As y'all know by now, I post what I know the most about and what’s on my mind…  Usually that means the kids, mine and/or yours.  But today I’m the kid, and I’ve gotta talk about my mom.  I will tell you that I’ve seen better weeks; as many of you know she is battling brain cancer at only 56 and is now too weak to receive any more medical treatments.  It has been an amazing 2 years since she was diagnosed and given the prognosis of a few months to live.  Life is tough sometimes, but God is good…all the time. Mom (Stella) has come through 2 brain surgeries, multiple seizures, and miraculously survived a double pulmonary embolism in the process (she had 2 blood clots, one in each lung, which are called “silent killers” because most people die before they realize they’re there.  Even the meds they gave her to break down the clots was highly dangerous after her brain surgery because of the risk of bleeding, yet God’s hand was on her and the doctors were amazed that she pulled through!)  After that first grueling 9 months, we were told once again, “There’s nothing more we can do.  Your only option is an experimental treatment.  It’s not a cure, but it will give you time.  It costs $10,000 per dose- every 3 weeks.”  Impossible, right?  One week and many, many prayers later, we got a call.  The medicine would be free.  No charge.  Available to her because she was qualified… to receive a miracle!  In the year that’s followed, she’s grown stronger and stronger.  She went from a wheelchair to walking up and down stairs unassisted.  We’ve taken time as a family to talk, laugh, enjoy life together… such a precious gift.  Now suddenly, over a period of 2 months, the effectiveness of the treatments has drastically declined.  She is so weak she’s had to stop the medication, and there are no other medical options.  She is at the Mercy of the Lord and Him only… and she is ok with that.
Myself on the other hand, Not so easy.  Some of you might be familiar with my struggle this week:  How do you believe for the best, yet prepare for the worst?  The only thing I find peace in is this:  God is in control.  He made her.  His word says she was healed “by his wounds” at the cross (1 Peter 2:24), so he WILL heal her, in the way he sees fit.  I will not allow what I see and hear from doctors to take away my faith.  Yet at the same time I will realize that all our days on earth are numbered, and I will not allow the enemy to use my faith in God to draw me away from savoring every moment that I have with her now.  I can live like there’s no tomorrow, without being afraid that there’s no tomorrow.  We all should be doing that anyway!  But chances are, if you’ve never been told those fateful words, you’ve never spent THAT kind of time with your loved ones, when you know that every memory, every conversation, every moment is a treasure.  No matter what happens, I’m thankful for this time.  It’s special.  Even though I know God likes to work when things look the bleakest, even though I praise him every day as I read His promises of healing in the Word … I still am grateful for the perspective I’ve been granted during this precious time, and I don’t have to give that up to believe.  Thank you all so much for your prayers, not just for mom but also for my family and me.  I shudder to think of what it would be like to go through this without the support of the family of God… I love each of you and I am so blessed to have you in my life.   Keep speaking the Scriptures over Stella, as she is not able to speak them herself; and spend some quality time with your family today… treasure a moment.   And rest in the peace that God is in control, and he IS good all the time.    
Lori Bush