I had a great talk with Jane last week. Remember Jane? She is my good friend and fellow Dare 2 Share co-laborer who is now dealing with a second cancer diagnosis after just recently recovering from breast cancer a little over a year ago.
Jane is 30% through her chemo treatments. 2 down, 4 to go. We had a minute in the midst of the busy work day for me to ask how she was doing. How she was REALLY doing. She sat down and calmly explained to me that while it has been hard (and especially difficult on her children), God has given her just enough grace and mercy that she needs at any given moment. We joked about how it could be illustrated like a video game – you jump and sure enough here comes a platform to land on – just in time!
Sure enough. That’s how He rolls. “Come to me,” He says. “Don’t worry about tomorrow, today has it’s own problems,” He reminds us.
Last week Rick’s company was sold. It certainly didn’t come as a major surprise, they had been struggling for years. We can’t even recall a profitable quarter. But when you are 50 years old with MS and have commited over 15 years to a place, it’s still a hardy jolt. How’s Rick? He, like Jane, is a pillar of faith. He won’t know anything for about a month while the company goes through a special accelerated Chapter 11 bankruptcy process and then finalizes the merger. But Rick is patiently waiting to see what God has in store next.
We’ve been talking for a while about life changes as we enter a new “season.” Looks like those changes will come whether we like it or not! 🙂
So, here we go… JUMP! Thank you Lord, in advance, because we know that you will provide that platform for us to land on “just in time.”
April 6, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Hi Debb!
Praying for you and Rick as you go through this transition. Praying for Jane as she goes through her cancer treatments…and praying for my faith to be able to “Jump” Love ya and miss ya!
April 8, 2009 at 2:02 am
Great reminder, thanks. I remember an old lady when I was 8 years old whose house burned down along with everything she owned in the world. She was mostly homeless from that point on until she went into a nursing home. When my mom and I picked her up from the fire, she got in the car and my mom asked how she was doing. Without missing a beat, she smiled and said, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Even at 8 years old, that changed my perspective on “stuff” forever. I’ll never forget it.
April 19, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Thanks Tim. Every time I sing those words I am reminded that everything we have (trials included) is a blessing from Him!
April 15, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Thanks, Debb, for this post. Jane and Rick are heroes! I love their attitudes to life’s curve balls. God’s grace is given as a daily dose – we don’t get to borrow from the future, but as sure as the sun rises each day we are told his mercies are new every morning! I praise God for that in my own life, too. There’s so many times where I go to bed whooped, but encouraged because I know my God will faithfully provide all I need the next day – not only to handle whatever comes, but to handle it with joy in my heart as long as I focus on him. Praise God! I love your insight on this blog. It’s deep and very life giving!
April 19, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Favorite friend — you are an inspiriation and you breathe life into me when I am almost on empty. Thank you!