Our lives changed forever on D-Day of 2006. Diagnosis day was March 20th of this year and that day seems like it was years ago. It is hard to fathom that in real time it has not quite been nine months since we found out about Joni’s breast cancer. My wife’s recent post made me realize how much our perspective has changed in those nine months. Joni was sharing one of the most exciting developments in her cancer journey. The headline was typically Joni…to the point.

I have eyebrows!!!

Chemotherapy patients know the trauma of losing your hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes. Joni’s words reminded me how much we daily take for granted.

It amazes me how a simple thing like eyebrows can be so  exciting.  My eyebrows are coming back along with eyelashes and about a half inch of hair on my head.  But it is the eyebrows that excite me the most. 

Cancer changes your priorities a bit, doesn’t it? Last year at this time we had no idea what 2006 would hold. But thanks to the prayers, love, and encouragement of the body of Christ and the comfort and strengthening of the Holy Spirit we have made it this far. Joni continued her thoughts.

It has been a long and difficult journey but God has so richly blessed me and provided for all of my needs and then some.   My energy is beginning to return and it feels so good not to be tired all of the time. 

I love this time of year and I am thankful I can help with the decorating and festivities that go along with the season even though it is toned down from past Christmases.  I am studying Romans in my Bible study.  In Romans 5:3-5 there is a progression from tribulation to perseverance to proven character to hope.  I know I have  experienced tribulation and perseverance through the operations and grueling treatments.  My prayer is that all of this  has also produced proven character for the Lord and I know He has given me hope.  There is joy in tribulation in that it proves that God is faithful and He will never leave me.

All of these qualities and eyebrows too? How blessed am I? This is going to be a great Christmas. Tribulation and perseverance has brought us even closer together. Our Christmas prayer is the hope of many more Holidays together. God is faithful and He has not left us…not for an instant.