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March 2001 Table of Contents
Petite Praisers
Postcards From Pam
Dear Friends:
God has been so good to the Andrews family this year. My husband, Dave, has a new job and is doing very well. His new job involves helping people find jobs. He comes home with a happy feeling in his heart knowing he is helping people. Matthew, my 15-year-old son, has completed 8th grade and is now a freshman in high school. Matthew was the top academic student in his 8th grade year. Matt won the "Citizen Award" and received several other awards on awards day. He participated in football, basketball, baseball, and my personal favorite…jazz band. Leigh, my 12 year old daughter completed 5th grade-elementary school-and is now a 6th grader in middle school. Leigh also made all "A's" and received the "Caring" award for her class. Leigh plays softball, basketball, and soccer. She loves to sing and plays the piano.
Excuse a proud mother... but I tell you all this to show you the providence of God. In November of 1999, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had had a mammogram in August and had been to two different doctors for check-ups. (I was known to have fibroid cysts so I was very good about going to the doctor.) The mammogram was fine and my check-ups went well. At that time, I thought all was fine. It was in late October that I found a strange lump in my breast. (Ladies! Mammograms do not find every cancer. You must self-exam!!!) After a visit to my surgeon and a biopsy, I found I had breast cancer. This was such a shock to my family and me. To say the least my future seemed terrifying. It seemed I had climbed on a roller coaster ride and I could not get off. On November 22, I had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery lasting approximately seven hours. And the next day I found that I was to undergo eight treatments of chemotherapy for the next six months. I tell you all this not to have you feel sorry for me, but for you to see the providence of God in my life. In the midst of this tornado, God gave my family peace…peace which passes all understanding. I tell you of the successes of my children to give God the praise and glory for keeping peace in the Andrews' house in the midst of the storm. I praise God for everything now. Things that I use to take for granted are now so special to me. I thank Him for healing me, for loving me, for letting me work, for letting me be a wife and mother, for allowing me to be a grandmother someday. I praise Him for my hair, my appetite, for the love of a great husband who showed me the true meaning of the phrase "In sickness and in health". I praise Him for the Bible and wonderful scriptures. I praise Him for prayer and the desire to pray for others. I praise Him for my church and all those who have prayed for me. I praise God for loving me unconditionally. I sometimes wonder how we could have made it through this year without the Lord in our lives. How do people who don't know God ever make it through the day much less the trials of life? I was engulfed with prayer, which brought strength and courage when there seem to be none.
First, I am grateful that 21 years ago on March 4th, 1979, I married David Andrews-a Christian man. He is one of the finest men ever created by God. Dave has proven to me his love in the last year over and over again. I now know that he really meant the words "In sickness and in health". When I came home from the hospital, I could barely walk and I had seven drainage tubes. Dave helped me shower, emptied those tubes, cooked for me and the kids, said I was pretty when my hair fell out, held the bucket on those really sick days, and even slept on the sofa downstairs with me for weeks until I could sleep in a regular bed. (I slept in a recliner.) In January of 1999, Dave had lost his job of 22 years. At that time, we could not understand why this would happen to us because David Andrews is known for his fine work ethic and integrity. I now know that this was in God's plan so that Dave could care for me. He was an expert at making Ensure shakes and would never let me be negative. He was truly a picture of the love of God in my life and he was an excellent example of servanthood to me and to our children. And it was amazing, as soon as I was feeling better, God sent Dave a job in Gallatin…closer to home…at Randstad helping people find jobs. He likes the job and the people with whom he works and is now very happy. One more thing that I find amazing is that God provided money to keep us through the year. At income tax time, we had about the same amount of money in our savings account as before Dave lost his job… even with the large medical costs. God is provident!
I also realized how important it is to be a part of a Christian family. My children made me laugh at my wig and never acted ashamed of me while I was sick. They are to me joys, and wonderful reasons to live. My mom and brothers were wonderful and always ready to listen. Though they live far away, they prayed for me daily and called often. They were a rock and kept me thinking positive. Their love was so sweet. Dave's family made regular calls and brought food. They too reminded us of the strength God gives us through families. Thank you, God, for allowing both Dave and I to have been raised in Christian homes built on the solid rock of Jesus.
I hope you attend church somewhere in your community. Dave, the children, and I attend First Baptist Church in Hendersonville. Last August, we had just joined Kenny Louellan's Sunday School Class. We did not know the people in that class for the most part and were just making friends when I was diagnosed with cancer. After my surgery, we had food brought to our house every two or three days for many weeks by the members of that class and other friends. There were people who brought food to our house whom I didn't even know. This Sunday School Class did not flinch at a wig or eyelashes falling out. They loved me just as I was. We also received countless cards, letters, phone calls, and prayergrams. It seemed that each time I was having a hard day, a card would appear or the phone would ring bringing words of encouragement and prayers. I am still receiving support every week from First Baptist in many ways and I am eternally grateful. If you are not a part of a church, please think about it. You will not find finer people in the world.
I also found out that I had the finest neighbors in the world. I don't know how much food they brought to our house or how many times they picked up my children or how many times they called…I just know they were always there. They showed the Christian spirit of servanthood to my family and for that I will always be thankful. And I want to thank my fellow breast cancer patients who called me regularly and coached me through this time. God's mercy was there for me in every way.
Finally, I want you to know one thing…I thank Jesus for taking such good care of my family and me. I am thankful that He has healed my body. I am thankful that He is my Savior. I am thankful that I am a Christian. I cannot imagine how tough it would have been to go through this trial without Jesus in my life. When everything seemed shaky around me, I remembered that I based my life and faith on the rock of Jesus. I did not go through this on my power, but on His. When I thought I could not go on another day, my Lord carried me. I am a blessed individual because I became a Christian when I was five years old so I have been a Christian all my life. I have not been perfect or even near perfect, but I do know that God is my salvation and my strength and is there for me all the time. I have the test of time to face, but I know that God will not leave me or desert me. He will be there. I have found that faith in God is believing that God will take care of you in any situation…good or bad. One doctor told me… "Pam, the only thing different from you now and everyone else is that you realize your mortality." That is very true. I know that one day I will die. But, until that day, I am grateful for the opportunity to live for Jesus and be a wife to Dave and a mother to my children. And I am extremely grateful for my future position as "Grandma". I am looking forward to growing old with the Lord and a great man, Dave Andrews.
Last fall, I was sitting in church at First Baptist Hendersonville. Even though I was still getting my strength back from my illness, I had been getting ideas together for a musical with Brentwood/Benson Publishing. (Jim Van Hook, the President of Brentwood/Benson also fought a victorious fight recently with cancer. He has been an inspiration to me and to all who know him.) On that particular Sunday, the choir sang "We Are United" a great song by Joeline and Manuel McGregor. That song reminded me that I was united with Christ. I am part of His body. I have His strength within me. 1 Corinthians 12 reminds us that we are all the body of Christ. We are all important to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He understands all there is about us and needs each of us to further His kingdom. I had been through a year of fighting with health problems, but I had never been alone. My Lord was always with me. This moment in church inspired a new musical, "We Are United" which I wrote with Johnathan Crumpton and Meredith Graham. The musical is a vessel of hope for children reminding them that they too are united with Christ if they know the Lord. They will never be alone in any situation. Christ, the head of us, will always guide us to His will and what is good.
I hope you know Jesus! You don't know what is ahead for your life. Someday all of you will face what I had to face…your mortality. Get ready…accidents happen to everyone. Are you ready for yours? Do you have the Lord in your life? Do you have a godly husband leading your home? Do you have a church home ready to minister to you in your time of need? Do you have Christian friends and relatives who will pray for you and lift you up? I am extremely grateful to say that I had the body of Christ surrounding me when the trial came and with Him I have weathered the storm and am looking toward the future with optimism and hope. Rough days still come and will always come, but I know that with Jesus, I will make it through the journey.
After I returned from my surgery, I requested my family to sing "Amazing Grace" around my bedside. The words to that song mean so much to me….
"Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound That saved a wretch like me."
I have been saved and I am very grateful.
Living for Jesus,
Pam Andrews
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