Sad News

We got some sad news today. Our friend who worked with us during Camp on Wheels in Canada, Heather Burrill, has stage 4 brain cancer. She had a large tumor removed from her brain nearly 2 weeks ago. Heather has 2 little boys the oldest is 2 and the other is just a baby.

It hit me kind of hard today when I read the update on facebook. It’s not that I didn’t expect that the outcome would be cancer. They had pretty much been told that it would be. But when you read “stage 4” and “15-18 month life expectancy” it kind of hits you in the gut. I had already figured in my mind that she would fight a battle with this cancer and win and go on to see her little ones grow up and bless so many more hearts with her sunshiny smile.

Heather is one of those bubbly people that just make you feel happy to be in a room with them. She is so full of life and energy! She has a servants heart if I ever knew one, and a burden to help people know Christ. I know that she is not going to shirk from the road that is before her feet. I’m struggling with it though.

I wish it didn’t have to happen. I do know that God’s ways are not ours, and I can’t understand. It breaks my heart that those 2 little lads are never going to know the amazing person that is their mommy! It hurts me to think that her husband Kevin is going to be a single Daddy and likely have to leave his current ministry in order to have help bringing up his boys. I don’t understand ways like this. I had a hard time tonight singing my own lads to sleep knowing in my mind that this friend of mine will not have many more opportunities to sing to her own babies.

But it’s not about me. I can rage in my head all about how it’s not fair, or it doesn’t seem right. In the end though it’s my responsibility to submit. No, I can’t understand and never will this side of heaven. Even though it breaks my heart that there can be so much WRONG with this world, I still know, beyond any doubt, that God is good. Someday when I can see Him face to face, I don’t think that all the stored up “why’s” will be the first thing on my mind. In fact, I doubt that I will ever get around to asking them. The whys aren’t going to be important because of who He is and all that He has done for me!

Even though my heart hurts and will through this life, I know that Heaven will be a little brighter when I get to meet Heather there again. We sorrow not as those who have no hope!

Please pray for the Burrill family. Especially in the next few days as treatment options are discussed and many decisions have to be made for their little family. Thanks!

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