Faith & healing in 2013

Our family celebrates the new year with much love, inspiration, hope, health, healing, and stronger faith! Fellow STAR columnist and my sister-in-law Michelle Dayrit-Soliven who early last year was diagnosed with stage 3b breast cancer won her battle and inspires everyone with her very positive and cheerful attitude. Much has been written about this miracle in this newspaper and Michelle gives regular talks to inspire those battling the illness. She wholeheartedly embraced the condition and surrendered everything to God. Here is another great testament to how faith heals.

Greg Anderson was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer in 1984, and his surgeon predicted he only had 30 days to live. Now, he is on the way to being blessed with 30 years more after that death sentence. He has since started the Cancer Recovery Foundation, which provides inspiration, support, and resources to patients and their families (www.CancerRecovery.org).

Anderson is now recognized as one of America’s foremost healing authorities. He has written seven books, including the international bestseller The Cancer Conqueror. As he inspires millions with his story of healing, many also enrich him with their own testimonials.

“The stories of healing are always the most moving. They tend to fall into three groups. First are those who may not be completely cured of their illness but who learn to cope with illness through prayer and other forms of spiritual practice. For others, the faith/health connection may mean stopping the progression of an illness like cancer or heart disease. Still others experience the reversal or complete healing of their disease. It is impossible to predict or control the level of healing. But all typically result in a deep sense of inner peace. This almost always offers some degree of improvement and can be truly powerful,” he explained.

Anderson’s healing

CBN.com reported that Anderson simply could not stop coughing middle of 1984. After a battery of tests, His doctor discovered that he had lung cancer. He agreed to have his left lung removed and thought he was fine. Four months later, he had a lump on the base of his neck. The cancer spread to his lymph system. The surgeon decided that the cancer was too advanced, and there was nothing they could do. The surgeon said, “Greg, I don’t know how to tell you this, but the tiger is out of the cage. Your cancer has come roaring back. I would give you about 30 days to live.”

“At that moment, Greg and his wife Linda prayed. People at their church began to pray. Greg says that prayer was always a part of his life; he believed intensified prayer was the answer and the key to unlock health and healing. But even during times of prayerful fervor, Greg says he failed to establish a constant and ever-deepening intimacy with God,” CBN.com said.

He deteriorated fast physically, and at one point was skin and bones at 112 pounds. “During these moments of self-pity, Greg would plunge into despair and hopelessness. Fear crowded his faith. The downward spiral engulfed him. Not knowing what to do, Greg instinctively prayed The Lord’s Prayer,” CBN.com continued.

Anderson told them in an interview, “I wondered about God’s silence. In some of those lonely moments, I would seriously question the existence of God and wondered about the depth and power of my faith.”

“Despite what he perceived as God’s silence, he simply continued to pray. Something in The Lord’s Prayer touched him and one morning, determined to find it in the Bible, he opened up to Matthew 6 and began reading. The next morning, Greg prayed the prayer again. He says it has been the central point of power in his recovery from his almost-certain death sentence from cancer. Since 1989, Greg’s medical records state that he is clinically free of any signs of cancer,” CBN.com reported.

“Greg says he hated his earthly father. Recollections of his youth were not pleasant because Greg’s father berated him constantly. As he grew older, Greg says he and his father seldom spoke. Later as a teen, Greg’s dad was committed to a mental hospital. In college, Greg went through psychological pain and depression. He found relief through alcohol. It was not until getting cancer 20 years later that Greg became aware of what he was doing to himself.”

His wife Linda helped him understand how he was blaming both his earthly father and heavenly Father. When he understood and accepted his father’s limited relationship abilities, change happened.

“Cancer opens many doors. One of the most important is your heart,” Anderson quipped.  “No big reconciliation took place. Yet the shift in my attitude brought about real change for me.”

Inspiring words

One just needs to browse his blog to feel a rush of hope and inspiration. Many also leave positive comments about his books and how they derive support and inspiration to conquer their illnesses as well.

Here is how he encourages a desperate woman with cancer:

Please . . . listen carefully.  I speak truth with love.  There is MUCH HOPE for you if you will open your heart to three thoughts:

1.  I have been in a similar situation.  I first “believed.” I determined that cancer was not a death sentence.  I also refused to believe my surgeon who, nearly 30 years ago, told me I had 30 days to live.  And I came to believe that I had the major part to play in my recovery.  So first, believe.

2.  Next I practiced “forgiveness.” I was holding all sorts of resentments and hostilities.  I forgave others and refused to live my life holding on to such toxic emotions for another moment.  I also forgave myself for not being perfect.  I came to live by the adage, “I’m not okay, you’re not okay, and it’s all okay!” Release.  Let go.  Forgive.  Freedom!!!

3.  Finally I decided to “live.” I didn’t know how long I had to live — I still don’t.  But I determined that I would pursue my passion every day.  The biggest change — I focused on be grateful, keep my thoughts on all the things I could be thankful for.  Not my problems but the things that are wonderful, miraculous, here — now!  What a difference.  That’s living with a new level of enthusiasm. 

My encouragement to you is to do likewise.  Find your own way to believe, forgive, and live.  That’s where hope is found.  That’s where healing begins.

Now, today — this moment — focus on something for which you are grateful.  Keep that thought in the very center of your consciousness.  Express your gratitude.  Watch how it changes your health and your life.

In the New Year dinner we just had, Michelle said that the minute she was diagnosed with cancer, she thanked the Lord that she was the one who had it because she knew she was strong enough to conquer it. That same attitude of gratitude has completely reversed the experience, not only for her but also the whole family, from one perhaps of sadness and despair to a lifetime of joy, happiness, faith, love, hope, and well-being!

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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.