How will I make it without her? I thought, tears filling my eyes as I sat in church during the funeral of my dearest friend. She had passed away after a long battle with cancer. I had been facing my own battle with breast cancer and had been so hopeful she would pull through—had needed her to. I listened to the priest close the service with her favorite verse from Isaiah: “They shall mount up with wings as eagles.” Lord, I wish that were true, I thought, sadness engulfing me as the service ended.
A few days later I was home washing the last of the breakfast dishes, still grieving my friend, when the phone rang. Quickly I dried my hands on a towel then picked up the phone. “Hello,” I said.
“Hello, Birgit.” Immediately I recognized my gynecologist’s voice. “I’m so sorry,” she continued, “but after reviewing all of your test results with the oncologist, we’re going to need to schedule another mastectomy.”
“Thank you for letting me know,” I said quietly. I hung up the phone and sat down heavily at the table, staring out the window. If my friend didn’t make it, I thought, how will I?
Finally, wearily, I stood up. Might as well go to the post office and pick up the mail, I thought. I slipped my feet into some sandals and headed outside. I plodded along down the familiar sun-drenched path, my legs feeling like lead. Normally I loved this daily walk. Birds trilled their sweet song, bees buzzed among the wildflowers and daisies bobbed their yellow heads in the breeze. I’d always prided myself on walking the four miles round trip in less than 40 minutes. Not today. I could practically feel my faith seep out of me with every step.
“What now, Lord?” I wondered aloud, tears stinging my eyes.
I was almost at the post office when I saw something shimmer in the tall grass. Turning back to look, I wiped my eyes and saw a medallion, as big as a quarter, with the sun reflecting off it. I reached down to pick it up.
On one side in bold print were the words: “They shall mount up with wings as eagles.” Isaiah 40:31. The very verse read at my friend’s funeral. I turned it over. On the other side were four little words that gave me all the peace I needed: “You Can Make It.”
