Adventure 2017Post 2
We all at some point get the “call.” For some, it’s a call of the untimely death of a loved one. For others, it’s the call that your job is being eliminated. For others, like myself, it’s the call from the doctor saying “you have been diagnosed.”
My call came late Monday afternoon informing me that I have an early form of breast cancer known as ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS — the most common type of noninvasive breast cancer. I was prepared for these words, yet even when you know they are coming, the heart sinks.
I wrote every word she said and prepared for a series of additional phone calls to schedule appointments. For the next two hours I sat on a conference call for work. I thought the distraction would be good. Instead, I had to force myself to stay focused on the planning we were doing on the call when all I really wanted to do was crawl into the fetal position and cry.
But, here’s what is working for me as I’m processing “real time.”
1. Focusing on God’s truth: There is a wide range of emotions, feelings and thoughts one has when you get the call. I am allowing myself to feel, to cry and to process. But, I’m also directing my focus to God’s truth.
Philippians 4:6-7Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 4:25Let your eyes look directly ahead And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
2 Corinthians 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
2. Suffering isn’t a singular sport: None of us are immune to trials or suffering. And, I’m finding that there are many that have traveled the road before me. Many who are over comers and have providing comfort, strength and wisdom. The Lord can use whatever He’s brought you through if you’re willing to use it to encourage someone else on their journey.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
3. Trust the process: Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” I am trusting that everything I am going to have to go through on this adventure will have purpose. I want the battle to mean something, to do something for good. We’ll see what those things are as we go along.
Healthy questions I’m focusing on include:
· What will God do through me because of cancer?
· How will God show himself as a loving, strong and close father through this?
· What opportunities will this bring to my life's purpose?
So, whatever battle you’re facing today, perhaps we can battle together. Let’s not suffer alone. Let's encourage and equip one another to face head on whatever adventure is coming our way. We can be overcomers! Grief won’t win. Depression won’t win. Unemployment won’t win. A diagnosis won’t win. Friendship wins. Love wins. God wins.
And, for those that are praying for my adventure, here’s what the path forward at this point looks like this:
I have an MRI on Saturday to full scan my chest for any smaller issues that may need to be biopsied.
I will have a genetic testing consult with an oncologist on Jan. 18 and then the genetic testing on Jan. 25th. This will determine if I’m predisposed to any other cancers.
I have surgery consults on Jan. 23 and 26th.
At this point, we aren’t sure of what type of surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy) or a full treatment plan until we have the MRI and the genetic testing.
My schedule is really not my own for the next coming months as I must do what the doctors tell me but my plan is to work every day that I can up until the day of surgery and be back at work as soon as they release me.
- I am praying that the genetic testing will NOT show any predisposition to other cancers.
- For peace and healing through the process.
- For God to be glorified.
Thanks for joining me on this adventure!