A Day Filled to the Brim with Mostly Good Things

It's been a busy day!  

I cannot say enough about the diligence of the nurses and other staff members here in Danville.  And I really have to say that I think a component of this level of care is that many of them are strong in their faith and that their compassion is genuine.  One nurse in the ICU works with a ministry to rescue women and children from being trafficked -- when she is not working her twelve-hour shifts.  A college-aged nurse here in my new ward asked me what my favorite scriptures are, and then told me her life verses.  I already feel a bond with several nurses and other staff members here on the 8th floor of the Bush Pavilion. 

It was so nice to have a lovely couple, Reverend Joel Byer and his wife Jennifer, come to visit me this morning.  They brought some flowers that look lovely on my window sill.  We had such great conversation, then a Bible reading, and prayer.  One of the nurses came in after they left and asked who they were, and I explained how Pastor Byer had faithfully visited my Grammy in her final years, and that they had traveled almost two hours to show their support.  The nurse was pretty amazed at that level of commitment to ministering to others.  

That brings me to my second photo, part of my morning devotions from my buddy Charles Spurgeon.  Today's devo is basically the secret that so many people seem to be wondering about, as I receive many compliments about my showing joy despite having cancer.  Read what I underlined from Morning and Evening because Spurgeon shares the secret to being "lifted up above the cares and troubles of this world."  His morning thoughts end with a bunch of questions to which I have a resounding "YES!"  "Is it thy desire that He should be glorified? Art thou longing that souls should be won to Him?  If so, imitate Jesus; be an epistle of Christ, known and read of all men."  That right there summarizes my goals for my walk with cancer, no matter where it takes me.  I want to show the attributes of Christ and lean into the Holy Spirit for that supernatural joy and strength until my last day on Earth --  hopefully decades from now, of course!  :)  

My third photo shows my stash of journals, research books, and just-for-fun books, and some of the arts and crafts I plan to do over the next several days.  

And the last photo is of a large gift bag that was delivered to the hospital.  I will see if I can attach the video of all that it contained.  The amazing lady who sent it to me, Vincenza, is one of my real-life heroes.  She has gone through a couple of rounds of cancer herself and had some heavy-duty treatments and surgeries.  She keeps trucking with doing great in all the roles God has given her.  It's a wonderful comfort and inspiration to have friends like her who have fought cancer and not let it overcome all the other amazing things God has provided in their lives.  

My day was filled with many other thoughts and interactions I'd love to write about, but I don't want to get too long-winded. 

As for my health, my sutures were tightened again today.  My bladder infection appears to be cured.  My temperature is normal, and my pain level is only a two or three.  I didn't have time to feel lonely between real and virtual visits.  I got a couple of work-related emails written, and now, tonight, I hope to work on one of my novels.  

God is good.  All the time.