Confession: I hate it when people say "It was such a God thing". Guess what, EVERYTHING is a God thing!
Now, despite how much I hate when people say that, I do understand what they mean. Yesterday was one of those days when the Lord reminded me of His perfect timing and perfect planning.
At work yesterday I came around the corner into our lobby to meet the lady I was going to give the tour of our school to. She was sitting there, on the floor, with her son and daughter playing with some blocks while she waited for me. I couldn't help but look instantly at her Bright Pink Hair. I have to say she pulled off the look quite nicely.
She stood up, shook my hand, and we started the tour.
I began by asking a little about her son, who if accepted, would join our 1st grade class next year.
(I instantly noticed how tall he was for his age. I know, imagine me noticing someones height...) She told me that although he is a good kid he's really struggled a bit more during his kindergarten year than she thought he would.
Then she paused. Took a deep breath. Then spelled "I have C A N C E R".
"He knows that I have it, I just try to protect him and not talk about it in front of him all the time. I have stage 4 breast cancer." Her hand slid across where her breasts used to be.
"He is having a hard time.That's why I dyed my hair. I wanted to celebrate finishing my first round of treatment."
Of all the schools in Southern California she decided to walk into the one that I work in. Despite the fact that our waiting list is so long he probably wont get in, despite the fact that it would be a bit of a drive to bring him here, despite the fact that she didn't really know if she would switch his schools or not, The Lord brought her into my school.
"My mom had stage 4 breast cancer too." I was her sons age when my mom was diagnosed.
I don't know if I told her much about the school. Mostly she just asked me questions about how my mom handled raising us despite her cancer, and what she did to prepare for her death.
I work in a public school, and I'm not supposed to talk about my faith. But I didn't care. I shared the hope that my mom had with this woman and the hope that I have in the Lord.
It turns out that she is a believer as well.
She shared her fears and her deep concerns for her family. She shared that she wants her husband to get re-married, but that he isn't ready for that conversation yet. She shared her deep love for her family.
At the end we got to look at each other and say, "This isn't our home. We are going to go home some day, to a place without pain, sadness, fear, or death. Until then, we don't need to understand, we need to have faith that The Lord is in control and that He is Lord and we are not!"
She started crying and I stood in the hallway hugging a pink haired woman I didn't know.
The Lord uses the craziest things to humble me and remind me of Himself. My mother died in such a way that her testimony still encourages people today. She died focused on her Lord and wanting to put Him on display.
I get so easily caught up in the mundane things of life that this was a good reminder to keep the "main things the main things."
Rebecca is having a scan on Thursday to see how successful the treatment was and what future treatment might look like. If you think about it, pray for her. I don't know if I'll ever talk to her again or not, but I am so thankful that I got to meet her!
