In my previous post, I mentioned cutting my hair in honor of “cancer survivor” Kandice Robinson.
Immediately after typing those words, I opened my e-mail to read these words from Kandice’s mom today: “Heaven is rejoicing, but we are missing her. We will write more later but for now, be encouraged that she is dancing with her Savior and worshipping Him face to face. ”
I was completely unprepared for this news. Kandice was the same age as my “little” brother Jon. Growing up, they were in the same homeschool group, and she and my brother performed lead roles together in plays Kandice’s mom directed.
She was a beautiful 28-year-old girl, both inside and out. She was preparing to give her life in God’s service by going to Central Asia as a missionary, until April 2009, when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. In her CaringBridge blog, called “My Detour,” she expressed an amazing love for God and an unusual faith-filled confidence in His promises.
“Keep in touch as we see God’s plan in this unfold,” she wrote in her background story. “His plans and ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours. This may be a shock to us, but my God knows exactly where this detour is headed.”
It’s hard to comprehend that right now she is worshipping our Lord face to face. That was His plan in all this.
Her faith is now sight! What a blessed reality! No pain. No suffering or sorrow. No sin. Only unspeakable joy in the light of the glory of our great God.
I went about my day, caring for three small children, grocery shopping, cooking dinner, and finally getting a haircut.
Kandice passed into the presence of our glorious Lord, set free from the pain of cancer, and spent her day singing praise around His throne!
I grieve for her dear family and friends, but I rejoice with Kandice.
Here is an excerpt from her last blog post, Wednesday, July 21, 2010. . .
“‘Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the end of the earth. He will not grow tired and weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, the will walk and not be faint.’ [quoting Isaiah]
“Last week I had strength enough to do what was truly important. I did not grow weary like I should have, I did not stumble, but everyday my energy was new with the sunrise and I walked upright through it all.
“Thanks for your prayers…there is power in the faith of a mustard seed. The love of God continues to surprise me…I pray that it surprises you in your life too this week.”
Thank you, Becky.
Wow. What a testimony to God’s grace in her life to give her such a strong faith through the valley of the shadow. Those Isaiah verses were very special to me during my freshman year of college. But overall, this is such a challenge and rebuke that we are only pilgrims here on earth – are we living our days in light of that fact?
Hebrews 11:13-16 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.”
Thanks for posting this. I always get teary-eyed when I hear of someone’s end (or story, rather) to a battle with cancer. My heart goes out to your family, as well as the Robinson family.
What a vibrant example this young life was!! Thank you for sharing her with us who knew her not. “And I heard a voice from Heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” –Rev. 14:13