Back to the Beginning

"He feels our weakness, knows our need
And for our good He intercedes.
All is well because of God's great love.
Through every failure, every fear
The Lord of comfort draws us near.
And all is well because of God's great love."
[sovgrace.music]

One year ago...
It was just a normal day.
I had a nutritious breakfast of cereal,
Then headed across the street to the ghetto Giant to drop of medicine.
Gatorade on sale? Sweet. I'll take three.
Grabbed some Cliff Bars, picked up my medicine, then headed off to class.
After a not so thrilling class I headed to my cousin's house for lunch.
Then, everything changed.

Dad had been doing some remodeling at my cousins house less than 10 minutes from school. So whenever I had a break from classes and RA duty I would go over and spend quality time sleeping on their comfy couch.

When I got to my cousin's house I was affectionately greeted by both my dad and my cousin (who was working from home). We sat in the living room, ate pizza for lunch [we are really big on nutrition] and just talked about life. My cousin asked me how school was, my students, etc. During our lunch time my uncle called me. I answered unsure why he was calling me...

"hello?"
"andrea. why are you answering your dad's phone."
"um, this is my phone."
"oh..."

[this is what happens when your name and your dad's name is different by only 1 letter]

I gave the phone to my dad and he went out front to talk to him, while my cousin and I continued to enjoy our pizza and conversation. He came back inside and sat down next to me on the couch and said something that I will never forget.

"andi. the doctor called back this morning. you are really sick. you have cancer."

Nothing could have prepared me for this moment. But yet here I was, in the middle of my cousin's living room, eating pizza. We said goodbye to my cousin and dad took me back home to maryland. It was the longest 40 minute drive I have ever experienced. But, it was full of texting RA co-workers to let them know what was going on and phone calls with good friends who shared scripture with me and prayed for me.

I expected to come home to just my mom and brother, but got so much more. Two of our very good friends were there waiting for us. They were there to comfort my mom and brother. They were there to pray with us and for me. Later my pastor and my parent's pastor came by to also pray for me. Later on that day my best friend came by to visit and make me laugh. This my friends, is the body of Christ at work.

After that day, I guess you could say the rest is history. We didn't know what was in store for us. We didn't know where I would go for treatment. We didn't even know what kind of cancer I had. But we knew that we serve a powerful God.

That weekend I came home was the last weekend of the current Youth Drama Production at our church. They were performing "Acts" - an original play written by the talented Cathy Mays [which I also happened to be apart of when I was in high school]. If you have been to any of these youth drama plays you know that they are nothing more than moving. And if you know the story of Acts, you know that the story of Paul's journey and suffering is inspiring.

After God revealed himself to Paul on the road to Damascus, nothing could keep him from sharing the gospel of Christ. Even through suffering, Paul knew that God had him there for a reason. And he trusted that God knew what He was doing, even if Paul didn't.

The next few days after coming home were uncertain. We didn't know where the road before us was leading. My parents spent countless hours driving to different offices trying to figure out the legal aspects of what was going on. I would be lying if I told you that everything was peachy in those few days. We trusted God even when we didn't know what was before us.

I remember leaving the youth drama production that night and seeing one of my dear friends, Brittany. We were talking about everything that was going on and in the middle of the conversation she gasped and said that she would be right back. She went downstairs to her office and grabbed the newest CD that was published by Sovereign Grace Music. That CD became one of our family's favorite albums to listen to during this time. The title of the album was "From Age to Age" and each song talked about how through all the ages God remains the same and He remains faithful.

Looking back on this past year, there is nothing I can do but to be grateful for what God has done. There were times where the road was uncertain and there were many times where the road was painful and difficult. During this time not only did my family grow closer together as we trusted and depended on God to get us through, but I truly understood the meaning of the body of Christ.

One year ago, everything changed. Within that year God tested me, I experienced suffering like I had never experienced before, but I also experienced more grace than I have ever experienced before. I can tell you many funny stories about doctor's visits, or hospitals, or how delusional I was on meds. But more importantly, I can tell you that our God is faithful and continues to be faithful even in the darkest of trials. If there is anything that I have learned from this whole experience, it has been that our God is unchanging and that the same God who was faithful to Paul so many years ago continues to be faithful to each and every one of us today.