Sand Dollars from Heaven (or maybe the depths of Puget Sound)

"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so in all things and at all times you will have everything you need. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God!"

2 Corinthians 9:8-12

This past weekend, I spent quite a bit of time reflecting on how the last round of chemo treatment went, and just how vastly different it was from the first round. Having been extremely ill from the medications, it had seemed so unbearable to have to undergo this a second time, let alone 15 more treatments ahead. And yet, through a great deal of prayer and support from dear friends, I was able to go into my 'therapy session' with confidence, and the result was that the recovery period over the next few days was definitely do-able. Not perfect, but manageable. It gave me a good deal of time to thank our Heavenly Father for His goodness to me, and to reflect on all of the answers to prayer that we have received to-date (you can see them for yourself in the 'Testimony' section of this blog).

One of the biggest answers to prayer has been on the financial side. The full round of treatment we will be forced to undergo will literally run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars - definitely a daunting number! Back when Matt initially found out he had been laid off after fourteen years at his last job, we were on pins and needles of what to do about health insurance, and at that time, we had no idea what we would be facing just two months later. However, God met that need in a very precise way! It turned out that Matt's unemployed status qualified us for health insurance with my Coquille Indian tribe, and there is only one month of the entire year we could sign up for the program - the very month his job was eliminated! Had the layoffs been one month later, we would have been out of luck for an entire year.

We had barely started using our new healthcare plan when the initial symptoms of this condition required me to make the appointment with my physician to get this figured out. By the time the diagnosis of cancer was given, we had been told that there is a waiting period on most healthcare plans for major health events, and there would be a very good chance this might not be covered.

On the day I received the news that the cancer was in my lymphatic system and would require an aggressive form of treatment, needless to say, I was devastated and discouraged! The possibility of ever repaying the debt we might incur fighting this disease was very real. Leaving the oncology unit, Matt took me out to the beach at Dumas Bay, a favorite place where we spent quite a bit of time in the early years of our marriage. Walking barefoot together through the warm saltwater, heated by the sun on that beautiful July afternoon, Matt began bending down and handing me sand dollars. I looked down, and they were strewn everywhere before us - almost impossible to take a step without landing on one. He observed, "I wonder if the hospital would allow us to make a payment with a couple thousand of these!" I laughed, but in that moment, I realized the incredible wealth that already exists in the Kingdom - there for the benefit of the Father's kids. The cost of this treatment program is so miniscule in light of His care for us, and I knew at that moment that under no circumstance would He would not be able to meet this need!

And sure enough, within a couple weeks, we received the word that the waiting period did not apply to this situation, and that the majority of the surgery and treatment costs would be covered by this insurance. Not long after that, we found out that we qualified for financial aid with the hospital as well. What an incredible promise we received with the gift of the sand dollars; it was truly a treasure to comprehend His goodness in that moment! As the song 'Say the Word' says, "All that I am with all creation, hanging on every word that You've spoken. And it will not be shaken, clinging for life to all Your promise!" Some might say that this was just a lucky break, or that anybody could have this covered eventually, but I know what my heart heard that day - His still, small voice speaking to me, "I got this; just rest and see what I will do." As my dear friend Bill Dew is so fond of saying, "He is gooder than we think!" Coming home from the Men's Charge this past weekend, Matt had me close my eyes, and he pressed something flat & hard into my hand; I opened my eyes to find a golden sand dollar he brought me as a fitting tribute to this Promise we had been given!

#Julie