By Mark Ellis —
The daughter of the late Billy Graham, Anne Graham Lotz, received a setback in her fight against cancer with news the cancer has spread to her lymph nodes.
“Yesterday I had my one-week check-up after breast cancer surgery,” she noted September 27th on her blog. While the doctor informed Lotz she is healing from the surgery, she also got some unwanted news.
“The surgeon then revealed…the results were not what I had prayed they would be. A trace of cancer was found in the lymph nodes which alters the follow-up treatment significantly.”
Starting October 18th Lotz will undergo 18 weeks of chemotherapy, with additional treatments stretching out over the next 12 months.
She absorbed the news with a faith-filled outlook. “The adventurous journey through the valley of the shadow will be longer than anticipated. BUT I am still confident the Shepherd will walk with me each step of the way until He sees me safely through!”
The chemotherapy regimen will require her to cancel a number of commitments in the coming year. “As I looked ahead at the calendar, I could almost audibly hear the ‘click’ of the Divine pruning shears,” she noted.
“I’m confident that the Gardener knows exactly what He’s doing. I’m more expectant than ever of bearing much eternal fruit. For His glory.”
Lotz requested prayer and expressed appreciation for the response of many caring admirers. “So many of you have sent cards, gifts, pillows, emails, texts, and testimonies of your own experience. I have been blessed by every single one!”
One particular devotional that caught her attention was entitled, What Cancer Can’t Do. Lotz decided to turn it around and titled her list, What Cancer Can Do.
Cancer Can…
…enrich love
…refocus hope
…strengthen faith
…deepen prayer
…command peace
…bolster confidence
…increase endurance
…multiply friendships
…enhance memories
…open doors
…realign priorities
…grow courage
…create empathy
…tenderize compassion
…develop character
“Cancer can be a blessing in disguise. Cancer can be the preliminary to bearing much eternal fruit. Cancer can be a display case for God’s glory.
“Please continue to pray for my healing, and that I will not miss what cancer can do for me.”