You will waste your cancer if you let it drive you into solitude instead of deepen your relationships with manifest affection.
When Epaphroditus brought the gifts to Paul sent by the Philippian church he became ill and almost died. Paul tells the Philippians, “He has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill” (Philippians 2:26-27). What an amazing response! It does not say they were distressed that he was ill, but that he was distressed because they heard he was ill. That is the kind of heart God is aiming to create with cancer: a deeply affectionate, caring heart for people. Don’t waste your cancer by retreating into yourself.
DP: Our culture is terrified of facing death. It is obsessed with medicine. It idolizes youth, health and energy. It tries to hide any signs of weakness or imperfection. You will bring huge blessing to others by living openly, believingly and lovingly within your weaknesses. Paradoxically, moving out into relationships when you are hurting and weak will actually strengthen others. ‘One anothering’ is a two-way street of generous giving and grateful receiving. Your need gives others an opportunity to love. And since love is always God’s highest purpose in you, too, you will learn his finest and most joyous lessons as you find small ways to express concern for others even when you are most weak. A great, life-threatening weakness can prove amazingly freeing. Nothing is left for you to do except to be loved by God and others, and to love God and others.
JG: Chemo treatment can drive you into solitude. Not only because part of the treatment cycle forces some measure of solitude but also as weariness, fatigue, and self-pity push in. The Lord has been working on me in this area. It is so easy to withdraw. I’m thankful that my church has given me a place to continue serving. It moves me toward others. I’m thankful the Lord has given me energy for it. I’m thankful for the Community Group from church that meets in our home each week. As I’ve said in other places, letting others love me through acts of kindness has been hard. It is so wonderful to read these paragraphs and be able to say God has been at work in these areas. He knows cancer can breed solitude and so he is working to keep me from it. He knows his purpose for me is to reflect his love to others, so he’s been leading me toward people as well. What a gracious, personal God we serve. “From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God like you who acts for those who wait for him.” Isaiah 64:4
On the Greisen Side of Life 
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