Editor’s Note: The following essay was submitted by Christy Greer, a remarkable educator at Colmesneil Elementary School, as well as many things to many people. Greer was recently diagnosed with bile duct cancer and wanted to share her journey in hopes of inspiring others who might be facing similar problems.
In a world where bad news is often front page and evil seems to triumph, I recently experienced quite the opposite and wanted to share my story in hopes of encouraging just one reader.
Two months ago, I got the news that no one wants to hear – “You have cancer.”
I am a 56-year-old elementary teacher, wife, mom, grandmother, daughter and sister. The Bible tells us our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit so I have always strived to live a healthy lifestyle. Understandably, this news left me numb and fearful, and I feel like I am just now catching up to all that has transpired over the past few weeks. Writing has always been like therapy to me so I knew immediately that I needed to record my thoughts and feelings as I walked through this cancer journey.
When I received the cancer diagnosis, I was in complete shock and disbelief! My family and I went through all the emotions – tears were shed, our hearts were broken, and our faith was tested and tried. We wondered how and why, and so many other things. I would be lying if I said I was not gripped by fear - daily - having to turn that over to the Father. Many times only being able to whisper the name of Jesus- as tears fell over and over. My family and I knew deep in our hearts we needed to trust our Heavenly Father, who already knows what we need before we even ask. One thing I have always loved about our faith and believing that Jesus is who He says He is, centers on the word mercy. Mercy by definition is the compassionate act of withholding the punishment or judgment that we as fallen humans deserve. In no way do I believe that cancer or illness comes from judgement or punishment. He is a good Father and He does not work that way, but He does shower us with mercy and compassion each day to get up and try again; He gives us another chance to build our faith and to trust him more.
I have always loved this scripture: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22-23 (New King James Version).
I love the idea that each new day holds a new start, a new beginning. No matter what happened yesterday, today is a chance to wake up and receive His love, his compassion, his faithfulness. Whether that means walking through happy and healthy moments, or walking through valleys and dark days, we have the choice to believe and sing his praises through it all, knowing that He walks with us each step of the way.
As we walked through the diagnosis and surgery prep, we began to see the hand of God at every turn. The cancer was a small lesion in my bile duct, which is a very rare cancer. My daughter-in-law had previously worked for a team of surgeons at Methodist Hospital in Richardson, Texas and she was able to help us quickly get in to see them and receive a treatment plan.
Within one week of my first symptom, I underwent surgery. This was the first of many tiny miracles we would witness firsthand. We later discovered the surgeon was an expert in his field and people travel from all over to see him. He performed a whipple procedure, which is one of the more difficult abdominal procedures and recoveries. I was scared, but my doctor would always encourage me, before and after the surgery, telling me this was the best plan and he would do everything he could to help me. The surgery was successful and he was able to remove all the cancer, leaving no margins. We celebrated as a family to see the Hand of God working through the skilled hands of our surgeon.
The hands and feet of Jesus became my focus as I began my recovery. The team of surgeons, the nurses, the physical therapists, the meal delivery servers, it’s so hard to know how to describe the experience. Everywhere I turned I saw Jesus - he was everywhere, and He never looked the same! I saw Jesus in my surgeon’s hands, who is from Sudan. I saw Jesus in the Ethiopian nurse who prayed over me before surgery. I saw Jesus in the young nursing assistant who would come in my room each night just to help me sit up and get out of bed.
He was from Pakistan and he told us that he had been called Jesus his whole life because everyone said he looked like what they imagined Jesus would look like. His kindness and compassion reflected the Jesus I have always read about in the gospels.
Day after day, three times a day, kind people of every nationality and color would deliver meals to me with a smile. The humble Hispanic director of food services reflected Jesus in the compassion he showed us; he allowed my husband to order meals each day with no charge and visited us on two different occasions just to make sure we were being well taken care of.
On my tenth and final day at the hospital, a young Muslim lady wearing a hijab wheeled me out to my car and was so gentle and kind, reflecting the qualities of Jesus. Each person I came in contact with seemed to have been sent by the Father above to help us on our journey.
When I tell you Jesus was everywhere, I mean it in the most real and tangible way possible. He met me at every twist and turn, and he used so many individuals to minister to me and meet my physical and emotional needs. Even in the midst of such a difficult time, my eyes were opened to the ways of the Father: He doesn’t work or think or act like we do. God goes before us and prepares the way, before we ever even know which way to go. Seeing so many people living out the love and compassion of Jesus has deeply impacted me and caused me to open my eyes to the needs of those around me. Just since my diagnosis and surgery, two others that I know have received cancer diagnoses. They say that only someone who has walked in your shoes can truly understand and minister to you, and that is my prayer for the future. I pray God uses me to reach out to others around me who are hurting and walking through similar valleys. I pray that I can be the hands and feet of Jesus to others, just as so many have been to me and my family. I also pray that my life and my cancer journey will point others to the Father.
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
In joy or in pain, the message is very simple: God loves you and has a plan for your life. Would you consider receiving His love, life and forgiveness today? God is good, and his mercies are new every day.
Great is His faithfulness. God Bless You for sharing in my journey.
