Wigs for All!!!

Well, ok, not literally “wigs for all”. My Mom was the only one that actually bought a wig but my sis and I sure had fun trying them on. And it’s obvious that my mom looks the best—unless my sister would like to look like Julia Roberts as Tinker Bell in Hook, or I want to look like a soccer mom of three (“Get in the van kids!”) then I think we will stick to our original hairJ! But there we were, at the next “mini-event” (I like to call them mini cause although they can seem huge, you need to take it one day, one “mini-event” at a time…well and in all reality, these events are mini to GodJ! So let’s keep in step with Him!). Although my Mom said that shaving her head would be harder than her port surgery the following week, she took it in stride and yet again remained peaceful. The lady shaving her head even told her, that for many women, it is best not to look until the end… but MY Mom watched every hair fall to the floor! But….doesn’t she still look so beautiful? Seriously? Doesn’t she? It’s impressive! I just keep remembering the look on her face as the “hairstylist” (if that’s what you want to call a lady who is giving you a buzz cut) shaved her head… it was a kind of “sad-proud-peaceful-acceptance” kind of look (not sure if that makes sense, but it’s what I read on her face). I felt like crying, to be honest. But not because of the hair (cause it’s just hair) and for a brief moment I considered shaving my head too (as did both my Aunty and my Sister—but my family and I agreed that since I am still single, I should keep my hair…haha just kidding…well sort of), but because it made it all so real. I think I had been waiting for “it” all to start…but it had already started…with or without me realizing it.

But back to what this is really about: God. I know some of you might not be comfortable with his name showing up here but I can assure you He is showing up, in our faces, in a real and tangible way, closer than the breath we breathe. Most of the time God pursues us with his subtle, still, small voice, but lately, he is making his presence known, loud and clear. One Sunday my sister and I got prayer from one of my roommates. She really felt God laid the following verse on hear heart for us: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). I took this as a promise from God, that He would be our strength and would be with us through this whole process. Now this is where His voice gets loud J… the following week, I took my Mom to her first chemo appointment (a pretty emotional day). She had gotten a beautiful handmade quilt from a co-worker’s family member, who makes quilts specifically for women going through chemo. My Mom had had it for a day so far and had wrapped herself in it during her chemo treatment. When we got home my Mom and I laid on the couch and just chatted about everything… mostly about God and the journey ahead. Suddenly my Mom said my name with excitement and motioned for me to look at a small label sown into the quilt…it read: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). I then shared with my Mom how God had already spoken this verse to our family, that it was His promise to us in this season. So… He will go with us (and most importantly He will be with my Mom) WHEREVER we go…whether it’s to a chemo appointment, when my Mom feels physically and emotionally drained, when she’s alone with her thoughts, when we talk about God and when we don’t, when we laugh, even when I go to her house to watch American Idol and eat all of her M&MsJ (a normal Friday nightJ)…God will be with us! I am overwhelmed at how God has shown up in this thing and I could go on with more stories (one amazing story in particular), but that will be in the next blog…to be continued….For now, Jesus help us to be strong and courageous, help us to not be afraid and to not be discouraged, help us to know that you will be with us WHEREVER we go…