Have Faith! Mark 5:36

My beautiful friend Ginny has a contagious laugh and a bright soul–you know one of those personalities that exudes joy. She taught my Hannah in 2nd grade at Crooked River Elementary. Later, I too taught at CRES. A few years passed and again, we found ourselves with another similarity—we were fighting cancer at the same time at Mayo. We actually ran into each other a few times during our respective battles. Our best commonality by far though is our faith in Jesus. We have been able to share with each other the trials and joys of walking through cancer with Jesus at our sides. His strength and steadfast hope have gotten us both through some difficult minutes, hours, and days.

Read her words below and find the reason for her joy . . .

I’ve had a solid daily prayer life for some time now and our family regularly attends church. I know we have been rewarded by being a “domestic church” and raising our children in our faith.  A “domestic church” is an expression used by Pope Francis that means that the family unit brings their faith learned at church into their home, marriage, and with their children.  My husband and I believe that this has built a strong foundation for our marriage and shows our kids how to live long after we are gone.

One Sunday during church, the gospel reading was on Mark 5: 35-43. It is the story of Jesus healing the synagogue official’s daughter. Within this reading was a golden verse that spoke to me. In Mark 5:36 it says, “Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, Do not be afraid, just have faith.” It was like a light turned on for me. The priest talked in his homily about this very verse and told us that if he could give any new priests words to live by, it would be these words that Jesus spoke “Do not be afraid, just have faith.” Now my mom heard this same gospel at her church that weekend. We both declared this would be our mantra, as we are both known to stress about the future and not live in the present. This brought us so much joy and thanksgiving during the rest of this year.

Let me tell you how that happened.

The year 2018 proved to be a year of trials and tribulations for our family. The trials began in January, when one of our dearest friends died unexpectedly from a massive heart attack. I think it was the first time our kids saw me crying continuously, just staring out the bedroom window and unable to move. Fast forward to the end of March, I began to have terrible stomach pains. They just wouldn’t subside, and I began to develop an itching rash, drenching night sweats, and weight loss. The weight loss was something I was pretty happy with and I began thinking the night sweats must be signs of aging. I was like “woo-hoo this may not be as bad as everyone says, and I can fit into some old clothes!”

Wrong! Things were getting worse, so I dragged myself to the doctor. The stomach pain turned out to be a mass in my stomach.

While the doctors that I had were wonderful, their protocol for appointments and biopsies weren’t moving in a fast-enough direction for us. My appointment for a biopsy was cancelled due to my blood work numbers. I decided that afternoon to get on the phone with the Mayo Clinic. Repeating that verse, “Do not be afraid, just have faith” and adding “Jesus I trust in you” with it, I gave Mayo a call.

The Lord put the right person on the phone with me. She asked me what my diagnosis was, and I told her. She said that my condition called for a hematologist oncologist, but it would be a while before I could see one. But then she said she could get me in with a GI doctor, because she was not sure I should wait too long. Praise God! He had answered me!

I went to Mayo and had a biopsy.  The biopsy turned out to be stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Oh my! I was given an appointment with a hematologist oncologist, but it was 3-4 weeks out. At this point we had only told my parents, who were devastated! Each hour I found myself repeating, “Do not be afraid, just have faith. Jesus I trust in you.” I could not stop.

I remembered that a neighbor of mine was a nurse at Mayo. I texted her and she responded immediately. She was still at Mayo working in a new department but had worked for years in hematology oncology. She knew the doctor and the nurses they had set up for my visit. She asked if it was ok if she reached out to them. I was thrilled. I received a call in a couple of days that my appointment had been moved up to that very week. Praise God, He has answered me again!

We told our children, friends, and co-workers. I wouldn’t be able to teach school for at least 6 months. Our oldest daughter was going off to college. I began to wonder—I won’t be there to decorate her dorm with her. I can’t go to orientation with her. What will happen? Instead I thought, “Do not be afraid, just have faith. Jesus I trust in you.”

Things moved very fast. I started chemo immediately. I had a new doctor that had just began work at Mayo from the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. My cancer was his specialty. Praise God, He answered me!  Our friends, family and co-workers surrounded us with calls, texts, cards and gifts. We were amazed.  Prayers that were being said for me felt like a blanket of love, truly. Meals appeared for our kids, whom we left in the rush of all this. My daughter’s dear friend went with her to move into college. Friends sent me scriptures on my phone. We created a wall with them every time I was admitted for chemo. The first verse my mother posted was Mark 5:36 “Do not be afraid, just have faith.” My husband and mother neither left my side throughout this.

I thank the Lord for this illness and for remission of almost 2 years. It has been joyful to feel His presence. I thank him for the love our family has been shown in this trial. Even through this tribulation how could it not be anything but joyous when these words, “Do not be afraid, just have faith” lead you and comfort you? May God be praised, now and forever!

And may these words bring you comfort and peace no matter what you are going through.

“Do not be afraid, just have faith!”

Ginny Wagner