The ringing of the bell

Ding, ding, ding.

From off in the distance I hear the ringing of a small silver bell, rung by yet another cancer patient at Credit Valley Hospital who has successfully completed his/her chemotherapy program. I can’t see them from where I sit, but I can hear the bell and the cheer of the staff who have gathered to celebrate with the survivor.  The journey through chemotherapy is almost always a tough one.  The successful completion is an event worth celebrating.

For patients like me, however, each time I hear the pealing of the bell, that ring is a little painful.  It’s ever so slight but a part of me grieves at the sound of the bell. 

It’s because that bell will never ring for me.  No amount of chemo or any other treatment – medical, homeopathic or otherwise – will cure me of the type of cancer I have.  Only a touch from my Saviour will do that and for now His words to me are, “My grace is sufficient.”

Most days I am okay with that.  I know that God’s sustaining grace is truly as much a miraculous work as healing.  Maybe even more so.  Both are His workmanship and I do not presume to claim sovereignty above His by telling Him how He needs to do it.

But then the bell chimes again off in the distance as I receive my weekly blood transfusion. And I am a little sad.

But I am also reminded of that day when, I would like to think, I’ll hear another bell ring announcing that my treatment is completed at the hands of the Great Physician and I will walk out and into the real world of eternity.