Wow, how can it be March? My last blog was December 29. That was a while ago. Some sort of busyness has kept me from writing and continuing the story of my cancer journey. Here comes August, 2019.
If you have followed any of these posts, I had an MRI. Medical procedures don't generally scare me. I suppose because I trust the doctors enough to know what is needed. I will say that it was at this point that my church family came through. Once I received my cancer diagnosis, Lowell passed the information on to the session of Riverwood church. For those of you who may not be familiar with the government of the PCA Church, the session is made up of the ruling elders, all of which are men.
A wife of one of the session members who had previously battled breast cancer called me, just to see how things were going. I shared with her what was happening to that date. Bonnie, an amazing woman of God, gave me some of the best advice regarding an MRI. She said this: I just use the time to pray and meditate on scriptures. You like to sing, so just sing with your heart. Arm yourself with God's word. She told me a few other things as well, like how the technician can hear you, and how some are better and more friendly than others. I will say this about my MRI technician, she wasn't friendly or unfriendly. She was just doing a job. I am not one to ask a lot of questions, or offer up a lot of unsolicited information about myself, so there wasn't much conversation between us. She did explain to me the sound, referred to as a train, and that is exactly the best word to describe it. Loud noises don't bother me. I'm not claustrophobic, so the MRI turned into an opportunity for me. An opportunity to pray for all of my family members, the leadership of my church, my friends, the staff in the room at the time of the MRI, and of course a time to pray for my own healing. That was my MRI experience. It was loud, I was face down and had no idea what was actually happening above me, and I prayed for others the entire time, and yes there were praise songs going through my head as well.
Now for the results. The MRI did find some inflamed lymph nodes in my left breast. This was not part of the deal. I had been told from the biopsy that the DCIS was contained and had not spread. Possibly, though the inflammation was a result of the bruising that still existed from my biopsy. Full disclosure here...that procedure was pretty painful and I had an ugly bruise for a few weeks afterward.
On August 4, 2019, one of the last few Sundays at Riverwood before our move, after worship the session of Riverwood laid hands on me and prayed for me. Now, Lowell had suggested that this should be done as is mandated in the scriptures, but to be honest I had to work my way up to it. Why, you ask? Well, for one I hate being the center of attention. Sitting in the center of a circle of men was a bit nerve wracking. It shouldn't have been that way at all. These men of God are my brothers in Christ. They prayed specifically for God's will whether it be for me to be healed completely or to endure more. Lowell and I also asked that they pray for there to be no confirmed spreading to the lymph nodes.
Here is the Biblical mandate we implemented from James Chapter 5:
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
All of these prayers were answered. Amen! So that brings me to my title. Was it really suffering? Some might think so and view my circumstances as such. But no, not really. July and August were a time for me to grow in my faith: to see God's love for me and those around me, to be reminded that He is in control of every cell in my body, and to know that I am never alone.
Often I was more concerned about those around me than myself. My daughter was at Covenant College. We announced our move to Birmingham and then the cancer diagnosis, after the death of her grandfather. She struggled with so much during this time. I had just accepted a new job. What would that look like, to begin work and then take a medical leave? All of this had to be covered in prayer. God had a purpose of all of it. I wasn't concerned about the cancer. I have the assurance of salvation. Through this trial I was able to increase my prayer for those around me, and to look a little bit less at myself. That has always been my sin struggle...wanting things to go my way.
Suffering, if in fact my cancer battle can be called that, is obviously given to Christians to cause them to grow in their faith in some way. We were never promised a life free of trials. It is our response to them that should bring us closer to the throne of Grace.
James 1:2-4 [Full Chapter] Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Blessings,
Monica
