Three Things Surviving Taught Me

Last week marked my 10 year anniversary as a cancer survivor. At diagnosis I was not expected to live two years, let alone ten!

God is still in the business of miracles. Not only am I here, but there is no cancer in my body.

What have I learned since surviving cancer diagnosis and treatment a decade ago?

1. Tomorrow isn’t promised. This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Even when the events of today are not what I would author, I choose to search for the positives and make the best of difficult circumstances.  And when I don’t wanna, I ask God for the strength, endurance, and desire to do the right thing in tough times.
2. Life is tough, but I’m never alone. I did every type of surgery possible for my cancer. I endured five months of chemo and 28 radiation treatments. Then I returned to the oncologist every three weeks for IV drug therapy, for a year. The rest of life ought to be easy, right?  Uh, no. Unfathomable to me a decade ago, there are crises more difficult than cancer. Cancer treatment had an end date. Some crises don’t. I could (and did) openly request prayer while fighting cancer. But sometimes, a crisis may affect me but it is not my story to tell.  That mountaintop faith I experienced while fighting cancer has been challenged many times since. I will attest: God keeps His promises, no matter what life throws at us! The same God who carried me through cancer is helping me through the challenges of today.
3. He knows the plans He has for me. And, His plans are good, even if I would have never designed them. At diagnosis, I just wanted to live. To continue building a lifetime of memories with my husband. To see my three little girls grow up. To just maybe, one day see my life dream fulfilled.  God did heal me. He let me live. I have made more memories, have witnessed my daughters become beautiful young ladies. But, He did have a few surprises for me. While my heart’s desires haven’t changed, His current calling on my life is different from what I ever envisioned.  I can trust Him. It will all work out. Somehow, amazingly, it does all get done.                                                                 And I’m still here. Proof of God’s goodness. A testimony to His grace and mercy. An example of His child attempting to live out whatever He has called me to do.  Because He is good. He can be trusted. He has plans for a survivor who thought she knew how to order life.