Be strong and courageous

God graces us with strength and courage for battle



I’m going to share with you about someone I knew who died of cancer. Eight year old, Meghan Post was a neighbor and good friend to our family.

I first met Meghan when she was three years old. Even as a 3 year old she exhibited a zest for life that never seemed to fade even when she was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor at age 5. Throughout her illness, several things stand out about her attitude and God’s grace in her life: First of all, she still had a concern for other people even though she was suffering herself. For example, she prayed for other children with cancer, she spread sunshine to those in the radiation waiting room and maintained her contact with friends. Second, she had a lot of love inside of her to give away. She always wanted to hug and kiss people. Every time she would ride with me in the van she would say “give me a hug and kiss”. Third, she showed good coping skills, her illness left her with a poor sense of balance so she couldn’t ride bike or run as well as before but she didn’t give up. She asked her dad to put her training wheels back on her bike and she and her friends would play with sticker books and found other non-strenuous activities to do. Fourth, she developed a rich, spiritual understanding of God. One of her favorite songs was “You Can’t Take My Jesus Away From Me”. She had something strong to hold on to and for her it was her faith in God.

Meghan had an incredible family support system, all the way from her immediate family to her extended family, Parents, brothers, aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents. They all made sacrifices of their time and money to support each other during the difficult times they faced. I am sure it helped Meghan to know that she was cared for so deeply.

Meghan exhibited strength, love and courage. Her eight years she lived on this earth were a strong punctuation for how to live and love. She didn’t even realize she was teaching us but she was! Some people spend their entire lives searching for this faith and courage that Meghan’s entire life embodied. Her life was an example that the people around her were to follow. Her attitude has inspired me so much over the years and it continues to have a positive effect on me. “Attitude: A little thing that makes a big difference!” These words of wisdom ring true no matter what age you are.

Ten years later this child still has a tremendous impact on how I feel I should live out my Christian life.

Life itself is a gift through God’s grace and it has many voices. If the sounds are grim we must bear them, if they are joyful let us hold onto them. We are recipients unable to choose what life will give us; yet we can choose how we will respond.

With the Easter season upon us, we celebrate the miraculous, unbelievable, unpredictable and spectacular grace of God. I am reminded of how much hope, happiness and love Meghan spread while she was here in spite of the suffering and death associated with her cancer. At Easter we celebrate the gift of salvation that Jesus brought to us by hanging and dying on that cross for our sin. Just as children with cancer and their parents may feel forsaken, Jesus did too! He asked God, “Do I have to do this”? He willingly died for us. Light rises from the darkness bringing forth life from death. New hope that dawns for me on Easter morning is that we can all love God and others with unabashed faith as Meghan did!

Let the miracle of Easter shine in your heart and lead you to value the “great” and ignore the “trivial”. Let it shine over your sorrow!

The Bible says in Joshua 1:9 be strong and courageous! Even though Meghan is not a physical survivor, her courage and strength is an example for us all today.