A dear and precious friend of mine recently shared that she was facing cancer. This is a dear woman who also happens to be working diligently in orphan care. She is a case worker who places older children in adoptive homes. This woman is an exceptional voice. She has thirteen children through a classic “Yours, Mine & Ours” style story that warms the heart and makes the spirit rejoice. She loves the Lord and she is working faithfully and tirelessly on behalf of orphans dear to His heart.
I was saddened to hear of the cancer diagnosis. I can’t say I was surprised – not because of anything to do with her, but because I have come to accept that we live in a fallen world and these things have become so painfully ‘normal’ in our world. Can you think of anyone that hasn’t in some way either directly or through a friend or family member been touched my cancer? If it isn’t cancer it’s something else. There’s heartache everywhere. The other side of that coin is that there’s opportunity for ministry everywhere as well. There are people to pray for. There are those to put and arm around, to drop to our knees with and on behalf of, and still others to walk silently beside. As I processed through that, it occurred to me that this woman does all of those things on a daily basis. She works with hurting kids. She walks with challenged parents. She prays with and for dear friends.
May I share some of the other things she does? She educates. She motivates. She encourages. She delivers the joys right beside the realities. She speaks straight and she speaks with passion. I’ve had opportunities to speak to others about orphan care with her. These are things you do as a lifestyle, not 8 to 5, but day in and day out, on evenings, during weekends, whenever there’s an opportunity, really. Someone gives and opening and you go. Period. Because it’s an opportunity to advocate. If you encourage just one person to even consider adoption then you’ve been used by God to do what you deeply hoped to do.
This woman is dear to me, as are several of her colleagues. These are exceptional women who have become treasured friends. Equally important is that she is touching the world one child and one family at a time. She is dear to me, but her work is life-changing to countless others.
The punch line? I saw an update from my friend on Facebook shortly after her surgery. As I understand it, she is cancer free. I rejoice because I love her and she is my friend and I cannot imagine her dear familiy having to be without her. I also rejoice because I know she will continue to impact countless others. God has seen fit to keep her on the battlefield by giving healing. She has served Him well, and she still has great work to do. Yes, yes, and yes – that is God at work.
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