Giving Thanks For It All

Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life, God has promised, to those who love Him.                            James 1:12

When asked if I would give my faith testimony, I was excited to start thinking about where I have been and where I am going. Having just recently sung with the Alumni in the 50th Choir Festival, I was encouraged even more to think about my faith journey. Singing "Beautiful Savior" again knowing, I had two little girls in big red bows, singing in the Cherub Choir, I had come full circle.

I grew up at "First Pres." and have spent my entire life here. I went through the school of choirs, even had a stint in the women's chorus. I went on Pipe trips as a Pipe student and as a Pipe leader. I was an Elder for 6 years, an usher, I have sat on Nominating, and I work at the Welcome Desk. Through all of this, I have always felt a closeness with church members and even more so with God.

However, nothing brought me closer to God than my experience with breast cancer in 2004. In that time in my life, I was able to reflect back and see where God had had a hand in shaping my life. Before that time, I of course knew he did but never before was it so apparent and evident.

Before becoming a Pipe Leader in 1989, my Mother and I spent many Sunday afternoons with my Grandma. We would take her out to dinner and go shopping. In July of 1989, 10 days before my brother's wedding, she was stricken with a stroke that would eventually take her life 2 years later. My Sunday afternoons now had a huge hole in them; I needed a replacement. God opened the door for me by providing the opportunity to be a Pipe leader, that lasted 8 years. What is ironic about that is, I was never heavily involved in Pipe as a youth, merely an occasional participant. For me to take the leap into being a leader, was God's hand on me. My eventual husband and I met many close friends through our Pipe involvement and hopefully touched many young lives.

My next example I look back on is when I started teaching for Mott Adult High School in 1990, it was a great position at AC West, and I held it until 1993. Then with changes there, my teaching position also changed. I spent 2 years in a difficult teaching position, many long days and nights with no classroom. I drove from site to site teaching, five days a week. In January of 1995, I was asked to teach at Buick City, another great teaching position. I can see God's hand, through that experience, not only have I gained much, I hope that the hundred's of students I have taught have been touched too.

In April of 2004, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Though it was a scary time, I was somewhat calm, I had God on my side. What is so remarkable about this is my co-worker was diagnosed one month later. I had my surgery on April 9, she had been ignoring what she thought was a harmless cyst. She says because of the strength and courage that I showed through my diagnosis, she chose to go in and have it checked out. The unthinkable happened and it was cancerous. Both of us endured 2 more surgeries, chemo and radiation. We were the only 2 teachers at the center, but managed to work throughout and support each other. What is really amazing is she had little or no faith in God. Through my example of God's love and support, she learned from me how to handle this bump in the road of life. The act of prayer and to pray was so foreign to her, the mere mention of it would turn her off. The thought of someone else in control of her life was more of a myth rather than a reality. My husband, Michael, says I went through breast cancer to save her life and to bring her to God. She now talks about prayer and God; they are no longer offensive to her.

There are so many ways God has touched me and it is no more evident than the next stage in my life. In the fall of 2004, in the throws of the effects of chemo and an ailing back, Michael suggested we go through Foster Care classes to try to adopt a child. I was against it but went through it anyway. My hesitation was only due to my struggling health issues and my lack of extra time for anything else. At the end of the classes, we said we wanted to adopt a little girl 5 or 6 years old. Well, in the fall of 2006 God ignored the word "or" and instead put in the word, "and." The agency called us about two little girls, Summer and Elizabeth that needed a good home. They were 5 and 6. What is even more remarkable is the fact that we were always going to name a girl Elizabeth (after my middle name) if we had indeed had a baby. When I found out her name was Elizabeth, I once again saw God's hand. As boaters and golfers, summer is our favorite season, once again God's perfect sense of humor. Even more extraordinary, in September of 2000, I underwent fertility procedures in order to have a baby. There was only a small six month window of opportunity. Had it worked, Elizabeth would have been that baby, as she was born in October of 2001. We are truly blessed.

I am now changing teaching positions again, while nervous and apprehensive about the next position, I know God's hand is in it all the way. I am confident he will protect me while putting me in another situation that will hopefully touch others too.

God keeps His promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

Nancy Burkhardt