A Perfect Monday

Mondays get a bad rap. They can be blue Mondays. They can be the excuse for almost anything unfortunate: "Hey, it's a Monday." 

But on this Monday, October 27, birds sang, angels swooped in near and "heaven came down and glory filled my soul." On Monday Annette's oncologist in Abilene said Annette was released from care. This was after the check-up at the end of about five years since Annette was diagnosed with a stage 2A invasive ductile carcinoma that was estrogen receptor negative and strongly HER-2 Neu positive. That is cancer speak for a mean motor scooter of a breast tumor. Now after a lumpectomy, rounds of chemotherapy and weeks of radiation in 2004 and years of watching, we are set free to embrace the notion of complete remission and an out of commission cancer. 

Annette has been the focal point of the prayers of thousands of faithful brothers and sisters. God has blessed her and us with great gifts. 

The first gift was the cancer itself. Both of us have been profoundly changed. Our relationship is lived in the now, not in the some day. Our relationship to God is more immediate and honest. 

The second gift was the gift of the fellowship of the church. We received prayers, visits, a week of rice and broccoli, cards by the hundreds and on and on the blessings go. The church may not be perfect, but it is the Body of Christ being made perfect bit by bit. 

The third gift is the gift of more life in this world. We do anticipate the life to come and believe it to be the existence that will someday make our time here just a dim memory, but Annette does love the feel of her children in her arms. She does love the laughter of her friends. She loves to sing in worship, lifting her hands to the Lord. She likes butterflies and chocolate. And she loves walking in the park with a certain grandson. Annette and I receive life here as gift and grace—everyday.

So it was a Monday. What a great day! Just thought you might want to know about it. Celebrate with us.

God bless us all.