Let Your Faith Be Bigger Than Your Fears. Dad Update 6/22/2015

This last Sunday I sat in a familiar place, listened to a familiar story, but for some reason the lesson from this familiar place and familiar story was not familiar at all. 

I've heard the story of David and Goliath. The story of the little man, the underdog, who faced a much bigger, stronger man, and won. That's the story I was told as a child, and I never once tried to link this story to the struggles of life. But instead, sitting in that familiar place, listening to that familiar story, I finally linked the story of David and Goliath to my life, and finally I was hearing all the words I so badly have been needing to hear. Words I didn't even know I needed. 

Our Associate Pastor did such a beautiful job of describing the story and making comparisons to our own struggles in life, and I couldn't help but think of Dad as David, and our fight against cancer as Goliath. 

The passage read, 'The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.'

"Let your faith be bigger than your fears," was what our Associate Pastor repeated over and over again. Let your faith be bigger than your fears.

Dad has endured so much. Brain surgery, a large blood clot in his brain, a brain bleed...the list goes on. The Lord has already rescued him from all these things, and I believe he will rescue him from whatever we are faced with in the future. This faith, this handing over the control of the situation, is so difficult for me, but my reminder is constantly repeating- "Let your faith be bigger than your fears." 

The message was beautifully delivered and beautifully written, and I'm not sure who else received the message in such an eye opening way on Sunday as I did, but I'm so very thankful I was there to hear this message. It brought me comfort to Dad's fight. Because sometimes you just need to hear it from someone else, you need to hear those words, "Let your faith be bigger than your fears."

I am all so incredibly guilty of running through life with a to-do list for each day, forgetting to take time to enjoy small moments in my life, and forgetting to be thankful, even in the most difficult times. This last week of chemo was especially difficult on Dad. His face showed it all- he was tired, in pain, and just down. It all broke my heart. But I continued to repeat that message I heard, from that familiar place, "The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." The Lord has brought Dad through so much, and I believe he will continue to do the same, because sometimes you have to let your faith be bigger than your fears. 

Sunday evening Dad was finally feeling much better and was able to enjoy dinner with us all, all to celebrate him. Father's Day has a completely new meaning to our family, and actually, all holidays have a new meaning to us. We are not sure if or when Dad's cancer will return. We have no clue if this was the last Father's Day celebration, or if there are many more to come. We do know that right now, Dad is doing well and enjoying life. You can't take the smile off of his face when he sees his Grandson, and there isn't a moment in this world I would trade when it's just him and I spending time together. Life is good. 

The story of David beating Goliath is no longer just a story I heard in Sunday School, no, instead this story is one of an underdog, one of a man with all the statistics against him, overcoming the odds and allowing his faith to be much bigger than any fear. 

Continue the prayers, as we continue fighting to BTHO Brain Cancer!

20 Months. Dad Update 6/8/2015

I just realized it's been a while since I've posted any updates on Dad- which can really mean only one thing, things are stable. Stable is GOOD!

Our last MRI did not indicate any growth and even more of a confirmation that the imaging from the MRI is the result of scar tissue from surgery and radiation treatment. We are so incredibly blessed.

June 5, 2015 marked 20 months since Dad's diagnosis. I go back to that cold October day so many times and remember the statistics we were given- 14.6 months with standard care and treatment. 14.6 months. My heart immediately sank.

But, here we are 20 months post diagnosis, and we continue to look forward in life. We know there are upcoming chemo treatments and MRI's, but for right now we are enjoying each day with Dad.

We have another round of chemotherapy starting in a couple of weeks, followed by an appointment with Dad's oncologist- from there we will determine when our next MRI will take place. Until then, we try to live each day as normal as possible and be so thankful for each moment together. 

Yesterday, as we spent some time in the pool with my 5 month old nephew, I looked around and couldn't help but be so incredibly thankful for these last 20 months. I looked around and saw Dad enjoying the beautiful day, Mom taking lots of pictures of my nephew's first pool day, and my two sisters just enjoying life, and I realized that even it if all changes tomorrow, what an absolute blessing it's all been. 

Asking for continued prayers, as we continue fighting to BTHO Brain Cancer!