Lavender Hair: Devotions For Women With Breast CancerSample

 Diagnosis with a Southern Drawl 

Cancer was partially announced to me on the phone by a slow-drawling Southern belle named Tracey, who used big words and made it sound so sweet and delicious that when I hung up, I was as happy as if I’d just won a free pecan pie at the county fair.

“We won’t really know if the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes until we open you up,” says Tracy the Southern Belle. Open me up? They are going to cut me open. I had been wanting to lose those implants for years but not exactly like this. The surgery to remove the spiderlike clump was scheduled for as soon as possible. Of course, we had to go through health insur­ance red tape. I found myself on the phone with a stranger, telling her that cancer was eating me alive, and if she would please just push the paperwork through a little faster, I would really appreciate it and might not literally die. This year. 

“There are a lot of people ahead of you in line with the same prob­lems, honey.” Gum smack. Gum smack. I was hoping my life was more meaningful than that. Standing in a line. 

I knew God must have an important reason for me getting this dire diagnosis. My first thought was: God must want me to witness to some­one in this medical maze. So, I ordered some leather devotionals, Daily Light by Anne Graham Lotz, and gave them to some of the staff at the Vanderbilt Breast Clinic. I had their names engraved on the cover. I know God will use my situation for His glory and for my benefit. 

At church, when Balcony Mike (the balcony usher) found out I had cancer, he forced me to meet the worship leader, Debi Selby, because she had just gone through breast cancer. Mike literally pushed me into her, because I was too shy. I had watched her singing onstage every Sunday, going bald, wear­ing head scarves, being prayed over, and being healed. I had prayed for her healing, not knowing I was next. Debi hugged me tight and instantly became my cheerleader. She ended up walking through it with me, sending me encouraging texts with Scripture, and giving me her scarves. She even bought me a leopard one. Don’t you know all women over fifty love animal prints! 

Other friends sent flowers, cards, Bible verses, a patchwork quilt, knitted shawls, and hats. Every gesture of love touched me deeply and stays with me now. Never one to accept help or pity, it was uncomfort­able, but I took all the gifts, prayers, and love and was grateful. Husband and I discuss the near future. We cannot carry this load. It’s too heavy. We pray. We are appre­hensive but also have an overwhelming supernatural peace that can only be from Christ. I look at Husband. Eye to eye. Soul to soul. Husband says, “One day at a time.”

Tip: Bring your Bible everywhere. Better yet, put it into your head. Memorize it. It has a happy ending.