Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: TRIAL (05/10/18)
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TITLE: Mother of the Bride | Previous Challenge Entry
By Trudy Newell
05/17/18 -
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The malignant tumor on Linda’s brain had grown rapidly. My wife was in surgery. I sat in the waiting room aware that the Lord was going to take Linda home. It seemed like hours before Dr. Parker came through the door.
"Here it comes," I thought, as he motioned me into a side room.
“Mr. Anderson, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t get it all. To make matters worse it appears to be a fast-growing meningioma, resistant to both chemo and radiation.”
He paused, to let this sink in.
“I wish I had a better prognosis. But you need to know the truth. I’m so sorry.”
Dr. Parker continued. “This is how it will most likely play out. Linda will recover from the surgery and feel better for a short time. That’s when you should go ahead and do whatever it is that she would enjoy. Once the tumor grows back, she’ll go downhill rapidly.”
“What time frame do we have?” I asked tearing up.
“About six months.”
“I think we can move our daughter’s wedding up. Kim and Brad were planning an August wedding.”
“Yes, that would be wise. I’m not sure Linda will be here in August.”
Kim arrived shortly, and we went to Linda’s room. It was no surprise to Kim as I gently relayed the sad news. We had all hoped for the best but understood the stark reality of the facts.
Kim teared up, and I gave her a hug as they rolled a groggy Linda in and settled her.
Dr Parker arrived. I sat on Linda’s bed and held her hand, Kim wept as Dr. Parker said.
“Linda, I know you’re a woman of faith. I couldn’t remove all the tumor. The prognosis is not good. Later I’ll give you some details. You can talk with Steve. If you have any questions I’ll do my best to answer them. I’m so sorry I don’t have better news.”
In a couple of days Linda came home. Just as Dr. Parker predicted, she started feeling better.
I watched her bubble with enthusiasm helping Kim plan for the wedding. Wow! What a godly woman.
The wedding date was set for the last Saturday in April.
I was awed at Linda’s faith.
“Honey,” she would say, “Heaven is our home. It just looks like I’m going to get there before you.”
She had her melt downs. But journaling on ‘Caring Times’, a blog for people going through struggles blessed her. She would post three times a week to let our friends know how things were going. I wonder how many lives she touched as she walked through the valley of the shadow of death.
As a family we trusted God together. Everyone in church was praying, and our friends and family around the country were holding us up in prayer. We felt the sustaining grace of God, and knew he was walking with us.
After several checkups that appeared as normal, one day Dr. Parker looked at the new scan and frowned, “I don’t understand this. Something isn’t right. I’m doing another scan.”
After the second scan Dr. Parker came in scratching his head. I could tell by the expression on his face that something had happened.
“I have no explanation for this.” He paused. “But I have great news for you. There is no sign of the tumor.”
We sat there in shock. We believed in the power of God, and his willingness to heal in answer to prayer. But we were like the believers praying for Peter’s release from prison. We weren’t anticipating what God had in mind.
What joy filled our hearts as we went home and told Brad and Kim the good news. The next post on ‘Caring Times’ received lots of responses. God’s people don’t always get a chance to see God work in this manner, and what a testimony it was to God’s love, power, and grace.
I know my prayer life changed. Walking through this trial brought me closer to the Lord.
Linda told me, “Steve, remember, the valley of the shadow of death is only a shadow.”
The next two months were a bustle of activity around our house. Brad and Kim were married the last Saturday in April as scheduled.
As I walked Kim down the aisle, I saw Linda sitting there in her royal blue silk dress. She looked stunning, and the picture of health.
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God does still perform miracles everywhere, all the time, and this piece has reminded me of that. Well-written and very believable, that is, if it is fiction. But I can see it happening. Happens all the time with this glorious and gracious Friend and Papa we call God. Thanks for sharing such a heart-warming and mesmerizing message. You write sincerely and effectively. Blessings...