post: I had an additional day of chemo that we initially thought.  I learned this after the last entry.  No big deal.  

Christi has been here all day, which has been a big boost to my morale.   The girls came up later in the afternoon with their Nana.  One look at this picture and it’s easy to see how blessed I am.

This is my eighth day since being admitted to the hospital.  Honestly, time has passed fairly quickly.  Receiving visitors, reading, writing, having IVs changed, and sticking to my daily “training schedule” have helped me avert any sense of boredom.  

In situations like this, we cannot control very much.  I can’t control how my body responds to the medicine, when the nurses have to change IVs, or even what time my dinner comes.  That’s difficult for me since I am a self-admitted “control freak.”  It’s a character flaw that I’m working on.  There is, however, much value in controlling the few things I can.  I can allow my day to happen to me, or I can be intentional on how I use the time I have available.  So, I have a daily schedule that looks something like this:

 7:30 am     Read Bible and pray

 8:30           Breakfast

 9:00           Blog & Journal

10:00          Personal hygiene

12:30 pm    Lunch

 1:00           Rest/visitors/read

 6:30           Dinner

 8:00           Exercise

10:30          Bed

This is a guideline mostly, like the Pirates Code, and is influenced by how I feel, when I get visitors, when nurses have to check my vitals, etc.  But, this small sense of control counters feelings of helplessness and provides motivation. I decide when I exercise and take some responsibility for my health, not someone else.  I decide when I read or write, not my medical providers.  I decide when to read the Bible and pray, not the very nice lady who brings my breakfast each morning.

I can only control so much of my time, but I certainly can control all of my thoughts.  My thoughts are my own.  Sure, the enemy can speak lies to me, but I can counter it with the Truth.  I am ultimately responsible for what I believe.

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV).

Each of us can choose to believe lies, or we can choose to believe the Truth of God’s Word.  I choose to take my thoughts captive and ensure they align with what I know to be true.

Question for you: What thoughts that you are having can you make obedient to the Truth?