pray4gray

What's worse then hearing the words "You have cancer"?...hearing the words "Your baby has cancer." Some of mine and Brandon's best friends, Doug and Jill Everaard, recently had to endure those words and have had to find the strength day by day and hour by hour ever since in an unimaginable struggle to keep the faith that their baby will beat this. Grayson, who we call Gray, will be three in December. He's truly the sweetest toddler you will ever meet. He has an adorable high pitched voice, loves to try and keep up with the "big kids" and lets out an ear piercing shrill of a scream when he can't!! He has a big personality and is the "class clown" so to speak of his home. He's every bit the comedian and will do anything for a laugh. He's also a bit obsessive compulsive and loves to line up everyone's stray shoes in front of the fireplace and gets frustrated when things are out of order. He's awnry, full of life and can get out of almost any trouble with one sly smile. He loves cornbread, cheese and Co-Co (that's coke to the rest of us!) and he has his mama's sweet tooth. This Tuesday, Gray was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma after doctor's discovered a baseball size tumor in his abdomen and did a biopsy only a week earlier. More recently, we have learned that Gray's cancer has spread to his bone marrow, many bones throughout his body and his chest. Doctor's begin an agressive chemo treatment plan tomorrow and Gray, at the same time, begins the fight of his life. As you can imagine, Doug and Jill (Gray's parents), aren't handling any of this news very well but are doing their best to stay strong for their tiny son. Doug and Jill also have a 10 year old son, Seth, who is coping with all the latest news as best he knows how and in the best way a 10-year-old brain can comprehend. He has the faith of a child and knows God will heal his brother. As grown-ups, we struggle more in times like these and often ask "how" and "why" more often then we hold onto our faith for healing. It's hard. We will never understand cancer. We will never understand why some children grow up without suffering so much as a cold while others are stricken with life threatening illnesses. One thing we do know, though, is that GOD IS BIGGER THEN STAGE 4!! He has a plan for Gray. A plan bigger then any of us can comprehend on days like today. It's never been harder for me to say the words "God I trust you..." but I must keep saying them. Will you please join me in praying for this sweet little boy? In whatever way you know how, just pray. God hears the most elaborate prayer but he also hears and cares just as much for the silent whisper. A song by Selah has been on my heart ever since Gray's diagnosis and I continue to hold onto it every moment of every day standing in the gap for Grayson and his family, the lyrics say:

When Satan tempts me to dispair

And tells me of the guilt within

Upward I look and see Him there

Who gave an end to all my sin

My name is graven on His hand

My name is written on His heart

I know that while in Heaven He stands

No tongue can bid me thence depart

No tongue can bid me thence depart

This song says it all! In those dark moments when we can't keep going, when we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel and when we just know that the world is closing in on us and nothing makes sense we can look up and see that God's promises still stand. His word is still true. He is still with us and will never leave us, just as His word promises. There are no answers that make sense to any of us right now and there doesn't have to be. God never meant for us to face moments like these alone. He gave us all friends, family, church bodies and christians around the world to stand with us and face trials but he also gave us himself. He is our strength when we have none left. He is our light in total darkness. Again, I plead, please stand with me in prayer for this family and for Gray. Believe with me for a miracle.