The Church Family

I was not sure how well I would do at church, since this was the day that I was going to have pastor share with the church what is going on in my life, now that I know for sure that I have a serious medical issue.   Of course, there are those who knew already and were quick to come up, give me a hug, and whisper words of encouragement into my ear before church began.   I also wanted to be sure to see my mother-in-law, as she had not seen me since Dennis gave her the news.  Besides words of comfort for her, I wanted her to know that the pastor was going to tell the church about my situation in the morning service. 

The service itself, though, seemed so geared to my needs at the moment – God planned the service before any of us knew how fitting it would be, from the music to the message.  Wow!  Yes, I did all right, although I did not want to look out on the congregation when the pastor shared the news.  I could tell that there were tears . . . that there was shock . . . that there are people who care.  Even as pastor began to share, he choked a bit. 

I even was able to sing the choir’s song that focused on the theme of peace.  (I had not made it to practice last Sunday, and so I had no idea.) 

One song, “All Is Well,” apparently got to a few in the church, as we sang it after they had just had the prayer time at which my news was shared.  One of the ladies who wondered why it was the pastor chose such “heart-wretching” songs when he knew there were people who were dealing with difficult times.  I said to her that I think it depends on the individual and their disposition or situation.  I think that there can also be people who see the lyrics as ministering to them.  I said to her that I just felt like the songs today were what I needed, and I wanted to just reach out and hold onto those words.  I think she had never thought of it that way.  She has had hard times as well, and so she was speaking from her own experience.  Maybe I was able to present to her another perspective on songs we sing.

My friend Martha sang the morning special.  She told me later that even though she has known about this since Friday, she still gets teary-eyed at times … and did there.  She said she could not look at me as she sang, yet she felt that she was singing to me.  Wow!  (My current fav adj., it seems.)

I have no idea if this is a subconscious way of dealing with my cancer, but I found myself engaged in conversations at church today, arms crossed across my chest.  I do see the humor of this. 

My friend Carole, commenting to me after church today, said she could never be in my current situation – that I must be a stronger person than she.  (Not sure about that, as I don’t know how God chooses our paths.)  She isn’t ready to trade places with me.  Who would be, really?

The service this evening – WOW!  Another message that was on the topic of trials/testing.  I think that I will want to have a copy of that message, maybe also the morning one.  I could benefit from hearing them again PLUS they would remain as reminders of how God is already ministering to me through others and letting me know He knows me and cares for me.

I really am not sure that reality has hit me.  BUT my church family has rallied around me, and I know that Dennis and I will benefit from this in so many ways.  Thank you, God.

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Pastor said to me when we met on Saturday morning that I would find the sermons on Sunday interesting.  Little did I know -- neither did he when he first began to prepare:

• Morning - "The Gospel Perspective in Trials"
• Evening - "Faith in Trials"