It doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care how many loved ones you have. It doesn’t mind what age, race, or background you come from. It doesn’t think about how many memories you have made or how many you have left to make. Its name is |C A N C E R|.
I thought I had already been given my hardest challenge on the World Race after my Grandma died while in Romania, but I was wrong. “The doctors say she only has a few months left to live”. This was the text I received from my mother about a month ago. Her name is Karen. My sweet, sweet Aunt Karen. It was never a worry I had.
“But she’s already survived lung cancer twice. She was supposed to fight through this third time. Why isn’t treatment working anymore?”
The things is, death is never going to make sense. It’s never going to be convenient. It’s never going to feel good. As hard as this news was to receive, I immediately messaged my aunt. After my long message of grievances and I love you’s, her response was nothing less than amazing. Instead of being filled with sadness and self-pity, her response back was that she was praying for ME and proud of ME.
“I’m at peace with what’s happening, I know without a doubt it’s God’s plan for me. I hope I can still be here when you come home, but if not, we will see each other again one day; of that I’m sure.”
Now, meet Justine. Justine lives in the small village of Qwa Qwa, about 45 minutes from Harrismith. Justine has 5 children and lost her husband while she was 8 months pregnant with her last child. Justine lives in a small, tin house making and brewing her own beer to support her family. Justine has never heard the full Gospel of Jesus and longs for protection over her family. She wishes to attend church, but is afraid she will be judged and unwelcome due to her career choice. After sharing the Gospel with her, I decided to encourage her with the story of my sweet Aunt Karen. I told her death is never an easy thing to go through and I could not understand fully what she was going through, but I do know how we can have peace. I told her how my Aunt Karen’s days are numbered, yet she has no reason to be afraid. She has found rest in her soul and is confident in her Father’s will for her life. I told her this confidence can only be found through Jesus. He died on the cross so that we may spend eternity with Him. He died a wretched death so that we no longer have to fear it. After our conversation, Justine decided to give her life to Christ. I now have another sister in this body of Christ.
Even though my Aunt Karen has but a short time left here on this earth, her story (your story) can still be used. We must never look so down on our circumstances that we forget to look at the big picture of how God can and wants to use us.
Even while taking many lives, it can also save lives.
Its name is |C A N C E R|.
