Upheld In His Plan

Our Turn

It must be my family’s turn.

We’ve been celebrating all spring the end of cancer for my grandson, David, and rejoicing over his recovery. He is doing well. He will still be on the hook for frequent cancer checks over the next few years or so, but he’s on the way to good health! YESSSSSS!

We just started to settle in to the groove of life when the next curve ball came flying at us.

My daughter, Angie, was just diagnosed with breast cancer. This is NOT news I wanted to hear. Especially since I am a survivor, I know what may lay ahead for her. Yes, I know, everybody’s case is different, but there are some standard paths that such diseases follow.

They are making her do a DNA test. Wow. Should I feel guilty now for passing it along? We thought my case was unique since no one else in the family had this. But, I suppose DNA will unveil that for us.

Why is it harder to watch your child go through this than it is to do it yourself?

Bosom Buddies

I thank all my Bosom Buddies for their encouragement. These are ladies I love and respect, all who have been down this road—and I with them. Yep—shared loads are lighter.

I call it the dubious club, but I am so grateful. We need not travel alone. Nor does God wish us to do so. That’s why community is so important. Why He tells us to travel together.

Now my daughter joins this club. Must she?

Advice

You know all those pink ads that tell you to get mammograms and/or tested? Do it. The ads don’t even have to be pink. Get checked regularly for any health issues.

Dealing With It

Life is not forever on this earth. The question comes: how are we going to deal with it?

1. We can throw temper tantrums. Does it help? No. Does it make us feel better? No. Does it make the problem go away? No.
2. We can try to control our outcomes. But—how does one make one’s body behave? All the exercise we can do won’t make cancer go away. Good food helps, but …
3. There is a place for grieving, but don’t wallow too long. And—I have found that no man can tell boob jokes better than a woman with breast cancer! Humor does wonders.
4. We can face it. Accept the reality and work with doctors, nurses and other professionals to treat it. Maybe it will go away. And maybe it won’t. But what other choice works?
5. We can go to our knees and surrender our lives to God. He is the Only One with answers. He loves us like no other. He has the plan for our lives.

God’s Plan

When we have surrendered our lives to God, we surrender our right to ourselves. We join His family. We join His team. He has a plan that He is busy working out for—Big Picture—His mankind creation. We are part of that plan. We are not autonomous. Each of us is a strand woven into God’s Big Picture Plan.

Bad things that happen aren’t what God would want because He is all good. Before the Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden, God had a very different plan for us. One with love, companionship and walking with Him in the cool of the day. Face to Face. However, with rebellion came disease.

But God still has a plan. And He can use the bad things—like disease—to bring about the changes in us to prepare us for the glorious eternity that is still to come. Just look at the rainbows in the sky when the rain falls and remember His promises to us are true.

Dealing With It

So, back to living in the day to day:

1. Remember God loves us so much, He sent His Son, Jesus, to give us eternal life.
2. He carefully plans for each one of us. Even when we don’t understand and can’t see His plan. It IS His plan and not ours.
3. Take each day as it comes with thanksgiving.
4. Take encouragement from reading His Word.
5. Reach out to community.
6. Accept help from community.
7. Trust Him with everything. (Even the bad days!)
8. Believe God. It’s our decision. Every time.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him” Romans 15:13.