Shine On

I've shared my friend, Christie Devitt's story and battle with breast cancer on here many times.  Yesterday morning, at 33 years old, Christie went home to be with her creator.  As I look back at her fight, and the way that she lived her life these last 4 years, it seems to me that she lived it exactly as we are supposed to. She took the unbelievable path that was placed before her at 29 years old, and became the only woman in her family to battle breast cancer. Over these past four years, she has fought and prayed, and cried and questioned and praised her God the whole way.  All the while, continuing to live her life with her family and husband and children to the fullest, for all the days she was given on this Earth.  Her story of faith has inspired so many, it has encouraged and changed countless lives for eternity. I sit here with tears in my eyes writing about this strong woman that I only had the opportunity to meet in person one time. Yet her life and her story and her legacy will remain and stand as a testament to me forever. She took what was handed her, and praised God through every breath and every day. She lived out the questions, never understanding, but trusting in His purpose alone and above all else.

We never think that our lives will last only for a moment. We don't expect to begin things that we may never accomplish or understand why God would have it this way. But through Christie's life, I believe she lived out the perfect example of what we are called to do. Trust. Despite the questions, without understanding, yet praising Him all the way. She took what she was given, and the days that she had, and even the crazy fork in the road that would cut all of those days short, and she trusted God with her life while pointing everyone around her back to Him every day. 

Her fight is over. She is finally sitting next to her father. But she leaves behind a family and a husband and a little boy and girl that will be raised without their mom. Will you pray for the Devitt family, as they continue to carry on here everyday? Pray for them as they seek to find the same strength and quiet understanding in the heartache and questions as Christie found each day. I pray that her story continues to inspire and change lives for eternity. 

(read more about Christie's story here.)

In her own words...

We choose to share our “healing journey” so that others may see God’s glory in this situation. Our prayer is that others will draw closer to Him through our journey. Since the night I was diagnosed, I have prayed that God would allow our family to be His light. The passage in Matthew 5 best describes why we so openly share our lives and give God all the glory each step of the way.

“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand- SHINE! Keep open house, be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” –Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)