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Three Strands – Venita McCart
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The Cord is Strong

Two are better than one. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4: 9, 12 NLT

“I feel like you’re so far away,” I said, exhausted from hours of dealing with cancer. My husband and I collapsed into our living room chairs. Another tough day was done. I felt numb and disconnected.

Gary stood, dragged his chair across the room until it touched mine, plopped down, took my hand and said, “How’s that?”

It was perfect.

It was a day like many recently — repeated medical appointments, procedures, and planning of life and death importance. It was difficult to deal with such heavy issues all day every day. That evening, in my weakened state, I felt another urgent need pressing down.

The illness rudely introduces a deep personal sense of isolation. It threatens the strongest of us with another real enemy — despair. I knew I needed something more than the medical community and my excellent everyday support system of family and friends to help me stay strong.

The Bible tells us two are better than one. Gary stopped the gap. He and his chair stayed by mine for almost two years. He held my hand, sometimes cradled my head, but he held my heart ever so close. I soon realized Gary’s physical presence and God’s spiritual nearness coincided. When family and friends reached out, God also reminded me of His faithfulness.

Like a braided steel rope, a cord of three strands is not easily broken. God is the divine strand that gives us strength in the cancer experience.

Do you feel alone in your journey? Ask God to put you together with His compassionate people, from your family, friends, a faith based cancer support group, or church. Let them know you need them, then allow them to come close and take your hand and walk, the three or thirty of you, intertwined with God.

Venita McCart, founder of Faith Force Cancer Support Ministries has, with her group, ministered to hundreds of patients since 2005 through group meetings, personal contacts, writing, and speaking. A cancer survivor herself, Venita is currently working on materials to comfort and encourage cancer patients, their loved ones and to help others create support ministries for the same. She and her husband live in central Illinois. Venita may be reached at venitamccart@yahoo.com.

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Follow Me – Venita McCart
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Jesus said, “If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness because you have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT

“Stay behind me. Grab on to my belt loop and follow my footsteps,” said Gary. I considered the pitch-black night sky and thick wooded forest and willingly walked behind him, seeing only his light shining on the trail ahead. Occasionally he stopped to cut branches, step over logs, or calculate surroundings. Finally we sat. “Now we wait for daylight,” he said.

Within moments there was sudden movement in the quiet; a wild turkey’s wings beat the air above me and with a powerful whoosh, swooped down from a tree close behind me with a jarring thud. My heart pounded, I jumped, and the bird quietly sauntered away. I was on full alert then, when the supposed sound of a man walking revealed a large turkey crossing on a distant ridge, a stunning silhouette against the backdrop of dawn. He walked toward me. I was mesmerized as he broke into thunderous full-throttle gobbles and a massive fan strut-dance. What a show.

I was perplexed by our dangerous return out of the woods. We traveled a rugged trail past masses of rusty barbed wire, downed trees, and snake dens; edged a high ridge between deep ravines, and skirted a narrow path around a black hole of water. Finally I asked, “Why are we taking a different route out?”

“This is the way we came in,” Gary said.

I was incredulous. I had followed him through dark rugged dangers, unaware; then within moments was given a glimpse of God’s splendor. His leading and my trust had kept me safe, and then amazed me.

I thought of that day many times after diagnosis. Life is dark in the unknown rugged terrain of cancer. When I could not see ahead, fearful and weary of the disease, Jesus said, “Follow me.” I focused more on my Bible and prayer. He has shown many wonders.

Our ultimate Guide knows the way through cancer and willingly leads His followers with His word to keep us safe, sane, and reveal the light that leads to life. Won’t you grab deeper into His word and allow Him to lead you through your journey?

Venita McCart, founder of Faith Force Cancer Support Ministries has, with her group, ministered to hundreds of patients since 2005 through group meetings, personal contacts, writing, and speaking. A cancer survivor herself, Venita is currently working on materials to comfort and encourage cancer patients, their loved ones and to help others create support ministries for the same. She and her husband live in central Illinois. Venita may be reached at venitamccart@yahoo.com.
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Diagnosis Light Search – Venita McCart
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For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts…2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT

Nothing happened.  I hit “start” on the coffeemaker and nothing happened.

I hit it again and the lights started to blink. It beeped and blinked, but no coffee. I flipped the light switch – no light, but the garbage disposal worked. It shook and ground. In the dark I slapped at another button. Finally, water started to gurgle. In the midst of beep, blink, grind, shake, and gurgle, the coffee water started to dribble. I watched as thick coffee grounds pulsed over the top of the filter, flooding anywhere except into the carafe.

At 5 a.m. in the darkness of my sister’s kitchen, I couldn’t find the light. I couldn’t see to unplug the thing or find towels to stop the flood. It was a frantic face-off with this crazy machine.

Another more serious morning, “You have cancer,” hit with a sickening thud. My heart raced and I couldn’t catch my breath. Shock, fear, and grief overwhelmed me. Lost in the dark, there was nothing to unplug and no light switch.

Like the blinking lights on the coffeemaker provided a inkling of light in the dark kitchen, the light of Christ on my life did the same thing. But in diagnosis-agony, an inkling of light is not enough.

Jesus is not some distant light above, separated from who we are. Paul told Christians that Jesus has made his light shine in our hearts…

God knew exactly what to do. A childhood melody came to mind, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.”  The simple and profound words reminded me I had known Jesus as my light for a long time. He was going to be personally involved. He began proving to me His light deepens in perfect accordance to the depth of my personal need. Wherever I was, He met me with His light.

When chaos seems to loom around you, reach up for the light that never burns out.

Father of lights, I am in the darkness of diagnosis. Through your Son Jesus Christ, please give my heart light to cope and hope.

Venita McCart, founder of Faith Force Cancer Support Ministries has, with her group, ministered to hundreds of patients since 2005 through group meetings, personal contacts, writing, and speaking.  A cancer survivor herself, Venita is currently working on materials to comfort and encourage cancer patients and their loved ones, and to help others create support ministries for the same. She and her husband live in central Illinois.  Venita may be reached at venitamccart@yahoo.com.
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