Abby and Eason,
Last night I introduced you to a giant. It was a giant I never wanted to face. It was a giant that I never wanted our family to face. Two masses – possibly cancer.
I saw your faces. I understand your fear. I sympathize with your shock. And, I want to lead you well as we face the giant.
Know, first, that I am not scared of it. I don’t think this giant has any power. But I understand that it is big and I want you to know you are safe sharing all of your emotions as you face the giant. I want to protect you, and I want to teach you to lean into Jesus as you face the giant. I want you to know that an entire world of giants are powerless because of Christ.
But, before I go any farther, I want you to know this. We don’t know yet if this is a giant we have to face. I think some people might call it bad parenting that I shared what is going on with you before I even know if in fact it is cancer. Today, all we know is that I have two masses. They don’t belong in my body, but statistics say there is a strong possibility they are not cancerous.
So, why would I tell you? I know I mentioned this last night, but you had a lot to absorb, so I want to say it again.
Jesus is at work around us every day. He is writing stories, and if all we acknowledge is the end of the story, we miss so much of its power. Imagine a movie where a man discovers he is a superhero then it jumps to a scene where the bad guy is laying on the ground and the superhero’s foot is on his chest. Yes, the superhero won. But there would have been so much of the story missed. How did the superhero feel when he learned he was a superhero? Did he even want that for his life? When did he embrace his identity as a hero? What problems helped him become strong enough to fight the bad guy?
The stories that surround us aren’t just the beginning and the end. The story is found in the process. It is found in the struggle. It is found in daily life. The story of Jesus isn’t just that Jesus came then Jesus died and rose. We learn about Jesus’ love in His every day activities and challenges – in the way he treated leopards, in the way he responded to the Pharisees, in the way he taught His disciples, in the way He talked to the Father, and much more. The story of Jesus is in His everyday dependence on the Father, a dependence that prepared Him to die, to defeat death, and to return to the Father.
I want you to be in this story with me – cancer or not. I promise to lead you through it. I will find that strength by leaning into the Father.
I am not scared. Giants can look big, but the promises of the Father are much bigger.
My request to you is this. As we go through it, look to Jesus. Let’s watch Him work. Let’s not worry about the outcome. Let’s just be in the story. I pray, no matter what this journey looks like or how it ends, that you will look back on this season and know that there is power in the name of Jesus and that He has drawn you with His lovingkindness. He is all you need, and He will be with you every step in the story.
I love you both more than you will ever imagine.
Mom
P.S. We read Hebrews 3 last night. I didn’t plan it, but the Lord did. Go back and read it.