My
heart is heavy this morning. A childhood friend has been dealt
another blow. A few months ago, Kim was diagnosed with breast
cancer. Years ago her mother died shortly after being diagnosed with
breast cancer. Kim has maintained a very positive attitude and a
vibrant Christian witness throughout her chemo and radiation. She
has truly been an inspiration.
Last
week, Kim received a double whammy. Cancer has spread to her brain.
She is now receiving chemo for both breast and brain cancer. Her
body is exhausted. Her emotions are all over the place. This is not
what any of us expected.
We
believed that Kim would indeed have a tough fight, but that it would
be relatively straight forward victory. We believed that God would
heal her in short order. After all, she has maintained that God is
in control of this as He is in control of her life. Kim's faith has
been unshakeable.
Now
this.
Last
week, Kim was still posting to Facebook. Now her ability to
communicate is severely limited. One of my thoughts was, “But God,
she was such a strong witness. So positive. So loving. So funny.
So strong. Why should she be silenced?”
I
don't know the answer.
I
do know that I've heard from friends from long ago who've been
touched by Kim. Friends who would never darken the doors of a
church.
Last
night one friend called. She's traveled far from her roots, far from
where she believes she should be. It's been years since she's
prayed. Last night, through tears of rage and frustration at the
unfairness of all this, she and I prayed that Kim and her family will
feel and know with a certainty that God has wrapped them in His
strong, loving arms, that they would experience His peace and healing
strength.
It's
a start.
Kim's
witness and her willingness to share her faith and her struggles is
still a vibrant light. Even though she can't communicate well right
now, her life is speaking for her. Seeds she planted are beginning
to grow.
Even
silent, God continues to use her. {And if you knew Kim, you'd know
that this is one of the few
times in her whole life she's been silent.}
If
I were silenced, would my life continue to speak for me? Have I
planted seeds in my friends' lives that would continue to grow? Have
I created a community of friends that could nurture, support and
comfort each other?
Please
today, tomorrow, any time God brings it to your mind...
pray
for Kim,
pray
for her husband,
pray
for her family.
Pray
that God will enfold them in His arms,
that
they will know His love,
His
comfort,
His
healing strength.
Pray
that all of us will accept God's Will for Kim
even
while we're praying and asking for her healing.
Pray
that we will continue to nurture and support each other.
Kari: Please know that as I was reading, I stopped and prayed for Kim, her family, and for all those affected by this difficult trial. Sometimes, when we're in the middle of a difficult trial, it's hard for us to see things the way they're really happening. You almost have to look things from a different angle - sideways if you will. When you said, "she was such a strong witness....why should she be silenced"? Then, I read about your friend who had wandered away and that she prayed with you. Go ahead and look at this from that "sideways" angle if you will....Kim isn't being silenced. Her heart is still speaking, and it was obviously loud enough for your wayward friend to hear, and for God to continue to use Kim's life to reach someone. If often times takes a tragedy to pull someone back into the flock. I also prayed that God will use this tragic event to bring glory to Himself, and to somehow draw others to Him. He can, and will, still use Kim in a powerful way simply because she her life is surrendered to Him. Thanks for sharing this, Kari. I have added Kim to my prayer list, and want you to know that I am happy to pray for her - it's one of the blessings of being part of God's family. Sorry you're all going through this, but be sure to count your blessings each day, and NEVER pass up an opportunity to tell someone that you love them!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Karen L
Word Art Wednesday
Kari, thank you so much for your message today. As I was reading and trying to imagine what Kim and her family must be going through, your words in one of your closing paragraphs really hit home...If I were silenced, would my life continue to speak for me?? What a powerful wake up call. We need to live our lives so that physical silence does not equate to spiritual silence. Kim is definately still speaking. Her silence led to prayers from a lost friend. Would we be so blessed that our silence would lead others back to the Lord... Thanks so much for sharing your prayer card with us at Word Art Wednesday. I will lift prayers for Kim and her family.
ReplyDeleteGod bless this precious one, praying for her, and all those who love her.
ReplyDeleteKari, thanks for sharing your heart about your friend, Kim. I am praying for her and her family. I'm also praying for you and for the friend you mentioned who has strayed from His ways. May this bring her back to our Lord. Thanks for sharing at Word Art Wednesday. ~ Blessings, Tracey
ReplyDeletehttp://gracescraps.blogspot.com/
Praying for Kim and her family. Sometimes God uses the valiant but weak to give us life lessons. I hope Kim's struggle will inspire many and bring them to Christ.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Kim's story. I will pray for Kim and her family.
ReplyDeletePraying for Kim and her family...thank you for sharing...
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'm visiting from Barbie's link up Fresh Brewed Sundays. I will be praying for Kim. It is such a hard thing to go through, this cancer, I have seen much suffering and much glorifying given to God too. There are many hard questions that come to mind but one thing I know for sure, God is faithful and He is always good. I will also pray into these budding promises of friends drawn into knowing Jesus.
Blessings,
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