The Lord is my Shepherd, and he calls me to follow him.
….and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will free from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. John 10: 4- 5
That word “follow” has been continually coming across my path, as I’ve already been meditating upon John 10 and Psalm 23 about the great Shepherd.
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.””
He’s calling me to follow Him along a path which is completely unclear to me. A path which leads into the unknown. Into darkness.
July 2024
Intro to Cancer Story
I’m not up to telling much of my story right now. Let’s just say that my even needing to go for a biopsy was a surprise and that the biopsy showed cancer was a surprise! (I guess I started to realize that they were looking for something when it was explained to me how the biopsy was going to be done.)
When the pathology report appeared in my email box–before my doc saw it, as she was on a very needed vacation–I was stunned! When I trotted into the kitchen to tell Michael, he said, “I’m not surprised. If anything is going to happen, it’s going to happen to you. I’m absolutely here for you through this journey.”
A new journey! I can say without question that the Lord has been leading me up to this for the past 18 months or so, preparing me for crossing this threshold. One of my friends said to me, “Mindy, I’m almost not surprised about this. You see, you’ve spoken of feeling like you were living in a pressure cooker with all the changes that the Lord
was doing in you (body and soul). Having the cancer come to light now seems to be that answer.”
Indeed, the Lord has been doing some tremendous spiritual work in me, bringing about very real growth. Yes, biblical counselors do benefit from receiving biblical counseling! We are all disciples, and we all need to be discipled, and there is never a time when we somehow are so spiritually mature that we do not need some form of spiritual accountability and encouragement. We all have some measure of UnFinishedB, or UFBs in our story which need the laser precision application of the Word by the power of the Spirit.
The Journey
First off, I must say that I am tremendously grateful to the Lord for the outpouring of love and compassion which you sisters have poured out on me! Be encouraged that the Lord hears your prayers– they matter! There are moments when I feel a bit discouraged and confused about the journey ahead, and then the Spirit prompts one of y’all to reach out and an email or a text pops through! You are definitely being the arms and the hands and the shoulders and the smiles of Christ! Absolutely! And right from DAY #1 of the news being shared, I have been lifting up in prayer all y’all who are praying for me! My confidence is that Yahweh is using this cancer to shine His glory in us, through us, around us!
About the Cancer itself:
Bottom line on diagnosis:
This growth was caught relatively early. It could be treated with lumpectomy and not needing a mastectomy. Lumpectomies are quite successful! No longer the “get the mastectomy and I won’t get cancer!” situation. The growth started in the milk duct and then migrated outside into the adjacent tissue. This cancer is almost 100% estrogen/progesterone fed. Consequently, all the artichokes and asparagus and leafy greens and organics have served to have me in a healthy place to prepare my body to fight the cancer. Don’t say, “Well, Mindy ate crazy healthy and LOOK! She got cancer!” Rather, I have been eating this way due to the Celiac, and it happens to strengthen me to face cancer. If you don’t have a happy gut, no part of you is happy!