Any woman who has ever been for a mammogram, knows the feelings it arouses and the waiting on tenterhooks till the letter saying all is clear arrives. Imagine this. You open the letter and read you are being called back for further X rays and tests.
Your heart misses a beat or two. Your eyes blur. You decide you must have read it wrongly. But the words stay stubbornly the same. Yet there is a sense in which you are not surprised at all. Even though you have no symptoms, discovered no lumps or changes, there is a feeing of inevitability almost. And you have no idea why that should be so.
The letter goes on to tell you another appointment has been made for you in a few days.
You tell yourself it’s nothing to worry about. After all the letter goes on to say ‘many women who are called back are fine and reassured after their visit that they have nothing to worry about.’
You are not convinced. Your heart is still dancing a samba. The cloud of fear settles.
If you’ve ever received a call back after a mammogram, no doubt you experienced, some or all of these feelings. This was how I felt last week when I received such a letter.
The few days crawled by at a snail pace, actually more like a snail on valium. The fact that I had the flu and had to curtail many of my normal activities only made the time seem longer. Flu or no flu I intended being there for those tests.
The night before the tests, Mick and I sat down as usual for our bible study and prayer time. As I picked up my bible, a card fell out. On it was written one for the verses Mick and I memorized during our waiting period before our move down south.
It’s been tucked in the bible ever since and never fallen out into my hands before.
It read, ‘But the Lord is faithful who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.’ 2 Thessalonians 3:3. It was like God was talking straight to me,reassuring me.
The flutterings of fear eased. Mick prayed for me.I am thankful my faith is upheld and strengthened at times like this, by his and by the prayers of the few special people I asked to pray for me.
The day arrived. I tucked the cardboard with the verse on it into my handbag as a reminder of God’s overruling.
Mick drove me up to the appointment. In the waiting room I saw fear etched on a number of faces as we all waited our turn and then the relief on the faces of those who, after the extra tests were given the ‘all clear.’ After several hours of waiting and tests, I was one of those given the all clear. Praise God!
Bible verse from the New King James Version
Please visit these related blogs
Is Your Lifestyle Putting You at Risk for Breast Cancer?