Have you ever gotten news that literally took your breath away? Me too.
Whether it was heartbreaking loss, a scary medical diagnosis or other crushing news- sometimes life gives us more than we can handle.
A week before Christmas my family’s world turned completely upside down with a late night call. I don’t remember the details- only a few terrifying words about our son, Michael. Words like, “scans, extreme pain, lymph nodes,
emergency surgery …” Within minutes we had packed whatever we could find and started the 3 ½ hour drive to Charleston, SC.
Christmas week and the weeks since have been filled with sweet family time, doctor visits, world-class friends and one of the scariest words in the English language.
As author, Lysa TerKeurst puts it, “there’s no easy way to attach the word cancer to your world and not make all who love you cry. (It’s Not Supposed to be this Way book.)
We are thankful a couple brilliant doctors at Duke and MD Anderson have assured us that the surgery removed the bad stuff– but that treatments will be an “insurance policy” for the future. Well alrighty then. Treatments started this week, and we fully believe Michael is healed, by Jesus’ mighty power. Amen.
There are a couple things I’ve noticed during this really tough chapter. If you’re in a, “more than I can handle” season right now, I hope they help you, too.
Tears Are a Really Good Thing
Last week, when I mentioned Michael’s situation to a complete stranger, an embarrassing and sudden Tsunami of tears erupted. Half a box of Kleenex later, I was finally able to catch my breath. The tearful pattern continued on and off all day long. Surely I must be losing my mind, I thought.
The next day, I spoke with a counselor friend and casually asked if he thought I was going crazy. Ever been there? He was so compassionate to assure me, “you’re not going crazy. You’re a mom.” He went on to tell me that tears are actually a really good thing.
All that to say, if you find yourself uncontrollably crying, or questioning, angry or whatever… please know you’re not going crazy. You’re human! And tears are actually a really good thing.
Don’t Go it Alone
If you have one person in your life you can call day or night, no matter what, you are truly Blessed! After years of attempting to fly solo through grief, tragedy and life, I finally figured out we were never designed to face the crushingly hard stuff by ourselves!!
Today when I realized Michael had been battling intense treatment-related pain, I called up five Prayer Warrior Angel friends. Within moments, prayers from multiple states were being lifted, fearlessly and out loud- for this pain to forever leave his body! Please feel free to join this Prayer Angel Army!
If you don’t have someone to walk with or to pray for you, I want to encourage you to ask the Lord to send them. Or, add a comment on the Grief Survivor Facebook page. I’d be honored to pray for you…and might even call up the Prayer Warrior Angels on your behalf!
The Lord’s promise that He is close to the brokenhearted; and that He will rescue us when we’re crushed in spirit, has been a lifeline for me. My prayer is that these words (Psalm 34:18) will comfort you, too with peace and strength.