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.
