Louise Bergman DuMont shares her take on life and God's plan; simply, friend-to-friend, over a good cup of coffee. Slip down and follow the links to coffee and tea websites.

Tears threatened and I reached across the table to take the hand of my coworker. She quickly pulled her hands away.


"Don't." Her eyes glistened but no tears fell. Her body language shouted sheer strength of will. "I'm OK. Really I am. Cancer isn't a death sentence any more."


I nodded. Unsure of my own voice, I adjusted my napkin and concentrated on my coffee. A second later, Carol's cup of coffee deliberately clanked into its saucer and I was forced to meet her eyes.


"Look, I only told you because you'll have to pick up some of the slack at work and I don't know how long I'll be out. I've already cleared everything with human resources and the boss." She picked up her cup once again but her mouth tightened at the taste of the now cold, bitter coffee. Her eyes steeled when she spoke again. "I haven't told anyone else - and I really don't want them to know."


My eyebrows raised involuntarily.


"Look, people are uncomfortable around someone who has cancer... and they get all creepy when they know. Its easier on us both if they don't know."


After the initial shock of her words I lifted a quick prayer that sent both strength to my spine and words to my lips.


"Carol, does it really matter what others think? I want to know what you think." I watched her bravado melt like ice on a hot July day. She finally spoke but did not take her eyes out of her lap.


"I don't know exactly what I think or how I feel. I just know that my life isn't at all the way I wanted it to be... and now, it might be over before I get a chance to fix it."


I took a deep breath and again lifted a prayer before I spoke. "A friend of mine had cancer a few years ago and she is doing wonderfully now. One thing that helped her get through the bad days was the thought that even though cancer had surprised her, God wasn't surprised by the cancer at all."


Carol's head jerked up and her face was pale with shock. "What do you mean, 'God wasn't surprised.'"


"I mean just that. He knows exactly what is going to happen and He walks beside those who ask for his help. He wants only the best for us. We don't know what that 'best' is or how his plan falls into the scheme of the universe, but somehow everything that happens isn't beyond God's control. Carol, would you like to pray with me and ask Him to walk with you though this?"


All of Carol's false confidence and bluster disappeared. Tears formed in her eyes and she nodded, reaching for my hand. We prayed. Carol is a cancer survivor - and her faith has been strengthened through it. I wish I could say that it was easy, but it wasn't. According to her, though, the experience was worth the trip because of all that she learned.


" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)


Louise Bergmann DuMont (c) 2008

Author, Louise Bergmann DuMont , has written for numerous periodicals, journals and ezines. Her work has appeared in Moody Magazine, Pockets and The SpiritLed Writer, to name a few. Louise is the author of two books, Grace by the Cup: A Break From the Daily Grind (Revel, Oct 2003) and Faith-Dipped Chocolate: Rich Encouragement to Sweeten Your Day (Revell, Jan 2005). As the facilitator of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group (NJCWG) Louise is able to combine her desire to serve Christ with her passion to help new writers. Since its inception in the fall of 1999 Louise has been able to encourage numerous young writers. Louise readily makes herself available for speaking / teaching engagements. Website temporarily disabled. louisedumont at gmail.com njcwg.dumont at gmail.com

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