Sorry – I should have sent this on Friday. It’s been a fun & busy weekend with family in town. And, while we couldn’t bring in a Notre Dame win (still think that was a very questionable call), it was a great weekend.
Update:
We saw the oncologist on Friday for a post-op appointment. She was very pleased with the surgery, the healing, and re-confirmed that the pathology was clear – no radiation / no chemotherapy!
I’m Cancer-Free!!! PRAISE GOD!!!
She recommended I go back to my original GYN in 6-months for a follow-up test. Depending on those results, I will either need to go back every 6 months or annually for a few more years.
To everyone reading this – THANK YOU! Whether you brought us a meal, sent flowers / card, called/ sent a text, added us to a prayer list, prayed, etc. – you are all part of this journey. And, we cannot thank you enough for all of the love, support and prayers!
That said, I know I need to share the following:
It’s My Fault:
There are many different kinds of cancer that start in various parts of the body – most of them without any understanding of the cause. That’s not my story…
We all know that God wants us to “save ourselves” for marriage.. for us to keep the marriage bed pure. Here are two verses on the topic (there are many others…)
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (GNB): Avoid immorality. Any other sin a man commits does not affect his body; but the man who is guilty of sexual immorality sins against his own body.
Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself but to God; He bought you for a price. So use your bodies for God’s glory.
Hebrews 13:4 (GNB): Marriage is to be honored by all, and husbands and wives must be faithful to each other. God will judge those who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
Unfortunately, my husband and I didn’t come into our marriage pure. So, even though we have been fully faithful to each other for our entire marriage and we know that God has forgiven us for those sins – it doesn’t mean that He took away the consequences for those actions.
While most people think about the consequences of heart break, pregnancy and STDs – most people don’t think about cancer…
My cancer was caused by HPV. That virus made changes in my cervix that turned into a very aggressive form of cancer. And, had it not be found and treated quickly, it would have spread rapidly throughout my body.
I am a LUCKY ONE!!!
Here is the good news through all of this – I am a Lucky One!
- We found it early
- It was cured
- I have a great job with benefits to allow for time off & cover most costs
- I have great family, friends & faith to get us through this journey
Think about it:
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How many others don’t have insurance (or good insurance) so they don’t go to the doctor to have the check-ups?
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How many others find it later leading to additional treatments, and may never hear the words – Cancer-Free?
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How many others find out they have cancer, but they cannot afford the time off or the treatments?
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How many others go through this without a great support system?
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How many others pull away from God at the time when they need Him the most?
I have to own this…It was my fault! And, while I am still not 100% sure what God’s plans are for me, I do believe this is part of that journey – to share this experience to help others make better choices and not have to experience this for themselves.
My message today is this (especially for those entering ages when sex is accepted and expected) –
STAY PURE! WAIT FOR MARRIAGE – It is WORTH IT!
And, I say this from a place of experience on the opposite side. I didn’t save myself. And, while I experienced the sadness and heart break, I had no idea my choices would potentially take my life. How sad would it be that I could bring three amazing children into this world, but not see them grow up because of my own poor choices???
And, when others say that saving yourself isn’t important, the Bible was written for a different time, that just isn’t even possible in the 2000s, remember these two things:
Romans 12:2 (GNB): Do not conform yourselves to this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God – what is good and is pleasing to Him and is perfect.
Matthew 7:13-14 (GNB): “Go in through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But, the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.
Others will say things to make themselves feel better about their poor choices. I say this also from experience. When you see others making better choices, it hurts. It’s like looking in the mirror and not liking what you see. So, you can either accept the choices you have made and change – or – you can take the easier road… You can make fun of those making better choices to try to bring them down.
And, if you have already made a choice that you regret – pray, ask God for forgiveness, and make better choices from now on. That’s the amazing thing about our loving, forgiving God – He has the amazing ability to forgive and to set you back on the path to His plans.
Heavenly Father,
I again come to You today in Thanksgiving! Thank You for loving me, for forgiving me, and for seeing me through this latest journey. I pray the words I shared today helps someone not fall off of Your path as I did – or helps someone get back on the path as I did.
I pray You continue to help me make the right choices that are pleasing to You. I know You have a plan for each one of us – and I am truly grateful for Your forgiveness so that I still have the opportunity to see that plan come to life.
In Jesus’ Name!
Amen
