The weekend’s activities beaconed to me as I prepared for my final meeting of the day. Sports, church, and other commitments danced through my mind as I considered the logistics of getting everyone where they needed to be and when they needed to be there. Despite my desire to get started on all those activities, a couple of hours reminded in the day. Luckily, my Friday afternoon appointment included discussing resourcing concerns with one of my favorite people in and out of the workplace.
As she entered my office and closed the door, I smiled broadly. With such similar lives and personalities, we are able to cover multiple topics is rapid succession. We think quickly on our feet, manage multiple activities, have a gaggle of kids at home, and have walked through the fire of divorce to find our wonderful and amazing husbands on the other side. I knew our little chat would help time move by more quickly.
Throwing in a bit of small talk before we got down to business, we shared our weekend plans and some recent struggles with difficult teenage boys. Suddenly, she revealed a secret that left my jaw hanging open and my mind struggling to understand. All other thoughts fled quickly from my mind. Speechless (which is excessively rare for me!), I simply stared despite the fact that my response only made her more uncomfortable.
For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. Mark 4:22 (NIV)
The Announcement
“I have cancer.” Her statement overwhelmed my senses and my thoughts swirled. Finally, I stuttered, “When did you find out?” Slowly, she admitted that she had known for over a week. I thought back to the nice lunch we shared just a few days ago away from the office and the fact that she hadn’t given me any indication that she faced a life changing event. I had difficulty wrapping my mind around the discrepancy between her announcement and her behavior.
“Are you okay?” The question felt so inadequate for her condition. Of course she wasn’t okay! I immediately regretted the question. Yet, I didn’t have anything better to offer. Where were all of my eloquent words and quick thoughts? Had all reason fled me?
“I’m actually doing okay.” I considered that for a moment and then remembered the reason I like her so much and related to her so easily. She was just like me.
Not that I’ve ever faced a similar situation, but my husband will testify that I’m amazing with the big things. It’s the little daily annoyances that push me to my breaking point. I felt reasonably certain that I my reaction to such a discovery would be very similar.
Accepting that fact allowed me to relax a bit and curiosity replace shock. “How did you find out?” I wondered out loud. Unperturbed by my question, she thoughtfully shared her unbelievable story.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God. Mark 10:27 (NIV)
Return next week as I reveal the shocking turn of events that surrounded her discovery in “Life Changing – Part 2 of 3”.
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