The 23rd Psalm is one of the first Bible verses I memorized as a child and much to my mother's surprise I did a little presentation during vacation bible school with felt figures on a board while reciting the Bible verse.
Today it is even more special to me. You see I have a very dear friend at work who has been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma in August. It's not curable. It is a very elusive cancer as they can't determine where it started and is pretty much throughout his body. He was given 6 months to live. He is only 36, married and has a 5 year old son. In fact he commissioned me to draw a portrait of him and his son a year or so ago for his wife as present. He is one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet, hard worker, family man - all around good guy.
As you can imagine his life has been turned upside down. He has lost 75 pounds in just a couple of months. He has gone through radiation and is currently still going through chemo and with all its bad side effects and has really had a hard time with it. They have told him the doses they are giving him are three times the normal amount they usually give someone. He told me that when he feels like he can't go on, or the pain gets too bad, or when he gets down he prays the 23rd Psalm over and over. Saying that prayer has given him much comfort when nothing else has.
Friday he called to tell me the results of his CT scan. The good news shows that the cancer has stabilized! The bad news is the doctors have started him on another regimen of chemo more potent than what he has been going through already. My heart ached for him. Happy for the good news but I knew he was dreading this new chemo round more than ever. However, he still remains positive and in his words "is continuing the fight."
I have been praying for a miracle - specifically for him to go into remission but I'm oh so thankful for this small miracle and that his cancer has stabilized!
So you see, I'm dedicating this Christmas card to my friend and figured Thanksgiving isn't such a bad time to feature it after all.
To see more of my work please visit my website Karen Hargett Fine Art
20 comments:
Karen,
What a beautiful Christmas card and what a sad story.
I'm a firm believer in Prayer and will add your friend and his family to my prayer list. May they be thankful for the small things this Holiday season as they work through this trial that has so turned their lives upside down. God Bless
Marsha thank you so much. It will be good to have you as a prayer warrior!
Oh Karen I will keep your friend in my prayers and thoughts.
Your card is beautiful, inspiring and full of grace. It's never to early for Christmas Cards.
Thanks Toni! I do appreciate it so much.
I'm glad you like the card - it is nice to hear it is inspiring. That means a lot. Thanks!
Hi Karen, Your Christmas card and news of your dear friend and his courage is a wonderful reminder to be hopeful for what we have and share today, which gives us strength for what we may face tomorrow. Thank you and I, too, will say a prayer for your friend and his family. God Bless!
Hi Karen, This is such a precious and wonderful card you created. Cancer doesn't care who you are, it's such a dreadful disease. I do hear more and more success stories and we'll pray this is one.
Jennifer - thank you for your sweet words. I know there is power in prayer and it does my heart good to hear you will be praying too. Thank you!
Hi Barb - Thank you so much. Thanks also to adding your voice to the prayers for Mike to beat this cancer he has.
It's great to have friends like you all and I do appreciate each and everyone of you so much. Thank you!
Hi Karen, I'm back and I am tagging you, check out my blog for the fun.
Hi Karen. First, thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I have enjoyed looking at yours also.
Love the Christmas card...you and your friend will be in my thoughts and prayers.
May you have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Hi Karen, so sad for Mike and his family, he is in my thoughts and has my very best wishes and the hope for the future. The Christmas card is beautiful, and exactly what christmas is all about.
I have named you for an award over on my blog.
LOL Barb I'll have to see what this game is.
Thanks so much Holly epsecially for your prayers for Mike. I'm flattered you liked the card. I'm glad you stopped by. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sharon - thanks for your thoughts and wishes. Thanks in advance for the award too - I'll have to go and check it out.
Beautiful card Karen, your perfect lamb on the straw is what God gave us.
I will pray for your friend Mike and his family.
My dad died when he was 36 and I was 4 so I know the effects that can have .
I pray that no matter the outcome he will leave a testimony for his child of his love for him.
Blessings to you.
Keep up the good work.
What a beautiful little card - and such a meaningful dedication. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, but am also saying a prayer for him. I know, absolutely, that prayer is powerful and effective - and always answered correctly out of love.
Thank you so much Dominique for your wonderful words and for your prayers for Mike and his family.
I'm so sorry to hear your dad died with you at such a young age. I don't think there is ever a right time to lose a parent - mine are in their mid-80s and I'm dreading that day so I can't imagine what it must have been like as a small child for you. It was so nice of you to stop by - thank you!
Hi Helen thank you! I do appreciate your prayers for Mike - and like you believe that prayer is powerful and effective - you couldn't have said it more perfectly - "answered correctly out of love."
I'm glad you both liked my card. Your encouraging words mean a lot to me - more than you know. Thanks so much!
Hi Karen, called in to see your blog via Sharon, its really lovely work so will be following you now. I absolutely love this card, as I'm dotty about animals.
Hi Carolann - thanks so much for visiting my blog. Thanks Sharon for pointing her in my direction.
I'm glad you like the card Carolann - I love painting animals.
Hi Karen, I'll now add my chapter to your little Christmas card "book".LOL
You must be thrilled to have created such a successful card and tribute to Christmas and your friend. I can see myself as I look at this little fellow. We all have the vulnerability of a young lamb and must depend on our Heavenly Father for everything beyond our control (everything really). As terrible as Mike's situation is, God will not abandon him anymore than the good shepherd of this lamb. It will be my honor to pray for Mike and his family also.
I've enjoyed looking at your work. Very fine pastel paintings.
Marilyn your words have truly touched my heart - I'm sitting here crying as I read and re-read what you have said and I feel so humbled to know you will be joining in to pray for Mike and his family, I feel so humbled to know your words are true and that God will not abandon him, or you or me. I'm so thankful that the Lord is my Shepherd - how comforting that is. Thank you Marilyn for adding your chapter!
God Bless!
Karen, this is a lovely card and sentiment. I will be thinking of Mike and his family. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Jo - I know Mike will appreciate all teh good thoughts going his way.
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