Oh My Friends

Mini golf. It’s a simple thing. Not something that would be considered all that special by anyone. But apparently it’s what I like to do when I’m experiencing any emotion. Stress, sorrow, joy. If I have a feeling, I go mini golfing. Or that’s what’s happened this summer anyways. At this point, I think I could go pro.

When I found out last Tuesday that I had a mass in my liver, I asked close friends of mine if they’d like to go mini golfing with me that night to help me stay busy and keep my mind off everything. Despite the short notice and everyone’s busy schedules, they agreed to come without any hesitation.

On Wednesday evening, I kept myself busy by surrounding myself with my church family. I listened to them singing and praising the Lord. I listened to the guest pastor preaching on Psalm 23 and the Lord’s promise to walk with His people through the dark valleys of life. I listened to everyone pray. And I cried on the shoulder of one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.

On Thursday evening, I went to a baseball game with my family.

On Friday night, friends of mine jumped onto FaceTime to play MarioKart with me.

On Saturday night, I went mini golfing again with the same friends who went with me Tuesday night.

I continued to keep myself busy by surrounding myself with family and friends up until the day of the scan.

Why am I telling you all of this? Because of a song a friend sent to me the other day. The chorus has been on my mind since I first listened to it right before my MRI.

“Oh my friends

I am heavy

Can I beat within your heart?

Can I bleed within your love?

Oh my friends” - My Friends by Oh Wonder

Oh my friends, thank you. Thank you to all who helped keep me busy while I waited for the MRI. Thank you to all who sat with me in the memories of all that happened with my dad. Thank you to all who let me cry on their shoulders. Thank you to all who made me laugh. Thank you to all who gave me a comforting and encouraging hug. Thank you to all who who reached out to me to say they were praying and to send me an encouraging verse.

Thank you for letting me be heavy and for not expecting me to act as if all was fine. Thank you for letting me bleed within your love.

I received the results of my MRI and the findings likely represent a benign mass that just needs to be checked on again in six months, but does not have the risk of becoming cancerous.

Over the past week, the Lord had prepared my heart to where I was ready to follow Him through that valley if He asked me to. But I’m so thankful He didn’t. And I’m so thankful for my friends and family who were the hands and feet of the Lord to me in the past week.

This picture was taken two hours after I received my report. It seemed only fitting that I go mini golfing to celebrate the good news.