When You Get Slammed with a Cancer Diagnosis

When you smash a muffin, you’ll get crumbs. When you cook oatmeal, you’ll get mush. When you squeeze a lemon, you’ll get sour.

We’ve all heard it said…

When life gives you lemons make lemonade.

But what if life gives you cancer?

How do you make lemonade with that?

If life squeezed you, what would come out?

Life squeezed my friend, Kathie, with breast cancer, and sweet came out.

She was always a kind and compassionate and caring person, and when she had every reason to be bitter and resentful and nasty, all that came out was kindness and sweetness.

It’s been unbelievable to watch.

Just weeks before her surgery we had lunch together and she talked about how this illness could be what takes her home to heaven. I listened. She went on and said it was difficult to hear others tell her, Oh no, don’t say that, you’re going to be fine, because she needs to face her reality.

She said, We’re all going to die, it’s just a matter of how, and this could be how God takes me home.

It was hard to hear but I listened as tears filled my eyes.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

-Joshua 1:9

After surgery, she told me she had been passing out from the pain.

She was handling it like a champ.

I felt mad.

She never underplayed how difficult it was or how painful the process, but her attitude has stayed positive throughout her treatment. And her bravery matches that of a decorated soldier.

One time she went in for her chemo treatment and her nurse commented on her pink hair and what a fun color to have for your hair as if it was her real hair. Kathie began to laugh because it was a wig, looked at the nurse with a knowing look of “I don’t have any hair” and the nurse laughed too.

When her wigs slide back exposing her baldness, her son says, Um, Mom! and she laughs.

When I asked her what verses have been her favorite through this time she told me she had memorized Psalm 91, but verses 1, 2, and 4 comforted and spoke to her the most.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

-Psalm 91:1-2

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

-Psalm 91:4

How could someone go through this with such cheerfulness and courageousness?

She would tell you trust in God.

Trust.

And I can tell you that’s all I’ve seen from her, complete trust in God. It has been humbling and inspiring. She is kicking cancer in the butt and squeezing lemonade all over it.

How do you make lemonade from a cancer diagnosis? My friend, Kathie, is doing it.

I sat down with Kathie and you can listen in on her incredible resolve and trust. I promise it will inspire you. Click HERE!

Lucille Williams is the author of “From Me to We” and “The Intimacy You Crave: Straight Talk about Sex and Pancakes”  order a copy today to enhance your marriage. Subscribe to LuSays.com for weekly encouragement.