In 1995, my husband Tom was diagnosed with
brain cancer, at the age of 29. As
a new mother with an 11-month-old son, a part time job, and a wonderful husband,
I often felt that God was blessing us beyond measure.
When the doctor told us Tom had three to six months to live, God seemed
very far away. Coming from a
faith-filled family, the prayer chain of friends, and church-families reached
from Alaska to Panama and from California to Africa within a matter of weeks.
I did not “feel” God was working, but looking back, I can see how very active He was in our lives during that time.
As Tom’s strength and energy returned, the three of us began several traditions which strengthened our faith and prepared us for the sad times that would come. We began having a family prayer time each night and reading the Bible daily together.
God healed Tom’s body but more importantly He healed our hearts and drew both Tom and I into a closer relationship with Him
After three and a half years of being cancer free, Tom was diagnosed in 1999, with recurrent brain cancer. This time, though, even in our sadness- even knowing that this time Tom would not survive –we were much calmer, peace-filled and accepting of our situation. We recognized this as God’s plan.
God has blessed my son and I with a wonderful godly man to be a husband and father for us. And He has also added two daughters to our lives. What a wonderful God to give our heart’s desire!
Viewing God, as a great God shouldn’t be about getting what we want, though as Sheila Walsh said, “God’s grace is the same whether He gives us what we want or what we dread.” He is an awesome God and gives us only the best.