Love Story - Update 2/25/2012

I greatly appreciate those of you who have written me since I posted the story of our neighbor, Tanya, who has lung cancer. I have made several attempts over the last week to visit with her again and had either not been able to catch her at home or feeling well enough for a visitor. I was able to meet her sister who was sitting with her one day when I arrived. On Saturday, as my husband and I were preparing to go on weekly visitation, I felt the Lord wanted me to go try again to visit with Tanya in order to witness to her more directly. As I walked over to her house, Sasha (her husband) was leaving to pick up her son and grandson as they had just returned from a trip. I talked to him a minute as he was shutting the gates to leave the house and he told me she was alone at home and told me to go on in to visit with her. At that point, I thanked the Lord for the open door and chance to talk with her, one on one, praying for God to give me the words to say.

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I find it really difficult to know exactly what to say to Tanya during my visits. Even as a nurse it is sad to see someone in so much pain and discomfort, day after day. Spiritually, I have the Word of God, out of which I can share God's amazing love and grace that can give her the peace of heart she unknowingly longs for. But, when you talk to someone who, as she put it, has been told since childhood that she doesn't need God, it is hard to know where to begin. This is one of the many times when I beg God for wisdom as we talk and pray for Him to prick her heart that it might be opened and tender to receive the truth. Directing the conversation to the Bible, this dear lady who is from all appearances dying of cancer, did not want me to show her how she could KNOW she had a home in Heaven for all eternity. Maybe it was that she was in not so great of a mood, feeling weak from the day before's chemotherapy. 

But, for whatever reason at this point, her heart is still hard. 

I spent a bit more time with her enjoying the quiet time with her and listening to her intently as she talked about: her grandson who gets scared when he sees her without a hat on but makes her a cup of tea on his own, first thing upon his arrival to Grandma's; her son, who is always bringing her herbal teas or some sort of medicine that "might help", her friends who call wanting to visit after she has just returned home from a chemo. treatment and doesn't have the energy for anything. I think she does feel that she can at least share her heart with me about how tough this whole experience is for her and her family. She seems relaxed as we talk and I pray it is therapeutic for her to laugh, cry, and share her disgust with the care she receives all in the same visit.

 As I left this time, she apologized for not being super excited to visit with anyone, some days even with her own son, she tells me.  I leaned over to hug her and kiss her on the head, telling her I don't expect her to want to visit but I will continue to come if she wants me to. 

She smiles at me and says, "Come back and visit with me again."

I remind myself God can do a work in anyone's heart.

I want Him to use me to shine His love in this dark spot...right by my house.