Yvette P Quantz - Prayers & Petitions for My cancer Warrior: Words to pray when you dont know what else to day

Prayers & Petitions for My cancer Warrior Copyright 2021 by Yvette Perrier Quantz, RDN, LDN All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner, except for brief quotations, without the written permission of the copyright owner. ISBN: 978-1-7370804-9-7 ISBN: 978-1-7370804-8-0 (e-book) All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. www.zondervan.com. www.zondervan.com.

The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Yvette Perrier Quantz, RDN, LDN Website: www.yvettequantz.com.com Praying for My Warrior Website: www.prayingformywarrior.com IN LOVING MEMORY OF: Marie Adele Diano-Arbour (maternal grandmother),1982 breast cancer Warrior.Jeanne Marie Arbour (godmother),1983 throat cancer Warrior.Laura Lee Webre-Perrier (paternal grandmother),1998 lung cancer Warrior.Dr. Michael Robert McElderry (uncle),2019 skin cancer Warrior. CONTENTS cancer doesnt deserve a capital c. Cheryl Arbour ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Dont thank me. Thank God. Mrs. Clara Bell, also known as Mama Bell or MaBell, who as I write this is 99 years old, still thanking God for today. From my earliest memories, she taught me to always thank God first.

Ill start there. Thank You, God. Thank You for the people, experiences, time, and courage to share these words with others walking with their cancer Warrior. Thank You for using me as Your instrument. For years Youve been asking me to write and share the words Youve given me. For years Ive been trying to run or hide from this calling.

Thank You for your patience and persistence. Thank You for opening my stubborn heart and giving me the strength to listen and follow Your call. I now know this book is only the beginning of future words to be shared, and since I couldnt begin to thank everyone whos been part of this journey, Ill start with You. Thank You, God, for making this work possible. PREFACE T his isnt a book I wanted to write, and I imagine its not a book you want to read. I get it. I get it.

If I could, Id promise these prayers will cure everything. Unfortunately, thats not how cancer works. In 2017, after learning my uncle John, my father-in-law, and a dear friend all had cancer, the words Youre in my thoughts and prayers were said almost as casually as Hello. While I didnt like this canned response, its all I knew to say. I felt like an imposter. Despite being strong in my faith, I wasnt sure how to pray for someone other than adding their name to a list of prayer intentions.

Every week during Sunday service, or anytime prompted to lift up special intentions, Id always pray for my loved one battling cancer. However, those moments of pause were usually followed by a pang of guilt. Why wasnt I praying for them as frequently or intentionally as I wanted? Thats when I heard Him whisper, Youre not the only one who feels lost when praying for loved ones with cancer. What if you wrote prayers that could be shared? Ill help you. Since Im neither an expert in praying nor a scholar in writing, I told Him to find a professional. Ten months later, I received a call from my aunt Adele: Uncle Mike has cancerstage 4 melanoma. My stomach dropped as tears began to flow.

This wasnt supposed to happen. Another whisper: What about the prayer journal?Maybe, I silently replied. Two months later, I received a call from my mom: Aunt Cheryl has cancer. All I could do was look up and scream, Are you kidding me? The voice was no longer a whisper. Time to start writing. I cried in response, When will I find the time? Why me? Im not trained for this! Then I remembered that writing has always been my way of praying; its how I talk to God. Saying prayers for my loved ones battling cancer was important to me.

I knew that if I was going to pray with intention, Id better start writing. One evening, after bedtime prayers with my daughters, I heard the voice again: Let's call it Prayers & Petitions for My cancer Warrior. Something about the words cancer Warrior pulled me in. Putting pen to paper, this book began. Unsure if or how Id share these words with others, I knew I had to write them. Something important was being asked, and I couldnt ignore it any longer. It was time to trust Him and listen.

A few months later, during a visit with my uncle Mike, he shared, "I'm not angry with God. There is a reason for all of this ... I've seen so much goodness in people. Before fear could silence me, I told him about these prayers Id been writing. I hope to share with others one day. The look on his face confirmed there was no turning back.

As I was finalizing this book, I received a call from my dad: Its cancer. Again, I found myself questioning, Why? Havent we had enough? I cant do this!! He told me, Keep going. Your cancer Warrior needs you. INTRODUCTION F or as long as I can remember, writing prayers has been my way of connecting and conversing with our heavenly Father. Im honored, humbled, and in all honesty, a little hesitant to share these prayers with you. Honored because youre reading this, allowing me to walk on this journey with you and your Warrior. Humbled because through Gods love, strength, and grace, this book was published.

Hesitant because these are personal prayers, written during very private moments. The truth is theres no right or wrong way to pray. Our Father knows whats in your heart, and He knows what tomorrow will bring. Lifting the name of a loved one brings spiritual blessings and strength to their soul. On the following pages, youll find prayers and petitions inspired by my cancer Warriors journeys. Use them to facilitate your conversation with our Father.

After each prayer, theres a page for personal journaling. During the final days with my uncle, he said, Never lose hope, have faith, and know God will always take care of you. Now I share these words with you. Dont lose hope. Keep the faith. Know your cancer Warrior needs you.

Your prayers and petitions matter. In peace, love, and strength, Yvette P.S. Per my aunt, Cheryl Arbour: cancer doesnt deserve a capital c. Therefore, youll never see cancer capitalized in this book. If you know her, then you can appreciate that when she says something, you listen. Amenthe COLLECTION:
PRAYERS
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PETITIONS THE DIAGNOSIS Dear Lord, I recently learned____________ was diagnosed with cancer. Amenthe COLLECTION:
PRAYERS
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PETITIONS THE DIAGNOSIS Dear Lord, I recently learned____________ was diagnosed with cancer.

Im sad and confused. This wasnt supposed to happen. Its never supposed to happen. Yet its happening. I dont know what to do. I dont know what to say.

I want to help. I dont want to get in the way. I come, asking You to wrap Your arms around Your cancer Warrior. Give Your peace and strength as this trial begins. As___________ begins this journey, give the family friends, medical team, and me the strength, courage, words, and wisdom to help.