Not trying to brag…
I’m not trying to brag or anything but guess what? I had to pluck an eyebrow hair the other morning. I have hair to pluck!!!
Thank you to all of you who have been praying for me and encouraging me over the past several months as I’ve undergone a stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis, double mastectomy, chemo, and radiation. God heard and answered our prayers for minimum toxic effects and maximum therapeutic benefits in both chemo and radiation. I feel great! Next up is hormone therapy.
To answer your next question, “Did they get it all? Are you cancer free?” The answer is, my medical professionals don’t know and they won’t know unless the cancer shows up again. The type of cancer they removed is very slow growing and tends to remain in a latent phase in the body for 10-15 years.
But I’m okay. Really. Truthfully. Even during those times when I’m not okay. If there is one thing that cancer has confirmed for me it’s that things that I once thought were paradoxical are not … like joy and grief, or peace and sorrow … or, being both good and not so good at the same time.
Two earlier posts highlight my dual realities.
STORM : Feburary 8th, 2022
MIRACLE : March 13th, 2022
Which is it? Am I in the middle of a storm or in the middle of a miracle? Cancer is an ugly, life-threatening storm. Cancer is not good … but Jesus is. Both realities are real but I must choose which reality I’m going to camp in. Where am I going to hang my hat? Jesus doesn’t simply give me hope, he is my Hope. I’m hanging my hat in his camp.
For that reason I’m still smiling. Storms and smiles are not paradoxical. I’ve been smiling in the middle of this storm and I’m smiling in the middle of this miracle because I live in the reality of what Jesus Christ has done for me. My smile isn’t an attempt to “put on” a positive front. That smile comes from the deep seated joy that rises from within me because I know the great price that has been paid on my behalf and I know and rely on the love and mercy that compelled this payment. This great truth trumps my physical circumstances. 1 John 4:15-16 says, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” I know and rely on the love God has for me. I hope you do too. If you’re not sure but would like to be sure please reach out to me. If you’d like to hear more of my story you can listen/watch here. The Thrill of Hope Part 3