My Friend Pam.

My friend, Pam is truly just an amazing woman. There are so many ways I could describe her, but amazing pretty much does it.

I met Pam in April 2010 when she was training to be a Weight Watchers leader. She showed up at our Thursday, 7 am meeting to do her 4th mentor session. At first, I was hesitant because I really liked my original leader, yet as Pam lead I realized she was really good. At this point in time, I was attending WW with three other friends from Marshfield. We all decided to switch to the Saturday 7:30 am meeting that Pam would be starting. Sadly, all of my friends have since dropped out but I stuck with it.

As I got closer to goal weight, it got harder to lose, but Pam kept encouraging me to stick with it. The day I hit goal, she was out of town at her daughter's wedding. But the next week when she was back she made a big point to celebrate me in the meeting. About that time, I told Pam that I wanted to work for WW. She directed me and has been such an encouragement to me.

Pam has become a kindred soul to me in Marshfield. She has been a light in a difficult transition of life for me. She's a God-send for me. She allows me to be real and honest about what I'm thinking and feeling. She sees me as more than just "Pastor Paul's wife". I feel safe with her, which is truly rare here.

About two weeks ago, it was discovered that Pam has cancer. I have never seen anyone meet this diagnosis the way that she has. She has been unreal! Surgery was this week and it's believed they got it all-Praise God. In addition no chemo or radiation for her!!!!

What has been so cool is that God has used this situation to teach me about suffering. I spent some time fasting for Pam while she was going through tests etc.. over the last 1.5 weeks. As I cried out to God about why and searched the Scriptures, He brought me to some very special understandings.

I looked up "heal, healing, healed" in my concordance. I came to James 5:15 "And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned he will be forgiven." Now I in no way subscribe to the belief system that people aren't healed because they don't have enough faith or that people must be sick due to sin in their lives. Those are just plain awful belief systems. Yet I found myself asking God, "what does this really mean?" Then I read the footnote in my Bible which said the word for "heal" here does not mean physically made well, but rather made whole and forgiven. That God will make us spiritually whole. "Prayer for spiritual healing depends on many factors, but spiritual wholeness should be our highest desire. While God may or may not bring physical healing, He will always offer wholeness and forgiveness."

I am stunned by the fact that we, as humans, are always looking for what will make us happiest here on earth. While Christ is always looking at our soul in light of eternity. He is concerned that we spend eternity with Him not that we spend our entire lives with our kids, family etc.. I have learned from Pam's bought with cancer that my focus has to be eternal and not just physical.