How Cancer Has Connected Me to People Worldwide

The first time I was diagnosed with cancer, back in 2004, I was devastated. I remember asking people at church to pray for me. We even had a special meeting one Sunday after the service where several people volunteered to pray with me and over me.

What surprised me though was that people didn’t just pray for me, they asked others to pray for me as well.

A few weeks after I told people in my church, I was at a gathering when someone I didn’t even know came up to me to let me know she had been praying for me.

This is how the body of Christ comes together. For those of you who are Christians, you understand, hopefully, that Christ calls for us to expand our circle of love.

It is natural, or should be, to love ourselves. And, in fact, this must be the first love we have. If we can’t love ourselves, it’s hard to love others.

Of course, there is our love for God, which as Christians is our top priority. But how do we should God we love Him? One way is by loving His children.

We start by loving our family, friends, and neighbors. It’s easy to show love to someone you regularly meet for good times and laughter. It’s easy to love the parents who feed you and comfort you.

But what about strangers?

What I learned when I had cancer — in the body of Christ, there are no strangers. There are only brothers and sisters we haven’t met yet.

The first time I was diagnosed with cancer, people I’d never met told me their small group was praying for me.

The second time, it was just 4 years ago, and with the advent of the internet — I had people from around the world, some I’d never met — praying for me and sending me messages of hope and encouragement.

This time around, I’ve had phone conversations with strangers during which they pray for me. I’ve gone to healing services at a church where I am not a member and accepted their love.

Because we are all part of one body.

These experiences have humbled me. That someone who doesn’t even know me will pray for me — it’s wonderful. It also motivates me to pray for those I don’t know, to keep the cycle going. I want to be part of this community of love, to do my part to feed the goodness.

I have no idea how much longer I have on this earth, but the time I have is richer thanks to the love of my spiritual family. It is a blessing I appreciate deeply.

—

This post was previously published on shefaliohara.medium.com.

***