This week, I found out I have breast cancer. Already, I have praise reports! God is so good--I can see His timing, and His love being poured out to me, and the support of so many people who love me and have offered to do anything I need.
I would ask that you pray for strength and peace for my family, healing (of course), but most of all, that I would be a witness to the greatness of my God. I know that I will be able to say that I am grateful that I have gotten cancer. Stay tuned--God is going to do amazing things!
I have had more good days than bad. Something I didn't realize is that I would experience grief with a diagnosis like this. Now I know a little bit better how to help someone else, and so do you.
Don't pity me; pray for me. Don't feel bad; send presents.
15 comments:
I love it!!! Do you want your gift in a big box or a little box, 1 carat or 2? So glad you have maintained your sense of humor!! I think what you wrote is so beautiful but I like the present part the best. Praying for you night and day.
Hi~
I don't think you should feel bad asking anyone to read that post! I think it takes a lot of courage to tell the world that you have cancer. Oh, and BTW... what kind of presents do you want???? :)
I have been meaning to email you for a while, but life keeps getting in the way. The kids have been keeping me busy with the "back to normal" schedules. I wonder what normal is anyway...
You are always in my prayers, but even more so now. You know that I would do anything for you, so please don't hesitate to ask. Take care of yourself, and I will be waiting to hear what the surgeon says on the 12th.
Love,
Your niece,
I read your blog. What do I say? I will for sure pray for you. Mindy, you are strong. You are an amazing woman. God is already using you in remarkable ways in church as a Stephen Ministry Leader. I bet you didn't think your training would be THIS intense! LOL! Well, I know He will be glorified through all of this. I know that the God that was in control before you got cancer is STILL in control now. And, I know that whatever His plans are....they're good...and ultimately they will bring glory to His awesome precious Holy Name! I know this may sound absolutely STUPID--so forgive me if it does--but I know He chose someone awesome to get cancer.
I really want to be specific when I pray for you Mindy. And I want you to know if you need anything at all you can count on me. I truly mean that, I know people SAY that a lot of times, but please know that I mean it. Please keep me updated, ok? I don't care if you just send out an email just to say "it's a bad day." Keep me updated. Thank you so much for sharing this with me...I feel honored and absolutely cherish the chance to walk alongside you in this part of your life.
My dear friend who has been a constant in my life for the past 41 years called to tell me her news. News, if you could call it news. Certainly not good new. When she said she had some "news" to tell me, for a fleeting second I though she was going to say she was pregnant (LOL)! But I wasn't at all prepared for the "news" that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. I was stunned beyond belief. Surely I didn't hear her correctly - she must have been talking about someone else! After I hung up the phone, I sat in silence and prayed and cried. How could such a thing happen to someone so dedicated, so compassionate, so strong and so special? Then I felt a calm come over me and I know she'll be alright. Because she is so dedicated, compassionate, strong, special and because she fully trusts in God and has faith in God, He will take care of her. Mindy, never lose the faith! I love you. Your friend, Sue
May the God of comfort, comfort YOU in all your troubles, so that you can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort YOU have received from God...!!!
(from 2 Cor. 1:3-5)
My dearest Mindy:
“Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
You are my dear friend. I want to share some thought that I hope encourage you!!
Ps. 25:7-8 “You are good, Lord. The Lord is good and right”
Ps. 34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good”
God is a good God. We must begin there in dealing with the unexpected blows in our life. Though we do not understand his actions, we know we can trust His heart. As I an experiencing myself, God may not always restore our health but He always restores our soul.
It is scary when we have to face the “giants” in our life. We MUST face them but we need not face them alone. Read 1 Samuel 17 and look at the observations David made when facing his giant. He never focuses on what it might do to him or what its characteristics are…he focus on who his God is and what He is able to do. Max Lucado says “Focus on giants and you stumble, focus on God and your giants tumble”. Or as J. B. Phillips puts it in his graphic paraphrase of 2 Cor. 4:16: "This is the reason why we never collapse: the body suffers wear and tear, but we receive fresh daily strength inwardly, till we meet Him face to face."
O Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
Be Thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle if Thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if Thou wilt be my guide.
O Jesus, Thou hast promised to all who follow Thee,
That where Thou art in glory there shall Thy servant be;
And, Jesus, I have promised to serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend
-- John E. Bode
Like you, I am facing how health issues can unexpectedly change our life, even if only for a season. I am not going to be able to return to work full-time (possibly ever) and am now facing the reality of disability and living with chronic illness that can be debilitating. I have gone through surprise, fear, mourning, and redefinition, before seeing again God’s faithfulness and sufficiency. I wish that my life was always a testimony of being a faithful servant, but it has not; however my life is a testimony of an always faithful God….and so is yours!!
I love you and Holly and I will be praying for you and your family!!!
Mindy,
I am so sorry to hear this. I am remembering all the times you and your family were such a sincere and earnest blessing to VBC and my family and I when I was pastor. (You can not EVEN imagine what a blessing you were to me personally.) AND I am sure you and Rich are a blessing to those around you now. God cannot possibly be done with you yet. No way! God surely has a plan to turn this into a tremendous Victory for you and your family. I am expecting a GREAT miracle out of this. I really am! (Jeramiah 33:3)
Mindy,
I love the way you are facing this challenge head-on. in the context of your news, and of other painful situations that seem to be coming from every angle, I was given some perspective "reprint" article that powerfully illustrated the blessing of pain.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/bcl/areas/churchvitalsigns/articles/061115.html
love and prayers you already and will continue to have, presents to follow :-)
Paula
Mindy,
I read your blog post. It couldn't be more perfectly "you". I want you know that your faith is an inspiration to a girl who has been struggling with hers....thank you!
mindy,
i found out on saturday, word gets around when it is someone popular in the community. needless to say i didn't want to believe it. how are you? i guess meeting for dinner is out of the question? maybe i can bring dinner to your house? i'm at a loss as to what to say or do......you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
I'm here for you anytime, anyday. You are a very special friend, one I look up to as a role model and a true Christian lady. Love you Mindy!!!!
I am very sorry to hear that you have breast cancer. I sometimes wondered in the past when a friend or myself would be diagnosed with the "C" word. I will pray for you and I'm confident that our God will use you in a mighty way through this time of trial just as He has all the days that you have known Him as your Saviour! You have always been an example to me in your personal walk with Christ. I am close by and so please do not hesitate to call for anything that you might need at this time. I will close with this scripture that I just read..... Psalm 63:1, 6-7 "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;.......Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me." Please keep me updated on your treatment and how the Lord is using you.
Much love from a friend.
I am very sorry to hear that you have breast cancer. I sometimes wondered in the past when a friend or myself would be diagnosed with the "C" word. I will pray for you and I'm confident that our God will use you in a mighty way through this time of trial just as He has all the days that you have known Him as your Saviour! You have always been an example to me in your personal walk with Christ. I am close by and so please do not hesitate to call for anything that you might need at this time. I will close with this scripture that I just read..... Psalm 63:1, 6-7 "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;.......Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me." Please keep me updated on your treatment and how the Lord is using you.
Much love from a friend.
Mindy, My dear dear friend. You are one of the strongest women I have ever met in my life. With God beside you, you are going to beat this. Please know that I am always here for you - if I have to drop all in Georgia - whenever, whatever you need or want, I will be there. I love you and will be praying for you.
Hi Mindy,
I wanted to stop and talk to you Sunday morning, but I didn't see you until just as church was ready to start -- then afterwards, we were both talking to others - and I was traveling with kids, so I had to leave when they were ready (and they were hungry!). Just wanted to tell you that I'm praying for you and that all your tests and outcomes will be really good. I know that you're praying to be kept in God's will, and there's no better place to be - but we still get a "bit" scared sometimes. Just got the e-mail that you have an appointment with your surgeon tomorrow a.m. at Magee - so we'll be thinking and praying a lot then. Just want you to know that a lot of people care and are praying for you!
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