“Trust in the Lord with all you heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall make your path straight” Proverbs 3:5
Last year I made an appointment for my annual mammogram. I have done this for years – since I was forty. I never really give it another thought after the “squeeze job” was over. Painful, but a precautionary necessity.
This time, a few days after my mammogram, the Women’s Health Clinic called and asked me to come in to review my x-rays. They had found something in both of my breasts. Somewhat stunned, I made an appointment for the following Monday morning – five days later.
I stopped what I was doing for a few minutes and talked to the Lord and emailed my husband, who was traveling. A group of women were coming over in the next 30 minutes, so I didn’t have time to dwell on it. At the end of our prayer meeting, I told them and they prayed for me.
Between Thursday morning when I got the call and the Monday appointment, many “What if’s?” crossed my mind. A friend who has gone through breast cancer recommended a book to read before the appointment. It was very helpful. I now knew what to expect and what kind of questions to ask.
Some questions I asked myself were: What if it is cancer? Will I be able to continue working? Will my breasts have to be removed?
If it is cancer, will I be satisfied that I have followed God’s direction as best I can? Have I done all I could to bring others to faith in Christ and disciple them? Have I loved my husband, children and grandchildren the way God expected me too.? Have I been a good steward of the resources God entrusted to me?
If it turns out to be cancer, is there anything more I would like to see or anywhere I would still like to go? Would my journey with Christ change? Would I take a different road?
When God interrupts, a person stops, looks and listens.
Monday morning my husband and I drove to the Women’s Health Clinic – rather quietly and prayerfully. Upon arriving, I had two more mammograms on each breast. Painful. Then I was called in to see the radiologist and had an ultrasound. She told me that they were cysts but nothing to be concerned about. She drained the larger cyst and the smaller one was squished during one of the mammograms. No cancer.
My husband and I celebrated! I emailed the friends that had prayed for me and thanked them for praying. One woman replied, “Isn’t God awesome?”
I wrote back, “God is awesome and He would still be awesome if the tests had shown that I had breast cancer.”
God is good all the time – even when He interrupts our plans.
Thank You, Lord, for being awesome. Thank You for peace that passes all understanding. Thank You for friends who pray. Thank You for our bodies that are so wonderfully made. We love You. Amen.
by Katherine Kehler
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