Last night my Mum shared some devastating news with us.
She has been diagnosed with a rare and malignant cancer in her eye.
Suffering from no symptoms or signs of the cancer’s presence, the ‘large grey mass’ was discovered at a routine optician appointment earlier this week and confirmed in a fast-tracked hospital visit on Friday.

But what was utterly amazing about this revelation was the way in which it was delivered. Mum had chosen not to tell us about it at the time, because we had Jon’s parents staying… she had not wanted to intrude on their time with us… Instead, she and Dad had been able to share it with a whole bunch of ‘strangers’ at an amazing conference being run at their church.

She has therefore been surrounded by the prayers of faithful brothers and sisters (including our beloved Pastor, Anthony, who was speaking) and felt so buoyed up by their love and support.

With shining eyes and smiling face she spoke emphatically of her faith that she will be healed in one of three ways:
1. Either by God doing a miracle and healing her eye outright
2. Or by medical intervention
3. Or by her being taken to Heaven, the place of no more pain, suffering and tears.

She described this as a ‘win, win, win situation!’ What a woman!
I have never been so PROUD of my Mum. We prayed with her and tears of joy and pride mingled with those of shock.

I know that there will be tough times ahead. I spent an hour on my own with Father in the night, giving the whole situation to Him in my own prayers and in my own way… and with many, many more tears of my own.

But I know and trust with all my heart that He will use this to bring glory to Himself. My job is not to get in the way by praying the wrong prayers at the wrong time.

In the meantime, I have told my Mum to write every word of this journey down. Her book (that I can see with my eyes of faith) will be a wonderful testimony of God’s grace in the midst of pain and human frailty. And, whatever the outcome, it will be a WIN WIN WIN for us as a family. I will never ‘lose’ my Mum. Even if she is not healed in the way we will be fasting and praying for, we will know EXACTLY where she is! Heaven (whenever her arrival is set there) is a certain hope for her, not a possibility.

There is no sting in death. It is not final. There is no victory for the enemy. He HAS lost.
Glory be to God! He has conquered.
We have nothing to fear.
He HAS WON.