St. Valentine's Day

We were on the way home from the hospital when I finally said to my dear wife, "Happy Valentine's Day, Molly."  She laughed and said, "You are my dearest Valentine."

She had spent the day helping me get ready for our appointment at the Nuclear Medical Center at Methodist Hospital, where I was to have a PET Scan.  I was apprehensive.  I didn't quite know what that was, except that they would take deep pictures of my blood.  Pictures of things X-rays could not see.

A young, cheery cancer doctor in internal medicine had been watching my blood for two or three years.  "You have a low-grade CLL - a form of leukemia.   That's why your energy is low and you feel tired.  Sometimes it just lies there for years without doing anything.  We hope it will stay that way.  Of course, one day it could explode into something new."

But now a change had come.  I discovered a swelling just above my right collarbone.  It was very tender.  Then I found a smaller swelling above my left collarbone along with a swelling under each armpit.  The left one had grown larger and began to hurt by the time I saw my young specialist.  "Your CLL has broken out and affected your lymph glands.  We have new medicines to treat it, just one pill a day.  The PET scan will tell us a lot."

So, I was apprehensive on the day of the PET scan.  But my Molly was being my Valentine, and easing the way, at every step.  So now it's wait and pray through the weekend.

I found there is lots of waiting and praying as you get into the "old-old" years.  For dear friends all around you.  For your grown children who need you more than you or they expected.  For church.  For country. For the world where viruses are running wild.  In fact, prayer is the one sure thing in this whole uncertain world.  We learn again and again that Jesus is the One we can count on.  FOR ALL THINGS.

So much to pray for.  And prayer, believe it or not, is real power.  You can join me in prayer, and help me as I work to keep at it.  But claim the whole world, too.  God is so ready to answer.  Let's make this season of Lent - soon to be upon us - a whole time of renewed prayer.  We all need it.  Thank you.  Bless you.

Love you.