I Have Breast Cancer
Those are words I never thought I’d think about myself, say or write about. But it’s true. On Wednesday, December 8, 2021, I learned I have invasive ductal carcinoma. If you’d like to follow my journey into this new territory, you can go to my page that includes prayer requests, devotional thoughts, and updates on God’s work. CLICK HERE
But here on this blog post, I want to share with you how God prepared me for this new adventure, and I didn’t have a clue how God was working only six weeks before my diagnosis.
I was enjoying sitting on the deck of a retreat center overlooking a beautiful valley vista. Oak trees dotted the area and several were right in front of me. Woodpeckers and other birds flew back and forth continually. When one would occupy one twig, another one would fly by. Then the first one would fly off. Up to twenty birds were continually scattering among the huge oak trees never alighting for more than thirty seconds.
The tapping of the woodpeckers on the wood of the trees and the buildings interrupted my thoughts. Each woodpecker stayed tapping only a short snippet of time.
On the move. On the move. On the move. Every one of them seemingly anxious to find a new spot. They seemed to be unsettled, erratic, aimless, and without direction.
What motivated them to move from tree to tree, from branch to branch, from high in the tree to low in the tree? I didn’t know.
In the midst of observing this seemingly chaotic scene, I suddenly knew God’s message through the birds.
Although Jesus created and designed the endless work of the woodpecker, Jesus was never like the birds I observed. I reflected on His journey as a human. I could picture him walking from town to town. There’s never any indication of tension, unrest, lack of confidence or confusion.
He never demanded other people to “stay still” so that He could remain at peace and inner rest. His peace came from a complete dependence upon His Father’s will.
Jesus didn’t flit from one plan, passion, purpose, perception to another.
Jesus was secure, settled, resolute, confident, unrattled, poised, and peaceful.
Jesus’s confidence came from the truth He spoke:
“you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (John 8:28-29 ESV)
I was meditating on that truth when God gave me a gift from a woodpecker.
As you can see from the photo, I was sitting about twenty feet away from a post that secured two bells and it seemed to be a favorite place for the woodpeckers to alight and look over the valley.
At one point, just as a woodpecker flew off from the cross bar, I noticed something very tiny fall off the place where the bird had left. I expected it would fall to the ground quickly, thinking it was a tiny piece of wood. But it began floating.
And it continued floating peacefully very, very slowly. I realized it was a feather from the woodpecker.
At any moment I expected it to float out of my sight but instead it floated closer and closer to me for more than a minute, maybe even two minutes.
As the seconds passed, I kept thinking, “There’s no way it’s going to come close to me. What would be the chances of that?” I wanted to stand and reach out for it but feared I would create a slight breeze and chase it away. I sat waiting.
As I continued staring at it coming closer and closer, my awe increased. And finally, the woodpecker feather landed on the deck at my feet.
As I now face God’s invitation that could bring feelings of unrest, distrust, fear, confusion, and many other feelings and temptations, I reflect on Jesus’s peace and confidence.
And His gift of the woodpecker feather as a reminder He wants to strengthen me with His peace.
I won’t be perfect in abiding in confidence and peace like Jesus did. But I will learn more and more to allow God to work in my life the way He desires for His glory.
I have remembered that experience especially now in this new journey because it reminds me of Jesus’s peace and confidence. No, He never “floated,” but I believe He caused that feather (pictured here) to peacefully float toward me and land at my feet affirming He was always peaceful, confident, and obedient to His Father’s will.
His promise to me—and to you—is:
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.—Psalm 138:8 ESV
Again, if you would like to read more about my cancer journey, I’ve set up a separate page on my website. You can follow my journey CLICK HERE.
And if you like, you can also sign up/subscribe to receive my newest updates, prayer requests, and thoughts there.
Praying for you, thanks for this encouraging story, ai have an ultrasound next week.
Oh, Terri, my heart goes out to you that you are having an ultrasound soon. The good news is the procedure isn’t painful. But of course, there’a reason they are doing that and that is the emotionally “painful” part. My prayers are with you. Please keep in touch with an update. You can email me at [email protected] I’ll continue to pray for “all clear” results, but if your journey is like mine, chosen for us by our wonderful God, then we will trust Him together for our lives.
Kathy, as you know, GOD IS A GOD OF MIRACLES……….
GOD US OUR GREAT PHYSICIAN…….I am PRAYING
for the WISDOM of GOD be
transferred to your Doctor’s
Skills doing the necessary
corrections needed for your
complete Healing….PRAYING
you are filled with GOD’S
BLESSED ASSURANCE seeing yourself HEALED IN JESUS NAME……TRUST AND
BELIEVE FOR GOD’S ALL-
KNOWING POWER…..
JESUS IS LORD…..HE IS WITH
YOU EVERY BREATH….
GOD IS ALMIGHTY…PRAISE
HIS HOLY NAME…..I AM
STANDING AND BELIEVING
FOR GOD’S HEALING YOU
COMPLETELY BODY, MIND,
AND SPIRIT……IN JESUS
HOLY NAME I PRAY..AND FOR HIS GLORY……AMEN
You are a beautiful and encouraging friend, Jane. Thank you so much for praying for me and delighting me in thoughts of who our wonderful God is. God bless you!
Jane Ross
Thank you, Jane, for stopping by.
Oh hallelujah is Anything to hard for Our God.. Jeremiah
32v17
Yes, indeed, Virginia, Hallelujah! He is worthy to be trusted and praised for nothing is too hard for Him. Thank you for your encouraging words!
My friend, Kathy. It has been so many years since we’ve seen each other, but the thought of chatting with you brings a smile to me. Leave it to you to use your journey to encourage other people to see how God’s hand and peace is right there with us always. My daughter and I prayed for an early appointment with your surgeon. We will be here praying for you. 💕
Jan, what a joy and treat to hear from you. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I’m smiling thinking of your gorgeous daughter and you praying for me. I know I”ll take great comfort and strength knowing you will continue to pray for us.
I am praying for you and God to bring you through this.
Thank you, Laurie. I appreciate it so much.
Yvonne and I will be praying with you and for you and will be tracking our awesome God as He guides you through your journey. We care for you and thank you (and Larry) for your friendship lo these many years.
Thank you, dear friends, Bob and Yvonne. Thoughts of your faithful trust in God through the years, including times of challenge, encourage our hearts. I know you will keep praying. We appreciate your loving support.
My prayer for you right now is that an earlier appointment opens up for you. I’m three years into sharing this journey with you. My preparation by God included a scare way back in 2012. I was so frightened and it turned out to be nothing. He knew I wasn’t ready yet. But in the intervening time, God prepared me to be ready when the test result was positive. My mantra-perfect love casts out fear. Thank you for using your journey as a blessing to others.
Thank you for sharing about your own journey, Christy. God is so good and generous with preparing us. I pray and hope your journey has concluded safely. I love you referring to “perfect love casts out fear.” That verse is so powerful. I love to share that the definition of love is making a choice for the highest good of someone. Even when the “highest good” is a challenge, God’s love is still perfect and trustworthy. God bless you and have a blessed Christmas.
My heart sunk upon reading this, and I am so sorry you will be walking out this journey. Yet I know God chose you to be inspirational and courageous, and He will use this to bless and use you for His glory. I keep watching friend after friend battle this and win – and may you too be healed and be an overcomer in His name! Praying for you. Keep us posted. Love and comfort to you.
Thank you, Jenny. I absolutely agree with your words of how God works. And of course, we all have something that challenges us and brings Him glory. Same for you! So thank you so much for supporting me with encouragement and your prayers.
I will never again be able to see or hear a woodpecker without thinking of you and your incredibly meaningful story. ….. Know that I will keep on praying for you, Sister-friend. The Lord is holding your hand (Isaiah 41: 10, 13) and He will uphold you in His hands too. You are forever wrapped up securely in His faithful heart. I love you. ~ Dawn
Dawn, I know you have experienced in meaningful ways similar things like my woodpecker feather story. Your journey has given God glory and impacted all of us to trust God more. Thank you for encouraging me.
Dear Kathy, my precious sister in Christ and friend. I am praying for an expedited date, and healing, along with peace throughout the process. Above all I am praying for God to be glorified and hearts to be changed.
Micki, thank you for commenting and following along. You are a special friend and I’m so encouraged that I have support from so many like you–forever friends.