The Watt Family

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Be Strong and of a Good Courage

“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9)

As some of you may likely know, it has been a trying time in the Jones family of late. After months of poor health, rapid and massive weight loss, terrible pain and no clear idea as to the cause, my dad was diagnosed with Lymphatic Cancer. Since I live in Adelaide it has been easy to be the one on the phone encouraging members of my family and calmly telling everyone that the Lord will look after him and that with a positive mindset anything can be overcome. Even while mum and dad where here recently I was optimistic and matter of fact about the process.
However, in the last few days I have begun to really fear for my dad. He was more specifically diagnosed with Large B Cell Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and it appears it's widespread and in his bones. This came as a real shock as I'd assumed from his blessings (that stated he'd come through the illness and be made whole), that the cancer would be less advanced. I'm not saying I've lost faith in those wonderful blessings, but I feel overwhelmed at the mortality of a life.

Today at church I got a bit upset after someone so lovely simply asked me 'how I was.' Then the waterworks began... After I composed myself somewhat and sat with some friends for Sunday School, the teacher announced that the lesson was titled "Be Strong and of a Good Courage." I just laughed and my lovely friends around me just turned to me and laughed too. It was the timing and the nature of the title that fit so perfectly with how I was feeling today.
This title comes from the scripture in Joshua which is also the mutual theme for the youth program this year. I know that fear and faith do not co-exist together. I know that I need to cast my burdens on my Savior and let go of my fears. I'm so grateful that I know about the eternal nature of families and in the saving and sustaining power of the Atonement. At the moment there is so much stressing me in various aspects of my life but I feel better today for going to church, for being loved by the people around me and for feeling love from my Heavenly Father.