It would be remiss of us not to acknowledge today as the one year anniversary of Sue's diagnosis.

It is a somewhat confusing anniversary. On one hand, it is just another day. On another hand, it marks a year of living with varying levels of discomfort, pain, tiredness, medical procedures, uncertainty, confusion and the emotional toll that all that exacts. On another hand, it marks a year of living.... when earlier suggestions cast some doubt on that. On yet another hand (I know, that is four hands now!), it is an appropriate moment to stop and acknowledge that in and among it all, it has been a year of incredible blessing to us individually, as a couple and as a family. Such have been the blessings that should we be given the choice to re-live the last 12 months without the cancer, we would grieve the loss of the things we have learned, grown in, enjoyed and cherished while on the journey. Strange hey?

Laura Story says it pretty well in her song "Blessings". We can attest to the underlying truth in these words.

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
And all the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your word is not enough
And all the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not,
This is not our home
It's not our home

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

You can hear the song on Youtube by clicking here

 

In the last year we have come to understand in a new, different and deeper way the truth of 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in us.

Now that is a real blessing. 

We look forward continuing to share the journey with you all in 'year two'.