Time to dream and a time to pray

You can’t dream up days like this. On Wednesday, a box with copies of “Hero’s Tribute” arrived, the fulfillment of a life-long goal. On the same, day, we received the official word that my Dad has cancer. I’ve been at a loss of how to explain the conflicting emotions until my wife Katie said it perfectly in her family blog:
“What a difficult week we have had dealing with various family health issues. We have spent this week on our knees in prayer and drawing close with our Lord. And in His perfect timing, God sent us a reminder today of his faithfulness, love, and grace … I think that it is fitting, in light of the book’s theme and message, that when this day has finally come, the Lord has shifted our mindset and priorities so that we are focused on the love we have for each other, our wonderful family members, and our precious Lord and Savior.”
“Hero’s Tribute” is about a soldier, a small town hero who loses a battle with cancer, but in the end offers lessons in faith and grace. I drew a lot of character traits from my father for the soldier, but certainly didn’t foresee this similarity in fighting cancer. Fortunately, some of the early tests seem to be going our way. When I think about him and what he is about to go through, it’s reminded me of a theme I tried to articulate in the book. We often don’t get to pick the time and place for our greatest battles. It’s usually when we’re weakened and on our knees; but that’s also when God is at His best, and when His greatest examples of glory shine through.
There is a lot of fight in my Dad, a former 82nd Airborne captain. A poster of his old division highlights the kind of attitude I think he will be taking:
“An entire U.S. armored division was retreating from the Germans in the Ardennes forest (WWII) when a sergeant in a tank destroyer spotted an American digging a foxhole. The GI, PFC Martin, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, looked up and asked, “Are you looking for a safe place?” “Yeah” answered the tanker. “Well, buddy,” he drawled, “just pull your vehicle behind me. I’m the 82nd Airborne, and this is as far as the [expletives] are going.”