II Corinthians 12:9
My journey down a road called CANCER ... a journey for the glory of God!
On October 13, 2004 at the age of 36, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It was a complete shock to us because there is no history of any kind of cancer in my family…I was young…I don’t drink or smoke….I am very active and healthy. My doctor actually said that my risk factor for having this disease was a zero…but there we were.
After the first surgery, we learned that the cancer cells had spread to other parts of my body. This meant extensive treatment if I was to have a shot at survival. But, after a total of 5 surgeries, 4 1/2 months of Chemo, 33 radiation treatments, 2 hospital stays and 1 Great God who listened to a lot of prayer…I am blessed to be here today, able to testify about what the Lord has done for me.
Having cancer is not something that I would have chosen to go through prior to October 2004, but it is a journey that I would not undo now for anything in the world, even if I could. I honestly believe that having cancer was in the perfect will and plan God had for my life.
Right after I was diagnosed, after the initial tears were shed, I stopped and thought of how I was going to deal with this. I told my husband that there would be many people watching us to see how we handled this.
We were the leaders of the young couples in our church…they would be watching us.
We are parents to three precious children…they would be watching us.
We have lots of friends and family…they would be watching us.
BUT most importantly, we have a Heavenly Father…and He would be watching us.
It is right then and there that I made up my mind that I was going to use this journey for GOD'S GLORY, no matter what the outcome. In those first few frightening days after diagnosis, when I decided this journey would be for God's Glory, I found a new peace that I had never felt before. From that very moment, my faith began to grow. In life, we don’t usually have a choice of which trials we go through, BUT we DO have a choice in how we handle them. ROMANS 5:3-5
- I have learned so much while traveling through this Journey called Cancer:
- I am even more thankful now than ever for my salvation. I knew that at the end of this journey, there would be one of two outcomes…healing or heaven. I was a winner either way! What joy to have such security in the accepted gift of salvation!
- I’ve learned how many family blessings can come from hard times. Mike and I have always been very close, but love of my husband has reached depths I never knew existed. Every Christian parent wants to teach their children about how to have faith in God, and wow! What an awesome opportunity I have had being able to live that faith out right in front of their eyes.
- I've learned that when life knocks you down…you should stay there a while, because your knees is a very strengthening place to be. It is in this humble position that you can only look up to see your Heavenly Father there!
- I have learned A LOT about GLORY. I know I am not worthy of any. Cancer and Chemo are very humbling things to go through. There is a scripture in I Corinthians 11:15 that says, “But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.” My prayer at the beginning of this journey was that GOD would get the glory for all that was done. Well, by me losing my hair, MY glory was removed, and the TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
- I have learned to find humor in embarrassing situations. One day while walking through the Lowes parking lot with my family, a sudden gust of wind came from nowhere and grabbed my hat with my hair in it off of my bald head. It proceeded to carry it tumbling through the parking lot like a tumbleweed. I ran frantically chasing the wad of messy mane until it came to a stop…right in front of a car who had paused to gaze in shock at the sight they were witnessing. I quickly grabbed my hair and tried with no success to put it back in place as it had once been before the now laughing wind had taken it from me. I ran back to my family. (Yes, they hadn't moved. They too stood dazed in the shock of the sight.) When I arrived to the stunned bunch of "supporters," I wanted nothing more than to fall into the arms of my husband and cry the bucket of tears I was holding back. Then, my middle son, Kyle, grabbed me and held me with a force not to be reckoned with from any 10 year old. He began to cry. I paused for a moment and realized that I was his mother and this was a teaching moment. So, I began to laugh. The more I laughed, the more he cried, until finally he sternly questioned out of frustration, "Why are you laughing? I know you are embarrassed." I took his sweet little face and said,"Kyle, embarrassing things happen to us all in life at some point. What we choose to do with those moments defines who we are deep inside. It is much better to laugh than to cry. And besides, think about the conversation at the dinner table tonight that the people in that car will be having about your Mom. If you think about it, it is pretty funny watching a bald woman running through the Lowes parking lot chasing a pile of hair!"
Cancer had sought to destroy me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually…but it failed. In fact the experience has done just the opposite. Having cancer has taught me more than I could have ever imagined. It has brought me further in faith than I could have ever fathomed. It caused to be strong at the same time I am weak. It caused me to feel joy through the tears of pain. It caused me to hear that still, small voice of comfort from my Creator, even when the information I was receiving from the doctors overwhelmed my ears. It caused me to sit in the lap and melt in the arms of my Heavenly Father, especially while I lay in the helplessness of chemo treatments or in the bed of a cold hospital room. Yes, cancer may have been a tremendous, fierce giant that I alone could not face, but my God, my Savior, my Redeemer, the Almighty, the King of Kings, the Great I AM, gave me weapons of grace, courage and faith…and together, we defeated the giant!
"In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6 My Heavenly Father sent me on a journey down a road called Cancer, but he did not send me alone. He walked beside me every step of the way, and he carried me when I was too weak to walk. Though I could not see what was ahead, I know that He had paved the way in His perfect will and I will praise Him forever for the journey!
Encouraging others by sharing what God has done for me has now become my ministry…not only to those who face cancer, but to everyone who faces a battle that they cannot fight. I will continue to walk through any door my Lord opens. And when He closes a door, I will wait (Isaiah 40:31) until he shows me the next path that He would have me travel upon. And whether I walk, run, travel, stumble, stand still, or fall on my knees, I will praise and glorify His name, because He alone is worthy!
I would like to challenge each and every person I meet…
- Reach out to others when they are in a valley. The mountain top is a lonely place to be unless shared with another.
- Glorify God and praise Him ALL of the time, not just when our skies are sunny, but mostly when they are filled with clouds and rain. These are the times when you will draw the closest to Him. Even in the valley, God is good!
- Be thankful for the so-called “bad times”, wisely knowing that without them, we would not need to lean on anyone. Also, we would not appreciate the good times in our lives.
- Stay in your Bible and seek wisdom. Stay close to Christ in prayer and seek comfort. Stay in the House of God and seek opportunities to "exhort one another." Stay in praise to God with all your heart & seek to glorify His name. (Psalm 86:12)
- Learn from every little thing that happens in your life. God is teaching you and guiding you each step of the way. He has a purpose for what He allows to happen in our lives, but we must have a willing heart to learn what He is teaching.
- And most of all, remember to keep God in the center of your life, giving Him the glory for all that is done. After all, life is not about us…it is about God. What joy and peace we can have if we just...
“Let go…and Let God.”