October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Amid the yellows, golds, and oranges of the beautiful Autumn, glistens an unmistakable pink. It flows in fountains. It covers billboards and dons football uniforms on national television (not that I am watching NFL these days). It sprinkles through the congregations on Pink Sunday.

Before 2005, I was a thoughtful observer. When my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer that year, I became a spirited supporter, one who was angry at the disease and determined to see it eradicated. I wore pink on my bumper sticker. I wore pink t-shirts. I joined the fight, as one whose family member had been attacked by this disease.

Then in 2011, breast cancer knocked on my door personally. I was diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer. Because of all the other cases of breast cancer on both sides of my family, I made the decision to have radical double mastectomies and, as a result, two reconstruction surgeries that year. The surgeries left me with a debilitating nerve pain illness that still affects my life every waking minute today.

Now pink is more than a color to me. It is a part of my signature. In addition to becoming a recurring theme of my wardrobe, I now wear it on my heart. I am a part of a pink sisterhood, one forever changed by breast cancer.

I am reminded daily of what breast cancer took from me. But, more importantly, I am reminded daily of what I have gained, of what it has taught me.

Things I have learned…

1. Breast cancer can happen to anybody. One in every eight women is impacted by it at some point in her life. I had always thought it was one of those dreaded things that happened to other people. On June 8, 2011, I learned that it can and did happen to me. It took me and my family by surprise, but it did not take God by surprise. He met us right where our need was. He put His arms around us and has carried us through one day at a time.
2. There were purposes for my breast cancer. God does not waste a single trial. The hardships that we face are for our good or for His glory. In the case of my diagnosis, it has been for both. The reasons are still unfolding today. Relationships made during that time are blossoming. One of those relationships has become a life-changing relationship for my youngest son.Only because I had breast cancer was it discovered that I had melanoma, which could have led to serious problems, even possibly my eventual death had it been left untreated. Further, because of my melanoma, I was able to recognize suspicious moles on my husband’s back, and encourage him to receive the treatment he needed before those turned to cancer. The more time that passes, the more God keeps revealing His deeper purposes. Some reasons I may not know until I get to Heaven, and then it won’t matter.
3. I can help someone else because I have been through breast cancer. Praise God that I am now a seven-year survivor of breast cancer and melanoma! At five years, they say you have won your fight. I have rarely in my life been as happy, and thankful, as I was when I passed that mark. During these seven years, God has given me numerous opportunities to share with other women who are walking this journey, sometimes just to listen and understand. God comforts us so we can comfort others. This has been a precious gift to me as I have received the greatest blessing of all from these relationships.
4. Beauty is not skin deep. I have learned in all of this what the beauty of a woman really is. Like many of my pink sisters who have also had surgery for breast cancer, I have felt very unattractive physically. Through this, God has reminded me that He has stamped His beauty on my heart, and neither cancer nor surgery can ever take that away from me. I am beautiful because I am His precious princess made in His image.
5. The importance of spending more time with my family and friends. When faced with the possibility of having to tell my family goodbye, I gained a clearer focus of what was most important to me. Material things lessened in value. Time spent with family and friends became more precious. Never has a tomb stone read, “I wish I had worked more.”
6. An increased sense of urgency to share the love of Jesus with others. Gratitude for God’s blessings through this storm and a second chance to be well have given me a greater desire to share with others about the most important thing, the saving grace and mercy of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
7. God is faithful. I knew this before, but I learned it at a deeper level in the midst of this terrible storm called breast cancer. People can tell you God is faithful, but there is no lesson as powerful as living it. He is always faithful to His children, one day at a time. He still performs miracles. He still answers prayer. He restores broken bodies, broken spirits and broken hearts.

I have learned that when I cannot, He can.  And, not only that, I am so thankful that He does!

Dear Lord: Thank You for healing me of breast cancer, and for continuing to teach me its lessons even today. Please be with those who are currently suffering from this terrible disease. Bring them Your love, strength, peace, comfort and wisdom. Hold them closely in the palm of Your righteous hand and bring them healing. You are the Great Physician. Your Word says that You forgive all our sins, and heal all our diseases. Never let us forget that cancer begins with a little c, and Christ begins with a Big C. Amen

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Please share your thoughts, comments and experiences to encourage our group. Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. May God bless and comfort those who have been impacted by breast cancer—those who have dealt with it, those who are dealing with it now, and those who have lost loved ones to this terrible disease.