JOY Stories
Corrie
God's timing is always perfect
God’s timing is always perfect. Sometimes, though, it doesn’t feel that way.
On December 6, 2012, we heard our daughter’s heartbeat for the first time. Later that day, my sister, Mitzi, was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. I was excited yet devastated. How could God simultaneously allow such sorrow and such joy? To make things seem even more cruel, our due date was July 31, and Mitzi’s birthday is August 8. Was this going to be a “circle of life” moment for our family?
The next nine months were filled with all the ups and downs of pregnancy and the many ups and downs of my sister’s battle with breast cancer. We announced our pregnancy on Christmas Day. Mitzi received her chemo port the day after Christmas. We had baby showers, decorated the nursery, and bought too many frilly clothes, while my sister, endured chemo, lost her hair, went through countless surgeries, and somehow kept her focus on the goodness of God.
On July 24, my sister skipped a radiation treatment, drove too fast to Athens from her home in South Carolina, and stayed up all night for the arrival of her first niece, Ellington. They say holding your child for the first time is a moment you’ll never forget. If I’m being honest, seeing my sister hold my daughter for the first time was far more powerful and memorable. We were afraid that moment would never happen. Due to God’s perfect timing, we could experience His complete presence and overwhelming goodness.
Mitzi has been cancer-free ever since. She is the best Aunt Miffy any 10-year-old girl could ask for. What first seemed cruel timing, was a gift for our family. We learned powerfully that no matter our circumstances, He is always sovereign. Most importantly, we learned, and try to share with others every day, that He loves us more than we could ever deserve, and that if we open our eyes and our hearts, we can fully experience it…especially when God’s timing is more perfect than we can understand.
*Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time to unite in the fight against breast cancer. It's a month dedicated to spreading awareness, promoting early detection, and showing support for those affected.
Photos for Corrie
PHOTO 1 of 13