'Praise You in this Storm'

This is representative of my aunt Carla gracefully
raising her arms as she turns toward the storm.  The
Red scarf represents the presence of Christ and the
sun in the back right is representative of the hope
that she has kept through this process.

There is a song by Casting Crowns called 'Praise you in this storm', I found out has been a song that sort of has spoken to my aunt Carla through this process. I want to share the lyrics and then tell how my aunt Carla has touched me through what has been happening in her life...


"Praise You In This Storm"

"Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus:]
And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to you
And you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

[Chorus]

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Sometimes there just aren't words to say just how much that someone else has touched your life.  I find it hard right now to put into words the things that aunt Carla has done for me, even with upwards of 150 miles in between us and only a handful of visits in the course of knowing her.  Some words that come to mind are strong, brave, courageous, stoic, graceful, fierce, hopeful, loving, tender, joyful, and kind. There are so many more, but I will keep it at that since words don't do justice to the spirit she has.  I know that through this fight with cancer, more than anything else aunt Carla has wanted God to get Glory from her healing.  She tried conventional treatments in the beginning of her battle and saw her cancer move into remission.  But as with many 'cures' we seem to have come up with in this world, there was not complete healing and the cancer once again crept back up on her.  After trying several different treatments and making no real headway at fighting the cancer aunt Carla felt that God was speaking to her to allow her healing to come through Him.  So in hearing that, and knowing that ultimate Glory would be given to God if her healing came through Him rather than a doctor or 'treatment', she 'let go and let God' so to speak.  It was at that point that I think God really has had the Glory, even without a miraculous healing.  You see it has been the fact that aunt Carla has turned toward this storm...death, what would be the scariest thought for most of us, and has looked it full in the face and raised her hands and said

And I'll praise God in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

Even in the face of death, knowing it could be creeping up around her, and in her.  If seeing her do that isn't giving God glory I don't know what is, because her fearless and graceful nature in this whole process has helped me to gain a new perspective on the way that I look at life and will effect the way I make decisions in the future.  

LORD, give aunt Carla her complete healing. AMEN