I made a promise, more like a bargain, birthed in desperate pleas for life. If God would just heal me and save my life, I would use this experience to help others with a cancer diagnosis. Boy, did I underestimate how He was going to see if I was serious!
Every morning when I wake up and into the evening at bedtime there are messages and texts from all kinds of people. Some dealing with cancer diagnoses, but some just dealing with overwhelming life issues. I fully admit there are times I am not sure how they have come to be connected with me or where it all started. But somewhere along my journey God dropped a pebble into my life and connected me with someone and from that relationship a ripple effect has taken place. One person connects me with another person and for whatever reason they are reaching out for help, advice, understanding and prayer.
Let me be clear about my qualifications: I am not a certified counselor, but as a pastor’s wife I have had much experience with hurting and broken people and the need for confidentiality. I am not a nurse, but I went to college for medical assisting and I have been in every type of doctor office and had every kind of test you can imagine, so I know some medical terms and how it feels to be poked and prodding for what feels like eternity. I have had friends share their stories of numerous variations of cancer surgeries with me. I have had work experience with multiple service agencies within our community. I have worked in a funeral home with grieving families, medical staff, hospice staff and insurance companies. I have had friends in hospice care and experienced what is it like to watch someone transition from this life. Coincidence? I don’t think so. I think God was equipping me for this moment in time for many years.
My only real qualification is that I am a child of God; a sinner saved by His amazing grace and healed by His wonderful mercy. There is absolutely nothing special about me. There is nothing that I have done within myself that makes me important. I rely on God to connect me with people that have a need. And I definitely rely on Him to do all the work. I am just an old, cracked and broken vessel praying God will see some place for it to be used. I am abundantly blessed by each person I have been connected to and I learn so much about God, myself and my faith is deepened with each conversation we have.
I don’t think He uses me to help others as much as He uses them to bless and help me. Thank you for allowing God to use you in my life.
“… And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 NIV)