My Life is a Status Update

My aunt was my best friend.  After my parents divorced, my mom, three sisters and I moved in with my Grandparents.  My aunt, who had never married, still lived there at the farm.  I don’t ever remember a time that I ever thought she was any less than awesome!

Nancy was an incredibly giving person and so much fun to be around.  She gave so much to me as a child that I owe my “success” in life to her.

We had a special bond that kept me by her side more often than not.  She loved photography and I also grew to have an interest in capturing memories in print.  I would often borrow her 35mm camera loaded with a new roll of film and would hike the acres of farm searching for that perfect shot.

In college, living hours away from home, when loneliness would set in, I knew I could always pick up the phone and talk to my Aunt Nancy.  And we talked for hours and hours and yet she never got tired of taking my calls.

Nancy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002.  We were all devastated.  Treatments began and I hated seeing her pain that she had to deal with in hopes of recovering.  And I was scared.  Scared by the thought of the worst outcome.

Motivated by fear, I remember dropping to my knees one day, praying, begging God to save my aunt.  I prayed and prayed and prayed until a peace came over me.  I felt as though God was telling me, “Everything is going to be OK.”

For New Years 2004, my husband and I drove to her house, picked her up, and drove her back to our apartment to spend the weekend with us.  By this time the cancer had already spread and was taking over her body.  She was no longer able to drive herself and walking was becoming labored.

While at our apartment she was reading her Bible and I related to her the story of me praying for her and God telling me everything would be ok.  And with the faith of a saint she said to me, “Well I know everything will be ok.  I just don’t know whether or not I’m going to live.”

My heart sank!  I was crushed!  Because how could life be ok without her here?

Nancy died June 2004.  We buried her on my 29th birthday.

Eight years have passed now and I have contemplated and learned much from the faithfulness of her words.  I am encouraged knowing she felt the hope of a promise that was made a couple thousand years ago.  “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:4 NKJV

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

So many people know someone or is someone affected by the epidemic proportions in which breast cancer seems to have spread.  I am all for early detection and early prevention.  And I encourage those that are fighting the battle to hang in there and fight with your might.  And know that no matter the outcome, “Everything will be ok!”

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4 NKJV