Try to Top This!
Copyright 20017 Bruce S. Herwig
After being diagnosed with cancer often depression follows as you try to cope with your shattered future dreams. Always remember, God has new dreams and new successes for you.
Copyright 20017 Bruce S. Herwig
After being diagnosed with cancer often depression follows as you try to cope with your shattered future dreams. Always remember, God has new dreams and new successes for you.
This God Story began in the spring of 2017. I was playing golf late one evening and as I was driving on the cart path to the next hole, I noticed that Jerry, a golfer in our men’s club, was sitting in his patio overlooking the golf course. I had not seen him playing golf lately, so I drove off the cart path to his patio. When I mentioned that I had not seen him playing golf in a while, Jerry informed me that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 bladder cancer. He shared that when all the test results were in, he and his doctors would plan how to deal with his cancer.
I then told him that a close relative of mine had also been recently diagnosed with bladder cancer. He too was now taking tests to determine how his cancer would be treated. As we talked, I could see Jerry was concerned about his future. Before I left, I prayed for wisdom for his doctors and peace for him.
Each time I saw Jerry sitting in his patio in the following months, I drove over and spoke with him. One time, I learned that his bladder would be removed. This was the exact decision that had been made for my relative. Later, I learned that he was going to have his bladder removed in a few days. My relative was also going to have his bladder removed that week. My last visit was after his surgery and I learned that the surgery had gone well, and he was learning to live with his urostomy (urine) bag, just like my relative. I am certain he was wondering if competitive golf would still be in his future.
Then, in early December, I saw him just before he left to play golf. He shared that he had gotten use to wearing the bag day and night. He surprised me by pointing out several benefits of wearing the bag. He told me his golf had suffered as he could not hit the ball as far as before the operation. However, his game was improving. I rejoiced with him.
The next week our club began a match play tournament. Match play is based on the number of holes you beat your opponent and not your overall score. Jerry and I had both won our first matches and then on December 15th we played against each other. Jerry played very well and hit surprisingly long and accurately. I had won hole 7 with a one under par birdie, so I hit first on the 8th hole. It was a 110-yard par 3 hole. I hit the ball high and straight and to everyone’s amazement it rolled into the cup for a hole-in-one! After a minute of celebration, Jerry stepped up to hit and I heard him murmur “A hole in one.” I thought he was talking about my accomplishment. I just knew that I had won that hole. But jerry had different plans. I was stunned as I watched his high shot hit in front of the pin, then it bounced one time and disappeared into the cup, on top of my ball. Now everyone really went nuts with yelling and jumping up and down.
Jerry had just become part of golfing history. According to Golf Digest Magazine, in their story Opponents make back-to-back holes-in-one during match, by Joel Beall, the odds of getting back-to-back holes-in-one are 17,000,000 to 1. We both were now part of the rarest feat in golf. In match play, we each had made a hole-in-one on the same hole and did not win. This has never happened in any profession golf tournament. Our Sun Lakes golf pros had never heard of this happening. In fact, if I had not seen it, I would have thought this was impossible.
Jerry continued his great play and won our match even though I played well. Knowing that he had recently recovered from a serious surgery, I was so happy to congratulate him on his match victory and his amazing hole-in-one on top of my hole-in-one. I am certain that as Jerry reflects on this once-in-a-lifetime event and his great match play under pressure, many of his doubts about his playing competitive golf, after such a serious surgery, had been answered. Now Jerry has a golf story no one can top!
As I shared these events with my wife, I told her that Jerry’s accomplishment had to be one of the most amazing feats in golf by a cancer survivor who wore a urostomy bag. What an encouragement he could be others who have had or would have their bladder removed. God still amazes me when he gives hope to the hopeless and encouragement to those in despair. God went above and beyond Himself this time!
I then called my relative, who was also recovering from his surgery and who also enjoys golf. I told him all about our back-to-back holes-in-one and Jerry winning our match. I revealed that Jerry, like him, was a cancer survivor and wore a urostomy bag. I then related my story of the similar times of both their diagnoses and surgeries and my prayers for each of them. I believe that this was an encouragement to him.
I plan on contacting the local newspapers and cancer society and share this amazing golf story with them. I believe that Jerry’s accomplishment should be known around the world as this could give hope to so many cancer victims who love the great game of golf. What an amazing cancer survivor story of triumph!
POINTS TO PONDER:
You may think 17,000,000 to 1 odds are high. But just think, the odds of finding someone exactly like you, are infinity. You are one of a kind.
Imagine trying to plan your future after being given the diagnosis of cancer.
Can God really love you, when you find out you have cancer?
ACTION POINTS:
Have you ever prayed for someone who has cancer or who is a cancer survivor? Share this God Story with them as hope is always needed.
Go out of your way to befriend someone who is hurting. Everyone needs a friend or a kind and encouraging word, and especially your prayers for them.
SCRIPTURE:
In his name (Jesus) all the nations will put their hope.
Isaiah 42:4 (NIV) and Matthew 12:21
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and to not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
Each time I saw Jerry sitting in his patio in the following months, I drove over and spoke with him. One time, I learned that his bladder would be removed. This was the exact decision that had been made for my relative. Later, I learned that he was going to have his bladder removed in a few days. My relative was also going to have his bladder removed that week. My last visit was after his surgery and I learned that the surgery had gone well, and he was learning to live with his urostomy (urine) bag, just like my relative. I am certain he was wondering if competitive golf would still be in his future.
Then, in early December, I saw him just before he left to play golf. He shared that he had gotten use to wearing the bag day and night. He surprised me by pointing out several benefits of wearing the bag. He told me his golf had suffered as he could not hit the ball as far as before the operation. However, his game was improving. I rejoiced with him.
The next week our club began a match play tournament. Match play is based on the number of holes you beat your opponent and not your overall score. Jerry and I had both won our first matches and then on December 15th we played against each other. Jerry played very well and hit surprisingly long and accurately. I had won hole 7 with a one under par birdie, so I hit first on the 8th hole. It was a 110-yard par 3 hole. I hit the ball high and straight and to everyone’s amazement it rolled into the cup for a hole-in-one! After a minute of celebration, Jerry stepped up to hit and I heard him murmur “A hole in one.” I thought he was talking about my accomplishment. I just knew that I had won that hole. But jerry had different plans. I was stunned as I watched his high shot hit in front of the pin, then it bounced one time and disappeared into the cup, on top of my ball. Now everyone really went nuts with yelling and jumping up and down.
Jerry had just become part of golfing history. According to Golf Digest Magazine, in their story Opponents make back-to-back holes-in-one during match, by Joel Beall, the odds of getting back-to-back holes-in-one are 17,000,000 to 1. We both were now part of the rarest feat in golf. In match play, we each had made a hole-in-one on the same hole and did not win. This has never happened in any profession golf tournament. Our Sun Lakes golf pros had never heard of this happening. In fact, if I had not seen it, I would have thought this was impossible.
Jerry continued his great play and won our match even though I played well. Knowing that he had recently recovered from a serious surgery, I was so happy to congratulate him on his match victory and his amazing hole-in-one on top of my hole-in-one. I am certain that as Jerry reflects on this once-in-a-lifetime event and his great match play under pressure, many of his doubts about his playing competitive golf, after such a serious surgery, had been answered. Now Jerry has a golf story no one can top!
As I shared these events with my wife, I told her that Jerry’s accomplishment had to be one of the most amazing feats in golf by a cancer survivor who wore a urostomy bag. What an encouragement he could be others who have had or would have their bladder removed. God still amazes me when he gives hope to the hopeless and encouragement to those in despair. God went above and beyond Himself this time!
I then called my relative, who was also recovering from his surgery and who also enjoys golf. I told him all about our back-to-back holes-in-one and Jerry winning our match. I revealed that Jerry, like him, was a cancer survivor and wore a urostomy bag. I then related my story of the similar times of both their diagnoses and surgeries and my prayers for each of them. I believe that this was an encouragement to him.
I plan on contacting the local newspapers and cancer society and share this amazing golf story with them. I believe that Jerry’s accomplishment should be known around the world as this could give hope to so many cancer victims who love the great game of golf. What an amazing cancer survivor story of triumph!
POINTS TO PONDER:
You may think 17,000,000 to 1 odds are high. But just think, the odds of finding someone exactly like you, are infinity. You are one of a kind.
Imagine trying to plan your future after being given the diagnosis of cancer.
Can God really love you, when you find out you have cancer?
ACTION POINTS:
Have you ever prayed for someone who has cancer or who is a cancer survivor? Share this God Story with them as hope is always needed.
Go out of your way to befriend someone who is hurting. Everyone needs a friend or a kind and encouraging word, and especially your prayers for them.
SCRIPTURE:
In his name (Jesus) all the nations will put their hope.
Isaiah 42:4 (NIV) and Matthew 12:21
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and to not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 (NIV)
