When I was 2 and a half years old, on May 18th, 1981, God brought my first angel into my life.
My cousin. Denean Jo Abbott Bauer.
Denean was always different. And she was different in a way that didn’t always fit the mold of this world. Heck, even her name was unique!
From a very young age, she was always a girl chasing after Jesus. She loved Him so very much.
Then in the spring/summer of her 17th year, her mom, my aunt, called my mom with devastating news.
The diagnosis?
Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
This was in 1998.
Before we Googled everything. Before the internet, as we know it today.
No one in our family had faced cancer before.
To say we were terrified was putting it mildly.
But I will never forget the first time I saw Denean after that diagnosis.
She wasn’t scared. She was calm. She was smiling.
Denean knew who fought her battles.
After being in remission for 5 years, at the age of 23, Denean found a lump.
Breast cancer.
Again, Denean was calm in the storm. Selfishly, her peace was a gift to us all because we were scared.
But again, she knew who fought her battles.
After being in remission for a few years, she had dark spots on her right breast. Think bruises times 100. I remember her showing it to us at
her brother’s wedding. He didn’t know. She wanted his day to be perfect.
Yes, breast cancer again.
And this time, it would ultimately take her life.
On October 4th, 2009. On her dad’s birthday.
As a newlywed, at the age of 28, with her whole life ahead of her.
But Denean remained calm in the storm.
She knew who fought her battles.
Fast forward, nine years, and God brought a second angel into my life.
My client at first, my dear friend, Shelly Longenecker.
Shelly came into my world through my group coaching program. She has an amazing book about how to feed your family dinner for a dollar. Her kids had severe allergies and sleep apnea and a host of other things. Shelly believed that food was healing. But she was also a stay-at-home-mom. She had to get creative with it and with her budget.
Shelly was on FIRE for this idea! I would come to learn that Shelly was really on fire about most things. She loved life so much. She loved her family beyond measure. And she loved Jesus like I had only seen one other person do.
My cousin, Denean,
In March 2019, Shelly came to our private Facebook group and said this:
“I have been hovering over sharing a big prayer request for about 4 weeks. But, today I got bad news and it's now time to ask for more than a few people to pray.”
We immediately began praying. And we never stopped.
Shelly was scared, but she was calm.
She knew who fought her battles.
She and I talked about her plans for Dinner For a Dollar. What should she do? What could she do? What was God calling her to do?
The bare minimum.
Shelly fought cancer like nobody’s business. She went after it with all the tools in her arsenal. Like she did everything in her life.
She fought the first time and won.
She fought the second time and won.
She fought the third time so very hard.
Until it ultimately took her life.
Did she get scared?
Yes.
Did she get sad?
Yes.
Did she get downright angry?
Yes.
But she was always calm.
Shelly knew who was fighting her battles.
This morning I woke up full of anxiety. I go home tomorrow. I left a mess in my wake. But I also know God called me out of my mess to get quiet, get clear, and get obedient.
So I have been down in Port Aransas, saying yes every time He has asked me to. No matter how uncomfortable it makes me. Because this is so
not about me.
Yes, I will approach that young family on the beach and give that sweet Mama some encouragement.
Yes, I will tell her she's a great mom and she's just dealing with a "threenager"-- we have all been there.
Yes, I will pay for that woman’s lunch even though the money is crazy tight.
It was that one that wrecked me.
I have been eating all my meals in my room. It’s just what I felt like I should be doing. (So. Much. Salad.)
Then yesterday I felt called to go out to eat so I did.
As I am sitting there working, this woman walks in and I smile at her, she smiles at me, and I think nothing of it.
Then I look up again. She's looking at me and smiling.
And it was like Shelly was right there.
Her name is Audra.
Her blonde hair was growing back. Shelly’s was brown and came back in more black.
They both had the same black glasses.
As I sat there working, I heard God say “You need to pay for their lunch.”
Okay, but like you know my financial situation. It’s not good.
You need to pay for their lunch.
Okie Dokie— on it!
He said to write a note. I wrote:
“I don’t know you, but God sure does. He wants you to know that He loves you. He wants you to know that He sees you. He wants you to know He’s in this battle with you. Signed, 100 Days of Biblical Affirmations”
I went into the restaurant and found her server. With trembling hands, a sob in my throat, and complete peace in my heart, I said, “I would
like to pay their bill anonymously. When they ask for the check, I would like you to give them this note.”
They finished eating and asked for their check. The note was delivered.
Shelly wasn’t a crier. I get the sense that Audra isn’t either.
I saw her shoulders shake.
Silently I prayed, “Thank you, God.”
We had the opportunity to connect because of this cute dog. I said, “How about I take your picture in front of this sign?”
That would be great they said!
I took a serious one and then said “Okay! Now make a funny face! I’m sorry, I can’t help it. I have 3 kids and this is what they do.”
They laughed and made a funny face.
Audra then told me her name and her story. She’s a nurse. She worked full shifts until one day her husband said if you don’t go to the doctor, I am taking you to the emergency room.
He took her to the ER.
All her white blood cells were gone.
Triple-negative breast cancer.
One of the hardest breast cancers to beat.
She said I am praying. This can come back every 18 months. I have to beat it in the first 18 months.
“I’m praying for you,” I told her.
And when they left, I buried my head in my hands and I sobbed.
This is Shelly’s story. This is Denean’s story.
But I know who fights Audra’s battles.
Now, I know what some of you are thinking.
If there is a God, why is there cancer?
I don’t think this side of Heaven we are going to get that answer.
And I know that’s not what Denean focused on.
And I know that’s not what Shelly focused on.
They were focused on who fought their battles.
Friend, I don’t know what battle you are in right now.
Maybe it’s the end of a marriage.
Maybe it’s a cancer diagnosis for you or someone you love.
Maybe you are wondering how you are going to pay the mortgage.
Maybe you are worried about how your business is going to survive in this economy.
Maybe you are worried about a wayward child.
I don’t know what it is for you, but I know who does.
God.
He knows you. He sees you. He fights your battles.
I don’t care if you prayed this morning or last prayed 20 years ago.
Wherever you are, He wants you to know that He knows you. He sees you. He fights your battles.
I’ve seen it twice.
In facing her death, Denean had peace that surpassed all understanding.
In facing her death, Shelly had peace that surpassed all understanding.
And Audra, if somehow you find this post, I pray that you have that peace that surpasses all understanding.
Today I would like you to pray about whatever situation you are facing big or small. God wants that peace for you wherever you are. You can be calm in the storm. He is fighting your battles.
Do you want a copy of the 100 Biblical Affirmations for peace? Click here to download your copy!
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