Hello everyone!
Life truly does turn on a dime. I needed some time to process this before writing about it. Tuesday this past week a close family member of mine was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. She is a young woman with two small children. They were devastated, we were devastated. I was so stunned after that phone call. It's like getting hit with a 2×4 without the physical pain. I won't lie. My mind went straight to worst case scenarios. I had to stop the crazy thoughts going through my head. I cried later. It made no sense. She had done everything right. Why?
Here we are, almost a week later. Tests have been run and other tests are awaiting. The insurance company does not want to cooperate, which is another blog discussion entirely. She faces long chemo, surgery, recovery, radiation, more chemo and recovery - a two to three year process. They told their children a few days ago. The oldest one took it very hard. The younger one, we still don't know what she thinks. She truly is a stoic. My heart broke for all of them again.
We will be there for them and my family will whether this, no matter what happens, no matter the outcome. Despite my initial thoughts and emotions, I still believe God is good. I still believe He takes bad things and turns them to good. I still believe in healing. I believe He is with us and though He did not cause this, He is not surprised by any of it. I believe He has already met us where we are. No, I can't answer the why and I can't answer why He did not stop it. I know we live in a fallen world and bad things happen to wonderful people and bad people alike. I choose to believe God is good and nothing can change that. I choose to believe He can bring life for He is the Author of Life. He is our Light when all other lights go out. We are not alone! He has a plan and a purpose for all of us and everything we face, despite what we see in this world.
I want to implore you to please take nothing and no one for granted. Be thankful for everything and everyone you have in your life. Our stuff is not important. In the end, the people we love are all that matter. No one will remember our stuff. Be available, be present, be a friend, be a partner. Life turns on a dime. We aren't guaranteed anything. We aren't entitled to anything. We don't know our future but we know the One Who does. As I walk this out with them, I will look to Him. I will look to His Light no matter how dark it gets over the next few months.
I will say it again, life turns on a dime. Be thankful. Take nothing for granted. Look to Him, for He is Lord, even of the storms in our lives.
Psalm 27:1; The Lord is my light and my salvation-- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-- of whom (or what) shall I be afraid?
Looking to my Light,
Elizabeth