Aug. 25, 2006 - Life and Death
One of my friends is battling breast cancer. The fight has been brutal. Surgeries, chemo, infections, fevers. She is a little younger than me. Beautiful- but ravaged by this disease. She has 3 children, like me. One has lots of special needs, like one of mine. She homeschools them all, like me. She loves her husband, her family and her God, like me. How did I find myself healthy? I am thankful for my health. And I realize more now than ever that youth and health is fleeting.
Over the last few months, we've cried together. I've tried to help with her children. I've taken meals, organized fund raisers and tried to be helpful. But it all falls short.
I remember one Sunday in church we were singing Blessed Be Your Name. When she started singing, "Blessed be Your name, on a road filled with suffering, though there is pain in the offering, Blessed be Your name, " I had tears running down my cheeks, so did she- and her husband and her 12 year old. If she can sing that- through everything, surely I can praise Him, too.
This past Sunday, the day before her last chemo, a month before her scheduled double mastectomy/ hysterectomy, we were singing I know My Redeemer Lives. She has lost all of her hair, lots of weight and is about to have part of her body surgically removed. When we got to these lines, I couldn't help but think of her. "Though my flesh it be destroyed, yet with my eyes, I will see God, For I know that my Redeemer lives, and I shall stand with Him on that day." Job said the words first, but my thoughts were of my friend. Her flesh is being destroyed. But she hasn't lost her faith. As her body has wasted away, her faith has grown. She has been an example to all of us.
So, if you read this far, please pray for my friend and her family. She still has surgeries to face. Genetic testing has shown she may have cancer again- and within the next few years. My heart weeps for her and her children. She continues to fight well, but to be honest about how hard the struggle is. She wants to be healthy, to play with her children, to enjoy her husband. For now, she isn't able to do those things very often. But she still chooses to say, "Blessed Be Your Name."
Job 19:
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
26 And after my flesh is destroyed, this I know,
That in my eyes I shall see God.
Comments
Aug. 25, 2006 - I read this with tears..
Posted by OurLittleSchoolRoom
I lost a very close friend in December after a long battle with cancer. Sounds like she may have been a bit older than your friend--her children were in their early 20's.
On my last visit to her last spring, her husband read something during Family Worship time. I don't remember who wrote it or what it was, but that night I got a glimpse of what we can look forward to in heaven. I knew my friend didn't have long, but that night I almost envied her for getting to go home before me.
I miss her dreadfully, but I have the comfort of knowing she is at home with the Lord. My daughter has a photo of her in a frame in her room, and I still want to cry when I look
at it because I miss her, and I grieve for her family who don't have her here anymore, but still there is comfort.
How small our struggles seem in comparison with the struggle of life and death. I will remember your friend in prayer.
Blessings,
Karen
Aug. 29, 2006 - Praying
Posted by Sonya
Lori,
Beautiful post about a beautiful woman's faith through incredible trial. I will continue to pray for her. She has such strength and is an inspiration to us.
Blessings,
Sonya
Sep. 1, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MamaMary
This made me cry Lori. What a beautiful heart you have for your Lord and I so needed to hear your words today. (((Sob)))
Mary (Arnold)
