Radio Reminder

When we were first told our four year old daughter had a rare form of leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant to have any chance of living a life cancer free, we were warned that bad things could happen. In summary, there was a chance, that after rigorous treatment, the chance of infections, and many days waiting for her new cells to grow, that we wouldn’t be bringing her home.

Now, we have less than a week until we leave the Philadelphia area and return home with Aria Joy. After three long months, this week has seemed like the longest of them all. There is stuff to do, things to pack, and so much to organize.

If you have been following our family you know that we took our travel trailer to a local Philadelphia campground for the trip. With Covid-19 restrictions on siblings and the cost of renting an apartment this made the most sense. It has been great, until this week...

Now, it feels more like we are living in a small closet. All five of us, packed in like sardines. This is the first day I am longing for home. I can not wait for the comfort of my own bed, my full size refrigerator, and, yes, space from my family.

There is a popular song on Christian radio that I heard the other day. The song goes something like this: “But don't forget what lies ahead...Soon all your burdens will be gone...Hold up your head...Keep pressing on, We are almost home.”

This entire journey facing childhood cancer I have focused on living life to get through this hard time. I want life to be better, so that maybe, after a year of so much stress, my family can finally live a life with no appointments, biopsies, medicines, or fever checks. Hearing this song made me realize that just as I am living life for a day without cancer, I need to live my life for the day I see Jesus in Heaven.

The Bible says in Hebrews 13:14: “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.”

Just like the thought of returning to my warm king size bed, my huge refrigerator, and my hot shower brings me so much comfort, the thought of spending eternity with Jesus in Heaven, after this messy life, does too.

Jesus doesn’t always make the trials better, and believing doesn’t mean that life is perfect, but faith helps bring purpose and hope to the disasters of this world. A relationship with Jesus means that one day you get to enjoy forever in Heaven, and if you ask me, that seems like the ultimate “going home party.”

These past three months, through the chemotherapy, the radiation, the throw ups, the NG tubes, the fevers, the times of desperation, the waiting for test results, and the moments of frustration, I have been living life for the day we get to return to our home in Butler, Pennsylvania. Through it all, and thanks to a reminder from the radio, I have learned that I need to live life for the day I get to my heavenly home with Jesus.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

Friends, while I hope we all get to spend more time together here on earth, I pray that you too will find comfort in knowing that the things of this world are temporary, and that there is purpose for the good and the bad that is happening.

Don't forget what lies ahead, hold up your head, keep pressing on, because we are almost home.