Written by our very own fantastic teacher- Miss Mackie
Announcing that you may or may not have a life-threatening disease is probably not the best way to tell your co-workers that you are home from camp. But, if emergency, the specialist and my emerge nurse mom’s combined suspicion is cancer, the immediate reaction is to reach out for prayer and support. Before I continue the rest of the post, let it be clarified that I do not have cancer.
In the midst of waiting for the biopsy results, I had about a week to ponder my scenario. There could have been a lot of freaking out. There was a possibility for anger; why would God allow a seventeen-year-old, about to start university, to endure something so terrible? Regret regarding things I chose not to do or pushed until “later” floated in my mind.
Fortunately, peace was so present in that week as well. I was given the chance to evaluate what I had accomplished and how I had been living. Recently, in deciding where I would begin my education studies, my dream was Trinity (Their five-year program/access to a special ed teachable/pretty much everything about it), but I had accepted that I would attend UFV or maybe UBC. In an ideal situation, I would have loved to attend Trinity, teach dance at LOFT and somehow serve at camp this past summer. The reality was, that I would have to give up at least one of these. I spent a lot of time praying for direction and guidance in these areas. Blessings began to sprout out in many unusual places. As God works in marvelous ways, he gave me the opportunity to do all three.
So, as I wondered if I had done enough in my seventeen years, I realized that God had blessed me beyond anything I could ever imagine. I was able to serve and love in unexpected ways and I am content with this. He is ridiculously good and loving. I have so many reasons to celebrate. One in particular being that the biopsy revealed no cancer.
This experience challenged me to wholeheartedly TRUST. Because regardless of financial, emotional or physical obstacles, I am here to serve. These hands and this heart are not for my own glory.
As Joanne often ends these blog posts with a prayer, I would like to pray that this next year we will listen to and trust God’s plan. I would like to especially lift up those that do not feel content or feel like there is anything to celebrate; that God would use us regardless of our physical capabilities. AMEN!