Gifts from God

In the movie Pulp Fiction, two sociopaths named Jules and Vincent have a discussion about miracles following one of the movie’s most brutal scenes.  Jules asks Vincent if he knows the meaning of divine intervention.  Vincent replies,  “Yeah, I think so.  That means God came down from Heaven and stopped the bullets.”  Some might make a case for this definition.  However, more learned theologians have described divine intervention as a moment when someone is placed in the right place at the right time to be a catalyst for someone in need.  Or to put it more simply, something that happens when we pray for help – also known as “gifts from God.”

The past 24 hours have been very good for me, especially in terms of gifts from God.   

Yesterday I went to Sam’s to buy buckets of blueberries. While maneuvering through the store, I had a surprise encounter with former State Rep. Josetta Wilkins of Pine Bluff.  It’s been a long time since we’ve been together, but we began our brief encounter with hugs and kisses. 

Josetta and I became friends in 1995, when she and the Arkansas Hospital Association hired me to help her pass the Arkansas Breast Cancer Act.  While a longtime breast cancer survivor, it was Josetta’s tireless advocacy and passion that led to the passage of this law and ultimately created the BreastCare Program, a comprehensive program that provides free breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment services for Arkansas women who have little or no health insurance.  It was such my pleasure to work for her for two years to pass this historic piece of legislation.  But of all the times to run into her . . . We discussed my diagnosis and she offered me prayers and support and her lovely hugs that she so freely shares with those in her life.  I truly felt blessed. 

Then today I spent the morning with my dear friend Colette and my new friend Ellen.  Ellen and I share four or five mutual friends.  What makes her very, very special is that she is a 9-year Inflammatory Breast Cancer survivor – and she had a very tough IBC diagnosis.  Ellen, Colette and I spent a couple of hours together, along with Anna-Lee and my Mom.  My new friend shared much about the journey before me.  Obviously she was very successful in managing this nasty cancer, so I’m going to make Ellen my guiding light.  Another wonderful blessing.  

Often God’s greatest gifts come to us in disguises.  The past two days I have seen God’s gifts and they have come to me as my fellow sisters, courageous survivors who will lift me up along the way. 

Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children.

Thank you God.  And thank you to all my lovely friends. 

Tomorrow afternoon I will have a breast MRI and a PET-Scan, two very critical tests.  Cross your fingers, say a prayer, send me good juju.  I’m hopeful that these tests come back with good news.