Sowing the Seed

The Ringler family is one of the most steadfast and compassionate groups of people you will ever meet. This is a short story that Sharon Ringler wrote to reflect on her brave journey to defeat lung cancer.

I spent the week of October 27th, 2008, in Houston for a three month check-up and the results did not look good. We were told it was highly probable that the cancer had returned since the area we had been watching near the lung now showed an increase in size.

The lab work supported this. I stayed two additional days for another lung biopsy. We all cried.

During this time, Glenn and I visited the chapel in the hospital. We entered with a service which had already begun. The African-American lady minister was placing her hands on individuals that were up front and anointing them with oil and saying individual prayers.

We just sat and listened. One of the ladies fell backwards and others caught her and she just sat on the floor. Glenn leaned over and asked me what had just happened. I told him I thought it must be an Evangelical service and that sometimes, folks collapse when they feel the Holy Spirit. Being raised a Lutheran, he was all eyes! The minister then turned to us and asked if we wanted to come forward for prayers.

I told Glenn I thought we had better do it. She asked who the prayers were for and since I wasn't together enough emotionally to respond, Glenn told her. She asked my name and asked why we were asking for prayers. Glenn said it looked like a recurrence.

She touched my shoulder, read from scripture and anointed my head with oil. She looked me straight in the eye and said "you do not have this illness." I just looked at her. At the same time, I had such a warm feeling from the top of my head down to my toes, I began to feel at peace with the whole situation. (No, it was not a hot flash!)

The minister said another prayer and then we went back and sat down. She concluded the service and then came over to us. She said, "Sharon, God spoke to me up there and you are to figure out what he wants you to do. You are to sow the seed. Remember that—you are to sow the seed." I just shook my head in agreement, not really understanding.

We finally got home last Sunday and knew we had to wait 3-5 business days before learning of the results. I finally called Thursday morning and left a message. I called Thursday afternoon and left another message. The nurse called me around 5:30 in the evening and said the doctor was aware of my phone calls, but the physician's assistant was checking to see if she could give me the results; or if the doctor wanted to talk to me directly.

I told her that didn't sound too promising. An hour later, the doctor called. She had been home ill with the flu. She just said they really don't understand it, but there is a small mass near the lung that is a pocket of fluid, which evidently my body has not absorbed since the surgery a year ago. She said both biopsies were negative and there are no signs of cancer. She and the surgeon could not believe it nor understand.

Glenn and I both agreed that we understood. We were blessed once again through the power of prayer from our family and friends.

So, after all the drama, I finally sat down and read the Salina-Journal that night. Each day there is a passage of scripture. That day it read, "Oh Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me." Psalms 30:2.

I've decided maybe telling my story is part of "sowing the seed".

Love you all,
Sharon