Where are the angels when tragedy
strikes?
There are no easy answers to these questions. As we know, God’s ways
are not our ways. But we can be sure that His angels are always near
us, bringing us comfort and consolation, and sometimes teaching us
some truths along the way...
When Nell Berry gave birth to her third child over forty years ago,
her then-physician mentioned that, since she nursed all her children
(a not-too-common practice in those days), in his opinion, she would
probably never have breast cancer. “The next years were worry-free for
me,” Nell says. “I never gave breast cancer a thought.”
Then, a few years ago, her physician scheduled a routine mammogram.
Nell had had two previous ones, which weren’t absolutely normal, so
her physician wanted to keep an eye on things. This time, the
technician was visibly concerned. He ordered an ultra-sound for Nell.
“The results showed a tumor about the size of a pencil eraser,” Nell
says. “They immediately scheduled a biopsy.”
Nell’s husband, her son (an anesthesiologist), and one of her
daughters insisted on being with her for the test. There were a lot of
people praying for her as well—word had gone out on the prayer chains
in her community. “I was amazed at how calm I was,” Nell says.
“Previously, just the word “cancer” might have thrown me into a
tizzy.” Even when she discovered that the tumor was malignant, and
she’d have to have a lumpectomy, Nell remained tranquil.
After surgery, Nell was scheduled for six weeks of radiation, a dose
every day at the cancer clinic. At this point, the World Trade Center
disaster had happened, and of course Nell couldn’t help but be
depressed about that too. Despite her firm faith in Jesus, she
expected to struggle through her therapy. But the Lord had other
plans.
“I write poetry, so I wrote a spiritual one about the tragedy,” Nell
says. “On an impulse, I brought it with me one morning to the clinic
for the techs to read. I hoped to just brighten their day a little,
but they seemed thrilled with it. One emailed a copy to several radio
stations, asking if they would read it, and they did. Another framed a
copy, and hung it on the waiting room wall.”
The techs wanted more, so during the next few weeks, Nell wrote poems
about God’s love in the midst of crisis, of her faith in Him, no
matter what. “I brought in a stack one morning, and the receptionist
made them into a booklet for the waiting room. The next thing I knew,
other patients were reading them.” Nell had never dreamed she would
reach this many people with her thoughts, much less be a witness for
the Lord. It was an unexpected blessing in the midst of difficult
times.
Another gift was the attention and concern of her busy family. Her
children and grandchildren surrounded her, and she was able to catch
up on all their news. Her son and his wife had taken a college
student from China into their home, and Nell not only got to know Lucy well, Lucy
began calling her “Grandma.”
“My granddaughter Laura spent a few
days with me too, so my husband could go duck-hunting,” Nell recalls.
“Laura drove me everywhere, bought me comfy tee-shirts to wear.. she
was an angel. And my daughter-in-law, who home-schools her children,
did everything in her power to make me comfortable when I stayed with
her.” Love seemed to be all around her. And the prayers and other
offers of help continued to flow.
Nell is feeling much better now. And although she wouldn’t have chosen
this particular road, she sees many good things that came from it. “It
wasn’t a bed of roses,” she points out. “But I believe there are blessings
in any circumstance, no matter what it is, if only we look for them. I
hope others in my situation do that. They’ll be amazed.”
(C) 2002 Joan Wester
Anderson
www.joanwanderson.com
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