by Rev. Mark Creech
RevMarkCreech.org
There is something I haven’t shared widely, only with a handful of friends. My blessed 86-year-old mother, Alice Creech, was diagnosed with breast cancer more than 25 years ago. She underwent treatment and, by God’s grace, has been cancer-free since.
Recently, however, she had a mammogram, and doctors found three masses. A biopsy was performed, and our family prayed as we waited to learn whether they were cancerous.
On Sunday, my sister, Melissa, and her husband, Henry, were visiting Mom when Melissa checked her “MyChart” and read the news.
It was not cancer.
Immediately, my mother broke into prayer before us. With deep emotion, she praised and thanked the Lord Jesus for His grace. As she prayed, the rest of us joined her, lifting our praise and thanksgiving to God.
In that moment, the den of our family home seemed filled with God’s presence. Perhaps angels rejoiced with us—I cannot know. But of this I am certain: there was no room for darkness in a place so full of gratitude, worship, and the praises of God.
As I reflected on what had taken place, I remembered that many other God-appointed moments had occurred in that very room.
One of the happiest memories of my life dates back to my teenage years, when my father, who is now deceased, gathered our family around the coffee table. He read a passage of Scripture to us, and then each of us prayed. We concluded together by reciting Psalm 23.
What a happy time that was!
So, you see, Heaven had seemed very near in that room many times.
Now, don’t misunderstand me. Our family certainly didn’t always have it all together. We were—and are—redeemed sinners, often struggling and sometimes failing to live out our faith. I don’t share these things to say, “Look at us. We are so special. We are a cut above everyone else.”
No, no!
Each of us knows that anything good in us and anything good that has come to us is due to the kindness and goodness of God. It has all been by His grace—His incredible, unmerited favor toward us.
As a side note, I want to publicly thank God for my mother.
I am so fortunate to still have her, especially at this time in my life. She married very young and had me when she was only 17. We sometimes joke about how strange it feels that my mother now has a senior citizen for a son!
Ha! Ain’t that a kick in the head?
As a minister, I have heard so many people say, long after a parent’s death, “Oh, if only I had my father to talk to right now,” or “If only I still had my mother to share this with,” especially during times of great crisis.
In these later years of my life, when some seasons have been horrifically difficult, I have still been able to sit down with my mother, talk with her, and glean from her counsel a clearer understanding of life’s challenges and the timeless truths that sustain us through them.
Do I deserve such a blessing?
No.
I can only lift my voice in praise to my Lord. I can only offer my heartfelt thanks for what I have received. I can only bless the One who has so graciously blessed me—the One who, in His providence, has seemingly said:
“You may have your mother a while longer still.”
