Working as a nationwide trainer for s3strategies, I have the convenience of which trainings I select based on our schedule at home. The last 19 months have made it difficult to do as many as I normally would. So, knowing that Dave’s blood counts were showing improvement, I welcomed the opportunity to present at a state conference in Florida. 

While I was in the Sunshine State this past weekend, I was also fortunate to attend Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Punta Gorda. Dave and I have attended mass there numerous times and love this church for multiple reasons. Father Jerry Kaywell is the adored pastor, who has welcoming eyes, an infectious smile and is hilarious. Parishioners are drawn to him from the moment he warmly delivers his welcoming prayer. A hush falls over the church as he asks everyone to breathe in and out three separate times, begging them to leave their busy minds and schedules behind as they let Jesus in. Additionally, he invites the congregation to connect with the three readings as he brilliantly weaves scripture into his homily.

But, it’s not Father Jerry’s eyes that I am drawn to in this huge church, which is always filled to the brim. The choir is at least 30 well-orchestrated voices with a five to seven-piece band that accompanies them. One would think that would be my favorite entity at Sacred Heart. It is a choir I would be blessed to be a member of for sure. Surprisingly, the choir runs a close second only to the voices that fill this church from the entire congregation. The music is so powerfully moving with voices of over 600 in attendance. I’m sure it floods the streets surrounding this beloved church.

The eyes to which I am drawn are the ones that meet me every time I walk through the entrance and dip my hand into the holy water. His eyes pierce through me and read me as if he has known me my entire life. And He has. The mosaic tile of Our Lord Jesus behind the altar is the masterpiece of this church. It spans the entire wall, and try as I may this past Sunday, I could not capture His beauty in a picture. But every time I attend mass here, he captures my mind, my body and my very soul. 

This week, the message was just as powerful as ever. Father Jerry reassured us that, “God will not leave his children alone. He is persistent and unfailing. He listens and promises to answer our prayers.” As if he was talking directly to me, he went on further to say, “Jesus says He will heal you, but He is rewarding others through you. He will reward you, when you step through the gates of heaven. That is your final blessing.” 

Then, the choir began the offertory hymn and a calm fell over me. As I sang along, “You gave us healing our hearts hungered for” a tear slipped down my cheek, feeling blessed beyond words and experiencing such surrender.

As if this wasn’t powerful enough, our call came yesterday that confirmed the very song I sang on Sunday. He gave us healing our hearts hungered for. Dave’s bone marrow biopsy came back and indicated that he is cancer-free. There is no sign of PH+ and no mutated cells. And yet again, we are graced with another miracle. Our God is so good. My giving thanks to the One who made this happen seems miniscule; my thousand thank yous would never be enough. So, please take a moment to thank Him for listening and hearing your prayers. He saw all of us on our knees and heard our pleas. He did give us the healing that we had hungered.