Having a diagnosis of breast cancer might not be your idea of a good thing, it wasn't mine either, at the time. I came out of the room having been told this news feeling like the world was falling apart. My good friend who was with me said " Look kid I don't know why you're feeling so down about this, you're not going any where yet. God has not finished with you here , he's got too much for you to do yet!!" It was such a strange way to say it ,I had no option but to believe it. (Odd thing happened here I had a clear picture of children, not mine just a group of children) Boy was she telling me! God not finished with me I think he'd only just started.
During the course of my treatment I had to go into hospital. During my stay one of the Chaplaincy team came to see me. A very odd visit really as it ended up with us ministering to each other. She was having a problem with a son who was in prison. God gave me words to say to her to comfort her and strengthen her for the job she had to do helping him get back on the straight and narrow. Was this one of the things God wanted me to do, well I think it was, but only one of them.
A few months later I was at a meeting of the uniformed groups leaders, a friend asked me if I'd like to help out at Brownies. When I went along to the first unit meeting I discovered they needed someone to take over running the unit as the guider in charge had just left. I found myself in that strange place of thinking 'No I can't do that' and hearing myself say "Yes of course I'd love to do that" … have you been there?? So I took over the Brownie unit, God really did want that unit to stay open, the leaders all left bar me over the next few months, nothing I said I hope. So I was left to carry on, asking for help each week. Then I was given the idea to ask for people to come forward on a more regular basis. Answers to prayer don't usually come as clear as this one did. I had one mum say she'd like to work for her warrant, one mum who would help out every week and one grandma who would also help out regularly. Wow!
Months go by during which time I get a job working in school as a dinner lady. (I was already doing voluntary work there).
I finished my treatment and got on with life. A job as a teaching assistant came along. Following this a couple of years later I was in church one Sunday… David Hewitt was leading the service.. "Jackie needs help with Explorers, she's spent the last year doing the job on her own not being able to come in to church for a full service
in all that time.. If you can help let me know" Sunday Special so coffee in the middle of the service. Note the quote, me to a friend… " I thought about this Explorers thing, I can't do that, I'm a governor at 2 schools, work nearly full time, do Brownies etc, etc, I have no time to do anything else. No I'm not going to volunteer" Silly girl. Back to our seats for the next part of the service. Back to David H, " this problem with Explorers is serious, we must have some one else to do some weeks for Jackie, cue friend sat behind me " Shall we do that together? We could do it" (remember my quote from coffee time??) My reply not "No I can't do that" "but YES!!! yes I'll do that with you" Hang on a minute that was not me saying yes, it can't be, Well, no I don't think it was me. David H the next week said to the congregation " Susan and Carol have spoken up and will help with Explorers" No Susan and Carol did not speak out, God spoke for me I know he did. I could not spare the time remember?
Do you remember the beginning of this story? Where I saw the picture of children? Do you think He wanted me to do work with the children in Bradley? I reckon it's a possibility. So yes in the end breast cancer was a good thing in this case. Oh and by the way, still more children. I was asked by a good friend if I'd help at a new children's craft group at church, the answer, well yes of course, I can spare the time! If not God will no doubt make sure I have. In Him all things ARE possible.