Today at church a man was wheeled in whom I failed to recognize until his wife followed after him. John and his wife, Donna, are fairly new to our church community (they've moved here permanently a few months ago away from their deeply known and loved family and friends). They're older with grown children and have only been married about 2 years (I can't remember exactly... 1-3 years). About 2-3 months ago after some impaired vision and headaches John was diagnosed with a brain tumor caused by metastatic melanoma (skin cancer that has spread through the body). After brain surgery mid week, he was a church the next Sunday taking sweet communion with his wife and declaring God's goodness. Today his face was swollen, the back half of his head shaved, glasses over his eyes due to his severe visual disruptions, and he was still taking communion in holy submission with his wife. I had the pleasure of talking to Donna momentarily as she left the service to get coffee, and she told me they had found more, new tumors in his brain, lungs, and behind his sternum. Though in tears, she was preaching to Collin & me about how good, faithful, and purposeful God is.
I can't tell you how much this broke me this morning. For one, I have known the stings of death more than I would like to remember and can say my response has not been this holy. My spirit has even been doubting God's goodness and purpose in little trials recently. I thank God for how John and Donna are impacting our church congregation and us personally. I can say that talking to someone who believes in who God is and is faithfully submitted Him in such times renews my affections for the Lord. It increases my desire to trust and depend on Him fully, renewing my prayer life.
Pray for John and Donna... for perseverance and health, for sweet time in their marriage, that their joy and hope would be set on things above, for continued faithful submission to the Lord, and for the Church to engulf them in grace and love.
No comments:
Post a Comment