If there's one thing we always seek for, it's answers. When I was young, I remember I would always ask the people around me about things I don't understand. I'm always curious and that's why instead of joining the sunday school for kids, I'd join the adults and then listen intently to the pastor explaining why worship of graven images is wrong, why not everyone who calls on His name will be saved and what happens when the second coming arrives. I listen intently because I need and I want answers.
The past few days I'm searching for answers to my father's condition. In my previous posts, I mentioned about the battle that my father is in right now. Seeing him in pain is not always easy and selfishly sometimes I'd rather not go to our house where I grew up. I come out of our house a different person everytime I see him in excruciating pain. I'm no longer the positive kind; I would come out as a quiet crying baby. But then not seeing him is for my own benefit, to spare myself from the pain. I should be seeing him because I know that he would like to see us, me and my family. He doesn't say so, but his eyes speak louder.
In my search for answers, God revealed this to me. Some sicknesses are the consequence of our own actions in the past and in the present and it's true as far as my father's situation is concerned. The reason why he got lung cancer is because he's been smoking for more than 40 years. According to medicinenet.com, Lung cancer was not common prior to the 1930s but increased dramatically over the following decades as tobacco smoking increased. The incidence of lung cancer is strongly correlated with cigarette smoking, with about 90% of lung cancers arising as a result of tobacco use. With that fact, I am no longer asking God why my father is in this battle right now. The answer is clear.
Earlier as I was thinking about my father, I can't help but feel sad for family and friends who are on the same boat. Smoking is an addiction and I know that addiction can be overcame with the right support and help from loved ones. They don't need rejection, nor do they deserve isolation. They need our acceptance, then education and realizations. They need the will to stop. And they can if we help them.
Lord my prayer is for me to be courageous enough to educate people about the effects of smoking in a way they don't get offended. Let me start with my family. Amen.
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