1) Exercise
On Sunday evening, it drizzled. My younger son asked me to play table tennis with him, because he could not do other outdoor exercise. I took up the challenge, and played with him at ground floor few apartment blocks away. I was at 50-60% of my former "prowess", still managed to match his level.
It was good progress so far on this aspect. Initially I could do very slow walk(like slow-motion movie) in the park a month after the operation. It was painful, even when the shirt rubbed against the wound. Few weeks later, I progressed to leisure walk. Another few weeks, "promoted" to normal walking pace. Last week, I was happy to go for brisk walk. Pushing myself a bit, as the song said: "let the weak says I am strong, let the poor says I am rich, because of what the Lord has done for us...." Though weakened, I shall be strong again.
2) Chemotherapy - Session # 7
On Tuesday my wife accompanied me to the hospital for chemotherapy session. It was one of the rare occasion it was done in the morning, because the doctor decided I was taking the chemotherapy well enough to skip seeing him this round. So the process flow was:
registration ->take blood test sample -> registration for chemo -> screening (involved blood pressure test, heart rate, nurse asking questions on all side effects from previous session, urine test, review blood test results to ensure suitability to proceed with chemo) -> waiting for chemo(1hr 10 min) -> chemo session (2 hrs). The morning session was much less crowded. In the afternoon all the stations of chemotherapy would be filled up, >80 of them in all.
My nurse was helpful when I told her of the 2-week long numbness I suffered last session. She offered a warm pad on the arm where the infusion took place - as the coldness would trigger a tingling and numb feeling. She also advised me to exercise and massage the arm after I went home, after use warm pad over it. These were very useful tips, the effect was much reduced after following what she said.
3) Why Suffering?
Some people asked me why we have to go through suffering. Especially since God is such a loving God.
I could not give a direct answer straightaway. However, the belief that God has best plan for each one of one keep me to be calm and still. As I journey through this phase of life and ponder over this, I think there are at least few reasons for suffering:
Our Lord Jesus mentioned in John that there would be tribulation.
b) that we could a comforter to fellow sufferers
God promises to give us comfort in all suffering. As written in 2 Cor 1:3-4-
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
As I go through this journey, I realize it is now much easier for me to relate to others' suffering. People are generally more open when they could identify themselves with me. Just like the patients we met at the hospital, they are always open to share, and lend support and encouragement.
c) make God known, and give Him the recognition that is due(give glory to His name).
Through this trial, my Mum and siblings have started praying for me. May the peace of God and his goodness be so real to them too. My mother-in-law said she would start attending church when I fully recoverd. Many friends told me their own faith has been strengthened. I have been praying for all these wonderful people in my life for years that they could experience God more in their lives.
Romans 8:28
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are(B)called according to His purpose.
d) present an opportunity to re-examine my life--
It is a perfect time for reflection, and self examination on:
* belief
* value system
* how I live out my life
Thinking through what I really believe in, my thoughts, priorities, what to let go/hold on to, what are real important things and of significance....What changes I could bring to my life, my lifestyle....what could I change in my thinking, perspective; any prejudice, presumption, misconception?
These I would continue to seek May God grant me a humble heart, may the Lord continue to lead me..........
Rom 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
(f) Appreciate life more and give thanks always treasure each day
As I journey through this phase of life, where everything takes a slower pace, it enables appreciation of life at a different level......I begin to realize that the scenery is also beautiful as one takes the slower pace, seeing things that could easily be omitted when we rush by. As I walked the garden each day, there are plants, trees, flowers, thriving and blossoming, changing a little bit everyday. The frangipani, ixora, and many flowers that I cannot name, the trees that shed the leaves and yet grows back in a pleasant green welcome me everyday. The purple flowers that show up in February have all fallen, with expectation I look forward to seeing them bloom again next season.
In perspective, there are always people who suffer much more, as we often saw in hospital, in newspaper, TV etc. Yet they face the challenge with much resolution and faith. They are all role models for me. So there is no reason for me not to give thanks and treasure each new day. So I attempt to smile to the guy in the mirror every single day!
On Sunday evening, it drizzled. My younger son asked me to play table tennis with him, because he could not do other outdoor exercise. I took up the challenge, and played with him at ground floor few apartment blocks away. I was at 50-60% of my former "prowess", still managed to match his level.
It was good progress so far on this aspect. Initially I could do very slow walk(like slow-motion movie) in the park a month after the operation. It was painful, even when the shirt rubbed against the wound. Few weeks later, I progressed to leisure walk. Another few weeks, "promoted" to normal walking pace. Last week, I was happy to go for brisk walk. Pushing myself a bit, as the song said: "let the weak says I am strong, let the poor says I am rich, because of what the Lord has done for us...." Though weakened, I shall be strong again.
2) Chemotherapy - Session # 7
On Tuesday my wife accompanied me to the hospital for chemotherapy session. It was one of the rare occasion it was done in the morning, because the doctor decided I was taking the chemotherapy well enough to skip seeing him this round. So the process flow was:
registration ->take blood test sample -> registration for chemo -> screening (involved blood pressure test, heart rate, nurse asking questions on all side effects from previous session, urine test, review blood test results to ensure suitability to proceed with chemo) -> waiting for chemo(1hr 10 min) -> chemo session (2 hrs). The morning session was much less crowded. In the afternoon all the stations of chemotherapy would be filled up, >80 of them in all.
My nurse was helpful when I told her of the 2-week long numbness I suffered last session. She offered a warm pad on the arm where the infusion took place - as the coldness would trigger a tingling and numb feeling. She also advised me to exercise and massage the arm after I went home, after use warm pad over it. These were very useful tips, the effect was much reduced after following what she said.
3) Why Suffering?
Some people asked me why we have to go through suffering. Especially since God is such a loving God.
I could not give a direct answer straightaway. However, the belief that God has best plan for each one of one keep me to be calm and still. As I journey through this phase of life and ponder over this, I think there are at least few reasons for suffering:
Our Lord Jesus mentioned in John that there would be tribulation.
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
However, he mentioned we could have peace in Him.
a) Help us to draw closer to God, and strengthen our faith
When troubles or disasters come, we realize how helpless or powerless we actually are. We could only cry out to God. As He is the sovereign God, a God full of compassion and mercy, who promises that He would never forsake us, we could experience his might through His deliverance. We experience how real He is to us. This is also a chance for come and seek Him, wait upon Him - patiently waiting for all His promises fulfilled.
The Bible records Job who went through great suffering. At the end of it, he said:
Job42:5I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you.....
Suffering enables us to have that deeper level of his touch over our lives. These leave indelible marks, so we would always be thankful to the awesome God.b) that we could a comforter to fellow sufferers
God promises to give us comfort in all suffering. As written in 2 Cor 1:3-4-
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
As I go through this journey, I realize it is now much easier for me to relate to others' suffering. People are generally more open when they could identify themselves with me. Just like the patients we met at the hospital, they are always open to share, and lend support and encouragement.
c) make God known, and give Him the recognition that is due(give glory to His name).
Through this trial, my Mum and siblings have started praying for me. May the peace of God and his goodness be so real to them too. My mother-in-law said she would start attending church when I fully recoverd. Many friends told me their own faith has been strengthened. I have been praying for all these wonderful people in my life for years that they could experience God more in their lives.
Romans 8:28
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are(B)called according to His purpose.
d) present an opportunity to re-examine my life--
It is a perfect time for reflection, and self examination on:
* belief
* value system
* how I live out my life
Thinking through what I really believe in, my thoughts, priorities, what to let go/hold on to, what are real important things and of significance....What changes I could bring to my life, my lifestyle....what could I change in my thinking, perspective; any prejudice, presumption, misconception?
These I would continue to seek May God grant me a humble heart, may the Lord continue to lead me..........
Rom 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
e) Receive blessing from others.
Throughout this period, there are many many people who showered us with their love. They have given us their time, energies, resources, compassion.......it is a time of bonding with many, establishing and re-establishing relationship with friends old and new...
On our end, every prayer, every encouragement, every blessing is a source of motivation for us to persevere on.(f) Appreciate life more and give thanks always treasure each day
As I journey through this phase of life, where everything takes a slower pace, it enables appreciation of life at a different level......I begin to realize that the scenery is also beautiful as one takes the slower pace, seeing things that could easily be omitted when we rush by. As I walked the garden each day, there are plants, trees, flowers, thriving and blossoming, changing a little bit everyday. The frangipani, ixora, and many flowers that I cannot name, the trees that shed the leaves and yet grows back in a pleasant green welcome me everyday. The purple flowers that show up in February have all fallen, with expectation I look forward to seeing them bloom again next season.
In perspective, there are always people who suffer much more, as we often saw in hospital, in newspaper, TV etc. Yet they face the challenge with much resolution and faith. They are all role models for me. So there is no reason for me not to give thanks and treasure each new day. So I attempt to smile to the guy in the mirror every single day!
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| 祂使我躺卧在青草地上，领我到可安歇的水边He makes me lie down on green pastures, He leads me beside quite waters |
