This was a recent question from a member of my church. I hope my answer was right….
Yesterday I went to work and it was looking to be a very good day. I have a coworker who just came back to work in March after a very hard fight with cancer, everything was looking good until today. he was told yesterday that the cancer has return and it worst than before. Myself and three other people work in the same area, and Vincent is one of those people. We were all putting on this brave face but it was very hard. Our boss came in and talked with Vincent and told him to go home and take care of himself because he goes in the hospital Friday. This is my burden. I did not know what to say to him when I heard this news. I was speechless. What do you say, how do you say it. When he left and we were giving our goodbye hugs I felt this man shaking when I hug him. It was like hold a child. He is so scared and all I could say was I will be praying for you and your family. Although I know it was the right thing to say, it did not feel like it was enough. I really wanted to say that it would be ok but I know I could not. Because I know that I don’t know that and from the look of things I don’t think it will be. All day we three just looked at each other with tears in our eyes and nothing on our lips, because none of us knew what to say or how to say it. How do I stop this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach that says to do something? DO WHAT? I know that I can’t make this awful thing leave this man’s body but I guess my question is not only what do I pray for and How do I pray for this man and The rest of us that have to look at his work area everyday and still go on with very heavy hearts. Thanks
Joe,
It is always the hardest question to ask God “What do I do now?” I won’t waste your time with religious nonsense because trying to give you a pat answer is foolish. I think you have already started to find some of your answer in your empathy for this man. Pray for his fears, his family, his health. Find some small way to let him know he’s not alone. And most of all never lose that sick feeling in your stomach. It is what connects you to God’s most important characteristic…. His love for us.