Today my first born daughter celebrates 21 years of marriage to such a wonderful man that God selected for her. Much to my surprise he planted him in the most unusual place to make her acquaintance. Yes ladies, I do recall saying to her that she should not hang out there, she would never meet the man of her dreams in such a place. Well, I am big enough to admit it when I am wrong, and boy was I wrong. Jeff is such a wonderful person and they have been through so many character molding moments in their 21 years of marriage.
Shortly after they were married, six months to be exact, Jeff developed a severe sore throat. He like all of us tried to treat it at home and ended up going to the doctor to be told you have tonsillitis. The doctor gave him a prescription and sent him on his way. That was on Friday if my memory serve me correctly. By Saturday night Jeff was in so much pain and running 104 plus fever so we headed for the ER. That began a battery of test that led to the diagnosis of leukemia on Tuesday morning. He was immediately transported to Barnes where he began 2 1/2 years of chemo treatments.
Can you imagine trying to make the adjustments to marriage as a young couple and dealing with the life and death struggle of cancer at the same time. God's presence was so overwhelmingly present during those days. Chrissy was a rock on the outside, she would not allow anyone to even come near them if they were going to cry. She cried the day of the diagnosis for about 2 minutes and said that was enough, we have to fight the fight of our lives. When I think about that day I am amazed and in awe of the people that God placed around us to help guide us through those first few days when your body is so in shock it cannot even absorb the information being thrown at you. Jeff has a wonderful testimony of this time in their life. God has used Jeff in the lives of many other people facing the same thing, Jeff gives encouragement to many.
One of the hardest blows for Chrissy and Jeff was when they were told there would probably be no children. They wanted children but the reality of so many chemo treatments made that dream out of reach. They were given several options but Chrissy did not think that was the right choice for them and so they decided to wait a length of time to see what God would do. I remember the day Chrissy called, voice shaky and she said, "Mom can I come over"? She arrived at my house white as a ghost holding a home pregnancy test. She held it out to me and asked me if I indeed saw it said she was pregnant? When I said yes, that began a day of huge celebration, Katie was born in November. All babies are beautiful and a blessing from God, but she was our little miracle. Then the LORD blessed them again a few years later with another miracle named Will.
God has blessed our family in ways that leave me in awe and speechless. There have been many hard days to travel through , but through it all, His grace has always been sufficient. He has been, and always will be faithful to us. Chrissy used to sing, Thy Word, how wonderful it has been to be along for the ride to see just how He has provided a lamp unto her feet and light unto her path.
Some of you reading this right now are going through a very hard path. Let me encourage you to keep moving, don't stop to take it all in, you will never figure it out. Trust Him to walk before you, look for lamp and follow Him. Some things do not make sense, some things are harder than even words can speak of. The groanings of our spirit are for God's ears. Humans can't hear them or even understand them if we could hear. Cry out to Him and ask Him to lead you.
Chrissy and Jeff went through so many hard days. Days when it was so dark and scary but look where they are now. They are on the other side of cancer, they have two beautiful children and a family that loves them and is so very proud of them. There journey is not over, we don't know what the days ahead hold. But I can rest in the LORD knowing nothing is a surprise to Him and He will guide us if we yield to His direction.
Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105
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