Pray for Grandma Burke

I've been wanting to post for a while, but the days have been busy. Two weeks ago, we three went to the hill country for some REFRESHING cool weather, rest, and time together. I'll tell more about that trip soon. But when we returned, there was an e-mail telling of my mom's admittance to the hospital for what ended up being a compound fracture in her back, and some suspicious pain in her rib. She is home now, after undergoing a procedure to inject some cement to release the pressure on her back (successful) and a biopsy. The results of the biopsy show that the breast cancer she had years ago has now metastasized and spread to her bones. According to the doctors, it can be a painful and terminal illness.

Needless to say, this prognosis was hard to believe. I truly did feel like I was on the other side of the world (as we are), so far away from the people I would love to place my arms around at this moment. I'm not ready to loose mom, and Abe is not ready to lose his grandma Martha. I want him to know her zeal, her laughter, her passion for Jesus, the unique ways she can take delight in a falling leaf or an inspiring sermon. I want her to watch him grow and develop, to see his first step (even if it's on video on this blog) and hear him say "I love you grandma."

There is much yet to be discovered about the nature of the cancer and the treatment options (drugs, chemotherapy, other options). Other test results will be revealed on Thursday.

Some of the first thoughts that came to my mind were from a worship song from the 80's, "I am the God that healeth thee, I am the Lord, your Healer. I spoke my word and healed your disease. I am the Lord, your healer." Mom knows God as Savior, Provider, and Healer, and is trusting for Him to work in her life. We are not opposed to Him using medicine to do His work, so we ask you to pray with us for some stupendous and wise doctors. But we know that He can also work a miracle in a moment's time, baffling us all. We are believing for Him to do His work in His way, getting all the glory He deserves.

Today, I had a nice chat with mom and dad (using the international phone card). Mom is sleeping fairly well in a lazy boy chair (nights are most difficult, when it is hard to get comfortable). Above all, they are convinced that God is a good God.

I keep on reflecting on the day when I heard about mom's first breast cancer (years ago). I was working in a remote town in Kenya, with only radio phone access. (There was one line for the entire town, so you had to wait for the line to be free to call out). This particular day, I was especially missing home and decided to call mom. It was the morning before she went into surgery to remove the cancer from her breast. Being away from e-mail communication (we connected every two weeks), I hadn't even known of the problem. But the Lord gave me that opportunity to talk with her and prayer with her. He knew both of our need to be connected.

Mark read this Psalm yesterday, that is a comfort and a promise as I pray for mom. If the Lord brings other Scriptures to mind as you pray, please do share with us.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by the harp and lute and the harmony of the lyre. You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. O LORD, what great miracles you do! And how deep are your thoughts. Only an ignorant person would not know this! Only a fool would not understand it.

...But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted into the LORD's own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. They will declare, "The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is nothing but goodness in him!"
Psalm 92, NLT