HAVE YOU EVER BEEN AWED by someone who has made it through a dump-truck load of difficult circumstances unscathed? I learned about one women’s awe-inspiring story while interviewing her for an article I wrote about a Habitat for Humanity build. By unscathed I don’t mean she never had a bad day, but the woman I met stood strong, confident, and smiling. As a single mom, devastated financially by a bout with cancer, she had every right to be depressed, but wasn’t.
Cheryl’s story reveals the sacred aspect of chemotherapy rooms. Lives change. Ideas are born. Beauty rises from the ashes of illness. During her treatment she picked up a magazine and read about a woman minister, also in a battle against cancer. The article told about this woman’s decision to give to others as a part of her therapy by choosing to build a house for Habitat for Humanity. Cheryl thought, “I would love to do the same thing.”
It took a few years, but Cheryl followed through on her dream. When I met her she was close to fulfilling her promise to raise $40,000.00 to build a house for a Burmese family who had fled their home country after the Father had been arrested for preaching the gospel. With help from the women of her church, Cheryl overcame the odds and worked for a year on fundraising, including time served on the jobsite, building a house for a wonderful family.
Dear Lord, Your word says, “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he (or she) who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” Help me to get back up when the world knocks me down and choose to serve others while recovering. Amen.
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. (1 John 5:5)