1 Peter 1:6-7New International Version (NIV)

6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

James 1:2-5 NIV

 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

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Can we be more than conquerors in the face of disease?  Is it possible to overcome?  I think to myself the fruit that has thus far come out of this journey.

1)  Less of Self–Right now I can hardly read a book as the needs are so constant and demands so great.  The things I want to do, I just cannot.  I am learning to lay down my own wishes for the good of another.

2)  Patience must grow–It takes extreme amounts of patience and even then I snap or get sharp.  I am forced to grow in this area.

3)  Self-pity gets challenged–I so bad want to pity myself, as others truly do not understand.  But in doing so I grow weak.

4)  People reveal themselves–Be it good or bad, you begin to see the friends and family that you can and cannot trust or fully rely on.

5)  Love gets gritty–Love isn’t mushy, gushy always but the grit of doing the right thing.  There are easier choices and easier ways, but caring for my mom at home as long as I can is my act of love for her.  My own career goals and desires must take a back seat.  For years.  And it is a joy.

I believe there is an ability to be more than a conqueror in this process.  And I hope to understand moreso how that is possible.