Okay, so I'm going to leave out a lot of details, which I hate doing, cause it makes the story perfect, but I could write pages and pages about this...
My parents have a real special story that I hold very near to my heart. It truly proves that even though things suck, everything happens for a reason.
Phase I- Melody(my step mother, whom I call Mom) lost her first husband to cancer back in the early 90's.
Phase II- Daddy lost Mom(my birth mother) to a heart attack in the 90's.
Phase III- Mom and Dad meet through a group for single parents. They hit it off and have an amazing connection immediately. They spend lots of time together. Nothing more than friends.
Phase IV- Dad meets another woman (the Wicked Witch of the West), and married her. Mom is out of the picture for years.
Phase V- Dad woke up and realized Wicked Witch of the West was just that....a Witch...just take away the W and replace it with a B. Divorced. CELEBRATE!
Phase VI(my faaaaavorite)- After the divorce, Dad does some research and finds Mom. She's still single and living in Boerne with her son, Sheldon. I still remember the night Mom & Dad were reunited. I will NEVER forget the happiness that filled our home. Back in the '90's, no lovey dovey-ness. In the 2001, LOTS of lovey dovey-ness. :) They fall in love and realize the time apart was crappy as can be, but they're meant to be together, and somehow, it was worth the wait. They get married!
Phase 541561205(current times)- They're married. They're happy. They're the biggest goobers I know. They make me throw up often cause they're so in love. They're the best friends that friends can be. They are what I desire in a marriage one day. I really wish I could sit here and explain my parents love to you. It'll rock your world and then some.
However, the moral to the story is... We all went through a bunch of poo in life. I know there were times when Mom was a single parent raising a newborn asking God why she had lost her husband. I know for a fact that Dad had to go INSANE raising 3 kids on his own. I KNOW he had days he asked God why things happened the way they did. We've all questioned things in life. However, God gave my parents the most magical love story ever. They both received their best friend as their partner ,and are as happy as they come. God had a plan for them. He has a plan for you.
The reason I share this story is hopefully to encourage you, but also to encourage myself. I received a phone call last week that tore my world apart. Knocked me flat on my bottom.
"Your dad has cancer".
My first reaction was a wave of tears. I was sitting in the middle of the restaurant and just let it all out. Next reaction, asking my mom over and over if she was okay. Can you imagine being told that your second husband has cancer, after already losing your first husband to cancer? Screeeeew that. I hung up with Mom. I was at lunch with my girlfriends. They didn't say much. Not much has to be said in moments such as these. But then I said it... "Daddy has cancer." In my mind I thought "WHAT?!?! Did I seriously just say that? Was that conversation just real? Is this really my life?". I was scared. I was sad. I was pissed. I wanted to cry and scream all at once. I talked to God for hours upon hours. "Why God why? Why my family? We've been through enough. Why my parents? They're so in love. Why my Daddy? He is the rock to our family, and simply amazing. WHY?" I just didn't get it. And in all honesty, I still do not. However, I was reminded of my parents' love story. I was reminded that after all the pain we've been through, God blessed us. He blended our family together. It took some bending and molding, but He gave us each other to rely on during our time on this earth. Daddy has cancer. Goodness, that's still insane to say. However, God will take care of us. No matter the outcome, He has a plan for us. A plan to give us hope and a future. I don't get it. None of us do. Lots of people are throwing questions left and right. But just remember, the answers come from above. He will take care of Daddy. He will take care of my family. He will take care of me. And take it from someone who knows, He will take care of you.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" - Jeremiah 29:11
Please pray for Daddy this upcoming week. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday morning.
