I sat down at my desk this morning to get a jump start on this sunny, hot Friday and smiled.

Staring at me are four teenagers, perched around my office, one of whom is pictured here (Raphael I think, according to Wikipedia).

  
Shortly after I wrote my May 25th blog post sharing Anne’s cancer diagnosis, entitled “Wow + Ninja Prayers,” these four teenage crime fighters showed up. I later found out that my fun, thoughtful colleague Barbara O’Rourke had dug them out of her attic and snuck them in. They haven’t moved.

I’ll come back to my TMNT friends in just a minute.

Update on Anne: I think she’s doing really well, all things considered.

All things considered…

I find myself often using that phrase when friends and acquaintances ask how she’s doing.  From my vantage point, “all things considered” for Anne means “considering poisonous medicine is being pumped into her body every three weeks with the lovely side effects of hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and achy body, among other things.”

Considering that reality, here’s what I see: Anne is enduring this difficult season of treatment remarkably well, a testimony to her strength and God’s real, tangible, sustaining grace in her life. She doesn’t feel sorry for herself, yet she doesn’t pretend things are hunky-dory. She’s not consumed by worry, yet she acknowledges the scary, unknown aspects of her illness. She cries, and she laughs. She focuses on caring for others – especially Jack, Luke, and Sarah – yet she knows when she has to care for herself.  She hates her cancer, and yet – get this – she is thankful for it. She is, as crazy as that sounds. Why?  Because it is drawing her nearer to Jesus, and she feels it. And I see it.

My Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle friends reminded me of several things this morning. First, the ninja medicine is working. Her tumor is shrinking. Awesome. Lord, thank you for great medicine. Second, your ninja prayers are specifically activating God’s grace in Anne’s life. She would emphatically amen that. Lord, thank you for faithful friends who care for us.

You know who else is praying ninja prayers?  Jesus Himself. Listen to this: “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Rom 8:34)  And then in Hebrews 7:25, we’re told “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

How cool is THAT? Our Savior is presently, actively, passionately praying to God the Father on Anne’s behalf. Let’s admit it. Even those of us who are diligent in praying (not I) can’t hold a candle to the ongoing, never-ceasing, perfect prayers of Jesus the King. He’s sitting there in heaven, at God’s right hand, asking our Heavenly Father to pour out his blessings, healing, strength, wisdom, and grace on Anne Brittain Fletcher.

Lord, thank you for Jesus’ love and intercession for Anne.

Love to you all,

Van