Last year this time while others were happily preparing for the holiday season, my family had just received devastating news. Just two weeks after surviving what could have been a tragic car accident and only two days before Thanksgiving, my beloved Mother had been diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Unlike two years prior when her mammogram results came back as abnormal, the doctors didn’t cancel her follow-up appointment this time.

We had so many questions but time stood in the way of receiving answers. Due to the pending holiday, we would have to wait until the following week to get more information on her treatment plan. In the meantime, the entire immediately family had gathered and we chose to embrace the moment with laughter, fellowship and fun. It was one of the best times in recent memories. After dining with our extended family and friends on Thanksgiving, we departed the following day knowing that our lives were in God’s hands. God had a plan for every one of us and he would see us until an expected end.

The week following Thanksgiving, we learned that the prognosis was good – one surgery followed by radiation and this season would soon be over. Two months later, surgery came and went and so did the original treatment plan. Following surgery, more cancerous cells were found and she would need chemotherapy followed by a second surgery before having radiation. Our excitement over a speedy process was short lived. A two month plan quickly turned into eleven long months of more questions and unknown answers as we witnessed loss of hair and energy coupled with loss of tears.

And thus the real journey began. The “First Family” that once prayed for others was now standing in the need of prayer. The “First Lady” who often asked God to use her didn’t know he would choose to use her quite like this. The “First Children” who had looked at others with sympathetic eyes as we witnessed the impact of sickness on family life suddenly found ourselves in need of encouragement too. We had lived our entire lives ministering to others. Now we needed to be ministered to. If we as a family really believed in God the way we professed to others, it was our time to stand on our faith, trust in our God and praise him in advance for the healing we believed God for.

We needed God to be Jehovah Rophe, God our healer. We needed God to be Jehoval Jireh, God our provider. And just like God, he met our needs and has remained faithful to his promises. About one month ago, my Mom had her final radiation treatment and her follow-up is not scheduled until April of next year. What a mighty God we serve!

This last year has been tough. I have been scared, hurt, fearful and weary. I have questioned God and have even been angry with him. Yet, when I call on God, he answers me and gave me peace even in the midst of the storm. He blessed me with so many ministering angels that prayed with me, encouraged me, talked to me, listened to me and showed genuine care and concern for my entire family. For this, I am beyond grateful and Thanksgiving couldn’t mean more for my family this year.

As you connect with those you love and cherish during this holiday season, take time to count and express gratitude for the many blessings you have. Hug. Kiss. Laugh. Love.

Psalms 34:4-10 “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”