So Rachel was talking yesterday about the fact that she has terminal cancer and was not expecting to be here on Earth this long. To be honest, we kinda thought she would be long gone by now but God has other plans for her. So now, Rachel needs something to do! She is more awake, aware and in much less pain then she was a month ago. Granted, she can't keep any food in her for very long but something it getting into her body and she is able to survive on that amount. So, any ideas on what can keep her active in serving the Lord?? Here are the things she can't really do ...read for very long, write, type, see, stay awake for long BUT she still wants to have something to do and some way to serve the Lord.
Another thing that Rachel was talking about is that because she is not able to really see/ read very well or write she can't do her bible study like she use to. This was such a special time for Rachel each day and really grounded her to face the rest of the day. I think Satan has been taking advantage of this missing part in her life to start filling her mind with depressing thoughts. So, we also need to come up with creative ways for Rachel to do her Bible study each day.
One thing Rachel does enjoy doing with friends and family is to sit around the kitchen table and work on puzzles. Rachel has completed a number of 1000 piece puzzles with every ones help and she enjoys passing her time with us that way. yesterday then finished one of the puzzles and Mom suggested, spur of the moment, that they run out to Barnes and Noble to get another puzzle. Rachel and Mom drove to Barnes and Noble, luckily Rachel was pro-active and brought a throw up bag in which she used in the parking lot of Barnes and Noble:-( went in and got their puzzles and then went home. It was a braze move for Rachel to go out and something that she does not do often but I think it helped cheer her up:-)
So, for now we are in the waiting zone of life for Rachel. I think right now Rachel needs a purpose for the rest of her time here. Any ideas??
For Rachel's Bible Study there are a lot of podcasts one can download, I really love the ones that Nancy Leigh DeMoss does at http://www.reviveourhearts.com/. That way Rachel can just listen and doesn't have to read as much unless she wants to look up the verses.
ReplyDeletePraying for you all!!!
Similar to what Sarah & Andrew said above, my favorite Bible site http://www.esv.org has an audio option. You can listen to chapters of Scripture at a time.
ReplyDeleteIf Rachel could pray for me, my wife Kristen, and my son Michael IV, I would appreciate that. I've kept Rachel and her friends and family in prayer since Sue Bickings first asked me.
God bless,
Michael
Echoing what has been said already. She could listen to the bible on cd (or tape). We enjoy listening to it in the car with the kids. We have one that is a dramatic reading and it is excellent. It really gets you sucked in.
ReplyDeleteRachel could pray for us. I am expecting our 4th child. He/she is due in December. We have a 6 year old, a 4 year old and an almost 2 year old. We just moved back to PA from VA (my husband, Jake lost his job). We are staying with family while we wait for our house in VA to close and we can save up to buy a house here. We had to short sale our house in VA since the market is so poor. We are praying and trusting the Lord to provide a place for us to live.
We have continued to pray for Rachel since my Aunt (Kathy) told us of all that was happening. We've never met but I love you and you are on my mind all through every day. I did the Hallelujah diet with Rachel and it encouraged me to know I could do this with her and pray with and for her.
You have ministered to us all without even know it. You are in my prayers, all of you. Becky
maybe she's already done this but maybe she could tape/video stuff for her kids for later. I dont know if that's even feasible but it might mean a lot to them to have video/audio of their mom's voice singing or something to them.
ReplyDeleteam praying for her everyday.
My neighbor and her daughter Bijou suggested audio and make copies from the church service, or buy them like at a used store, garage sales.
ReplyDeleteBrowse a craft store
and see if there is something she can do and feel productive that she has made.
Knit, crotchet and there are looms that make it easy.
Here are some suggestions from cousin April
ReplyDeleteWelll....It seems to me that since she has studied the bible for so long, she would probably be a good teacher...maybe thru her church, she can form a childrens bible study where 3 or 4 children come to her and she can teach there. Also....does she have audio bible? If not maybe someone can find it thru her computer and she can listen to readings that way, instead of trying to read herself.
Puzzles are always great, word puzzles are on the computer and even jigsaw puzzles at jigzone.com. You can change the size of the pieces on the computer and she could work them there...it also offers different cuts for each puzzle. I used to do them everyday and loved it.
I don't know if she is able to exercise, but Leslie Sansone has tapes called Walk Away the Pounds that are great....it is very gentle and doesn't take long on the beginner tapes. Exercise helps to lift the spirits...then there is always music. We watch Glee and the performances are terrific.....it is on DVD now for seasons 1 and 2.
If she is able to ride in a car for an hour....then why not a trip to the beach....I know when I was in the hospital for several month, Bruce talked the doctor into letting him take me outside to the park across the street. I was very despondent at the time from being indoors for so long. As soon as the sun hit my face, I felt like I had been rejuvenated...it was a wonderful feeling....and I know that nothing soothes me more than the sound of the ocean and the sun and warm sand. Even if someone puts her in a wheelchair and pushes her outside into the sun, it should help to lift her spirits.
This is just off of the top of my head....I will give it some more thought and let you know if I think of anything.
What if Rachel recorded her testimony. It could be a way for people in the same situation to see that there is hope in eternal life through Jesus Christ. It wouldn't have to be just for terminally ill people of course.
ReplyDeleteMy great grandfather made tapes where he just talked to us. Told us about his life and what he thought about things. we still listen to them and are amazed at what a wonderful follower of Christ he was! I only met him once, but what a way to leave a legacy!
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