SPIRITUAL
Words to Live By
Patients and caregivers find strength in inspirational quotes and scripture.
By Diana Price
someone were to ask you to share words that
have brought you comfort during difficult times,
what would you offer up? Would it be a verse of
scripture that has provided spiritual comfort and reaffirmed
your faith? A humorous quote? Lyrics from a song? Maybe
you'd choose a significant poem or a saying passed down
through your family lore. Whatever your choice, the words
would no doubt carry special meaning for you because they
speak to your personal experience and connect you to the
thing you go to for comfort—whether it's faith, literature, art,
or family; those words provide a touchstone for your soul.
Cancer patients and caregivers often turn to inspiring
and comforting quotes and scripture as they come to terms
with a diagnosis and undergo treatment. Chip Gordon,
MDiv, director of pastoral care at Cancer Treatment Centers
of America® (CTCA) in Newnan, Georgia, says that in his
experience this practice provides powerful spiritual support,
and he encourages patients to find a quote or verse that speaks
to them: "The verse or quote that a patient chooses serves as
If
42 cancer fighters thrive | spring 2013
an 'Ebenezer' in his or her life. The word Ebenezer comes from
the Hebrew word that means 'stone of help.' That's exactly
what these verses or quotes do: they help patients as they
continue on their journey with cancer."
The choice of words is, of course, highly personal and
reflects the myriad personalities and spiritual lives of cancer
patients and their loved ones. Rev. Gordon says that a favorite
verse of his, which he shares with many patients, comes
from Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you,"
declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future." The quote is especially
meaningful, he says, because "At CTCA we are committed to
giving our patients hope. This verse exemplifies what we are
all about while pointing our patients to the hope they can
have during the journey."
Recently via the CTCA® Facebook page, employees,
patients and caregivers shared some of the words that have
provided support through their personal journeys. Here are
their words of wisdom:
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