In the glow of the Christmas tree lights in the early morning stillness, I am able to re-calibrate my mind. I can put the reality of last night's decorating fiasco behind me. (Do you remember decorating your tree with LOTS of help from your kids?!) The tangled cords of lights threaten to strangle the joy right OUT of you. The fighting over who gets to hang what "special" ornament is louder than the Christmas music I have playing on the stereo. And how did EVERY ornament get to be "special?"
But in the stillness of morning, I am able to remember that God won't ask me how perfect my Christmas tree looked in 2012... but He might ask me how perfectly I enjoyed the gift of time with my children. I can see it - the wisdom of THAT question - in the early morning light. And I am thankful that His mercies are new every morning. I think back to last evening and remember the fun parts... the boys re-living Christmases past and dancing around the room to their favorite Christmas songs. And then there's my youngest - our natural comedian - climbing atop the step ladder to lip sync "Silver Bells" as though he were Bing Crosby incarnate. It really WAS a fun night. I can see it now.
I wanted to give you an update on Keaton's MRI and his time with the medical team at Emory yesterday. Frankly, I needed a night to sleep on it before I could sort through my emotions. It was a bit like Christmas tree decorating. Parts of the report were tangled up like strands of lights, but in the clarity of morning light, I am able to see the GIFT of the medical report. It's the "first gift of Christmas" for you Polar Express fans out there.
Keaton's tumor is shrinking!!! I don't often prefer the official medical terminology in most cases, but in this situation I do. The doctors phrase it this way: "We are pleased with the progress in the destruction of the tumor." Destruction is a GREAT word! There is a meeting on Tuesday to inform us of the treatment plan to finish off that tumor.
The MRI was a bit pesky. There are a couple of new spots on the brain, but the doctors feel quite certain that those spots are NOT new tumors - but rather just patches of "radiation residue." Keaton will have another MRI in two weeks to bolster that theory. So that's the prayer between now and then!
As you know, cancer "treatments" are done with very strong drugs. Anything strong enough to kill cancer cells is bound to do some "collateral damage." The radiation, which DID shrink the tumor, has also caused some mild brain swelling. The doctors gave Keaton some steroids to help with THAT, and so we continue to move forward!
I've been studying the Passover from scripture lately - an odd thing for this time of year, I know. As I was listening to a podcast on the topic from one of my favorite Bible teachers, he said, "We don't spend NEARLY enough time thanking God for all the things He causes to PASS OVER us." I think about that this morning in the glow of the Christmas tree. And my gratitude RISES as I think of the medical report we COULD HAVE GOTTEN yesterday. "The tumor is growing despite our best efforts." By God's grace, THAT report passed over us.
You know what I've found to be true - not just true at Christmas but ALL the time? As gratitude RISES, so does JOY.
We've looked at a few characters from scripture as we've chronicled Keaton's journey though cancer. Gideon, Nehemiah, and King Jehoshaphat. Here's what THEY did when God caused bad outcomes to pass over THEM:
Judges 7:15 "Gideon worshiped God."
Nehemiah 12:40 - Nehemiah organized a big ole Praise and Worship service! "The two choirs gave thanks. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away."
2 Chronicles 20:27 - "Then, led by Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the LORD with harps and lutes and trumpets."
Want some more JOY in your world this holiday season? Spend some time giving THANKS. I am thankful for all the prayers offered up by those who proudly wear the colors of Team Keaton. And I am unspeakably grateful that we have a God who delights to answer the prayers of His children. Please don't stop. Let's pray together that the MRI two weeks from now will confirm the theory that there are NO new tumors!
And in the stillness of this morning, Thank you Father, for the first gift under my slightly-lopsided Christmas tree: "We are pleased with the progress in the destruction of the tumor."
