On Dec. 8 at 9:40 a.m., Doctor Diana Cox informed me that I have breast cancer. I felt as if the world was spinning out from under me. Doctor Cox said “don’t worry, we have this.” She continued, “You are not going anywhere because God has too much work for you to do.” I took her words as a confirmation from God that everything was going to be alright. I told her I believe and receive what she was saying and I know I’m going to be just fine.

After running a few more tests, my husband and I went home but decided not to tell our children because they were going on their annual siblings’ vacation the next day and we didn’t want to burden them with this.

Eleven days later, on Dec. 19 my MRI showed that the cancer had spread and that I would have to have a mastectomy. Now I started to get anxious. Two months ago I had some tests and “It was fatty tissue and you don’t have anything to worry about but we will keep an eye on it.” How in the world did we go from fatty tissue to mastectomy!

If I can be honest, I started feeling a little afraid. My greatest fear was telling my children that I have cancer. I prayed and prayed and started meditating on 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” I began to relax, my fear decreased and my faith increased.

My husband and I set up a conference call with all of our children the day after they returned from their vacation and told them about the cancer. There was a loud quietness on the phone for a few seconds and then the questions came. We told them it was stage 1 cancer and everything will be fine. The kids banded together and told me that they will all be there for my surgery and not to worry; God has this thing under control. I thank God every day that He has given me a supportive family.

A few days later my daughter called me and said she was thinking about me and all of a sudden she visualized me in pink boxing gloves and boxing shorts kicking cancer’s butt. When she told me that I just laughed and laughed but later on I stood in the mirror and I started boxing like crazy. And while I was swinging my arms I knew that with God’s help, cancer was definitely about to get its butt kicked. A few days later I received another confirmation from my niece and nephew. They gave me a tee shirt that had pink boxing gloves on it and I hadn’t even told them that my daughter saw me in pink boxing gloves kicking butts. Our God is truly an awesome God!

I spoke to two beautiful women in my church that had cancer but are now cancer free. I asked them what to expect and they explained what happened to them and told me not to worry, God has this. Once again I received confirmation that there is nothing too big that my God can’t handle.

Just as the ladies in my church helped me, I would like to help you. I would like to correspond with anyone that has or had cancer so we can talk and support each other. We are not in this alone so there is no need to be afraid because remember, For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Be Bless in Jesus’ Name.

Mary Simmons is a columnist for The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch. If interested, write “aboxofloveKVD@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.