When You Can’t Go Back - Daily Treasure - May 22

When You Can’t Go Back

Sharon W. Betters

TODAY’S TREASURE

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you (Philippians 3:13-15).

Dear Friends,

Long-term illness has more than one victim. Naturally, the priority of energy and time must be the person who is ill. But what about the rest of the family, especially the spouse who walks beside the sick loved one?

Sue Tell, a guest writer for Daily Treasure and podcast guest, introduced us to Jan and Dave Dravecky with the suggestion that their story and ministry are a perfect fit for us to share in our Help & Hope podcasts. I’ll always be grateful to Sue for thinking outside the box and connecting us. Jan’s husband Dave was a baseball pitcher for the Giants when he received the diagnosis of cancer. His battle against this disease captured the attention of the world when against all odds Dave came back to the pitcher’s mound. But a time of hope and joy quickly turned into a life-changing moment when his arm snapped as he pitched, the cancer had returned. Living with cancer is painful, but even more painful on the world stage. Jan’s body, heart, and soul finally cried, “Enough.” Their battle against cancer was only one of the fronts on which they struggled.  Jan found herself on a long, hard journey to find her way out of deep depression. Jan agreed to share some of her blog posts as part of our What She Said! devotional series as a means to offer help to others who struggle with depression and especially their identity as a child of God.

If you or someone you love struggles with cancer, grief or depression check out Endurance.org where you will discover a treasure trove of resources designed to encourage and equip you for your life journey.

Treasured by Him,

Sharon

LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT

Learn more about Jan and Dave when you listen to their Help & Hope podcasts:

Blow Away the Dark Clouds – Jan Dravecky

Finding Purpose When You Lose Your Identity – Dave Dravecky 

Also, visit Endurance.org

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Sharon W. Betters is a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pastor’s wife, and cofounder of MARKINC Ministries, where she is the Director of Resource Development. Sharon is the author of several books, including Treasures of EncouragementTreasures in Darkness, and co-author with Susan Hunt of Aging with Grace. She is the co-host of the Help & Hope podcast and writes Daily Treasure, an online devotional.

For more from Daily Treasure please visit MARKINC.ORG.

Originally published Sunday, 22 May 2022.

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