Our Silver Lining...

Another 5 days until we find out the results of Brad's bone marrow biopsy, but throughout the past 4 weeks (geesh, it feels SO much longer since we first found out), we have come to find the "silver lining" in Brad's diagnosis. Since there's not much to update on Brad, we figured now would be a great time to share what we are finding to be the things that help guide our hearts and spirits during the often challenging and emotional days.

One of the things Brad and I have talked about frequently and have attempted several times is to find a church family (this was mentioned in one of our early entries). I am thrilled to report that for the past 3 weeks, we have been attending North Roanoke Baptist Church. Today was Avery's first time getting to go since he is often with his mom on the weekends and he LOVED it! When he left the children's service today he said it was the best church he has ever been to - what a great thing to hear him say. Each week has gotten a little more comfortable for Brad and I and we pray that this will continue to be a good fit for us. In the spirit of all of this is an article that we found on the blog of someone who has had her own battle with cancer. Because it really hit the nail on the head for us as well, we wanted to share it here.

The key points of Don't Waste Your Cancer are the following:
1. You will waste your cancer if you do not believe it is designed for you by God.
2. You will waste your cancer if you believe it is a curse and not a gift.
3. You will waste your cancer if you seek comfort from your odds rather than from God.
4. You will waste your cancer if you refuse to think about death.
5. You will waste your cancer if you think that "beating" cancer means staying alive rather than cherishing Christ.
6. You will waste your cancer if you spend too much time reading about cancer and not enough time reading about God.
7. You will waste your cancer if you let it drive you into solitude instead of deepen your relationships with manifest affection.
8. You will waste your cancer if you grieve as those who have no hope.
9. You will waste your cancer if you treat sin as casually as before.
10. You will waste your cancer as a means of witness to the truth and glory of Christ.

Our silver lining is that although it took a mentally and physically challenging medical diagnosis for us to begin searching again for a church, it did happen and we may have found a perfect match. The first week we went to church Brad said he felt guilty we were going because of his cancer. Although it may have been the reason to encourage us initially, it will not be what keeps us there.

A second silver lining in all of this is that we are reconnecting with friends and family in a way that hasn't happened since Brad and I were first married. Last night, Brad's Aunt Alease, Uncle Jim, cousin Lisa and her husband Randy all came to our house for a visit. The sad thing is that we have never been to their home and this is their first visit to ours, despite the fact that Lisa and Randy only live about 5 minutes away. I feel very fortunate that I'm getting to know other members of Brad's family better through this and that it is reconnecting each of us to what matters most.

Many, many continued thanks for the happy, positive thoughts you send our way - we are so very, very lucky to have you in our lives. We hope that whatever challenges are happening in your personal life, that you too are able to find your own silver lining.

Much love,
Sandy