Praying for Taylor

I haven't posted on here about this, but a friend of mine is going through a very difficult time right now, and she and her family have been in my heart and my prayers so much these last couple of weeks.  Julie (see her blog here) is a college friend who I have reconnected with over Facebook and blogging in the last couple of years.  A few days ago, she took her 18-month old daughter, Taylor, to a routine checkup where the doctor noticed that her liver was enlarged, and sent her for an extra test to rule out any problems.  In the course of that testing, the doctors discovered that Taylor actually has a cancerous tumor on her spine.  The tumor is inoperable, and has been diagnosed as a Stage 3 aggressive tumor.  Taylor starts her first round chemo tomorrow - she will have five days of treatment with 16 days off - this is the first of six rounds of chemo.  She will also be having a stem cell transplant after the chemo is finished.  Julie's fifth child, Jeremiah Trust, was born this morning by emergency C-section - I can't imagine how her heart is torn between the needs of each of her five children during this time with a newborn, C-section recovery, sick child, and three other children.  Yet she and her family have been constantly leaning on God for strength and praising Him for the blessings He gives them in the midst of this trial.


To type these words about my friend's child is so difficult, I can't even imagine the pain that reality must cause Julie and her husband Randy.  Please, please, keep this family in your prayers through the coming weeks.  If you would like more information and updates on Taylor and her family, there is a Facebook page here, Praying for Taylor, that you can like.  There is also information on that page about bracelets for Taylor and donations that can be made to the family at any Wells Fargo Bank in the country.  


As I have been thinking of and praying for their family and sometimes even asking God "Why?", God has been constantly reminding me of His Sovereignty, His perfect plan, and the wonderful attributes of His amazing goodness and grace.  This morning's church service was no exception - a friend of mine sang a song which blew me away - the lyrics were so in line with what God is teaching me through Julie, Randy, and Taylor's trial.  I wanted to share a link to a video of the song on YouTube, and then share the lyrics as well - maybe they will speak to your heart as they spoke to mine.  







Trust His Heart by Babbie Mason


All things work for our good
Though sometimes we can't
See how they could
Struggles that break our hearts in two
Sometimes blind us to the truth


Our Father knows what's best for us
His ways are not our own
So when your pathway grows dim
And you just can't see Him, 
Remember you're never alone


Chorus:
God is too wise to be mistaken
God is too good to be unkind
So when you don't understand
When don't see His plan
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart


He sees the master plan
He holds the future in His hand, 
So don't live as those who have no hope, 
All our hope is found in Him.


We see the present clearly
But He sees the first and last
And like a tapestry 
He's weaving you and me, 
To someday be just like Him


(Chorus)


He alone is faithful and true
He alone knows what is best for you


(Chorus)


When you don't understand
When you don't see His plan
When you don't understand
When you can't trace His hand
Trust His Heart