Krista

"Blessed are those who mourn..." I have been comforted by this verse as we heard the news this weekend that Belle, Krista's Mom, has pancreatic/liver cancer. She has been having odd, unexplained symptoms for awhile which reached a new level of concern and landed her in the hospital Friday. They found the mass then. She was jaundiced from head to toe and not doing well at all. My heart absolutely breaks for Krista and the entire family. I am so glad Chris and Kevin are so close since Kevin and Dia have gone through this with loosing Dia's Mom recently to cancer. I spent so much of Saturday crying and praying and trying to wrap my head around what was to come. Mason caught me crying Saturday morning, put down his toy and walked over to me. He looked so concerned and asked me, "Mommy, are you sad?" I told him my friend was sick and I needed to pray for her. He climbed up onto my lap and hugged me so hard for the longest time. Then he positioned himself next to me, grabbed my hand to hold and put his head on my shoulders. Like Dia said, "he just paused to be there with you." I was reminded that he is just shy of 3 and already thinking outside of himself. Chris and Krista's faith has been inspiring. They are keeping there eyes on Jesus! They were told most likely her cancer was stage 3/4 due to the mass and her symptoms. With pancreatic cancer, the symptoms usually do not show until the later stages when it is too late for any treatment. It is a cancer that is very aggressive. We all prayed and waited to hear how her surgery/biopsy went today (Monday). My prayer was that there would be a miracle Lord willing and that Belle would have more time with us than the doctors think and they we would be surprised with good news. After phone tags with Chris and Mom today, Mom called to say, her cancer is TREATABLE and that they are going to send her to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Her earlier test did not match what they found in surgery today and the cancer had NOT progressed beyond a treatable level. Praise God! This was the great news we all had hoped for. We are also so happy to hear that Belle has Jesus in her heart and that when the time comes for the Lord to take her home, she will be in heaven and Krista will see her again. This was Krista and Chris' prayer going down to WVA for the weekend. I wrote Chris and Krista this past weekend an email. It basically said that I cannot imagine their pain now and no words can help. That life is not fair but that God is good. That we are to trust HIM even when we do not understand why horrific things happen! But how, when the pain is so deep and new??? I turned to the bible and was reminded of some verses for times like these in life....
"I waited patiently for the Lord, he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:1-3

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1Peter 5:7

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me." John 14:1

" Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4