Carla’s Rollercoaster Ride

“Thanks for picking me up, again. I need a new car,” Carla grumbled as she got in her friend Alex’s car.”
“Luckily all I have in my agenda today is a boring appointment with my dentist.”
Alex offered to wait outside so they could go to lunch afterwards.
“I’m so sorry, Carla,” the dentist said as he held her hand. “But that is not a cold sore on your tongue. It’s cancer.”

Carla’s chair turned into a monster roller coaster that turned upside down and flipped around. She gripped the arm rests to keep from passing out.
“You need surgery to remove it. Additionally, you might require chemotherapy and radiation. Afterwards you’ll need intensive therapy to hopefully recover at least some of your speech.”
Alex drove her home, unable to find words to comfort her.
“I don’t have insurance or any savings,” she cried. You know I live paycheck to paycheck. I’m a single mom, I barely make it as it is.”
Days went by and Carla, overwhelmed by fear, refused to answer the phone or talk to anyone, not even her best friend. Family and friends joined together to raise the funds necessary for the surgery.
Sunday morning before the dreaded surgery, Alex invited Carla to church.
Unbeknownst to them, it was a healing service, and someone prayed for her.
“I don’t know what just happened,” she said as they walked out of the church. “But I felt a peace that I’ve never felt before in my entire life. For the first time since my diagnosis, I’m not afraid, or worried!”
Alex smiled and hugged her friend.
The waiting room was packed with Carla’s loved ones.
After a couple of hours, the surgeon walked into the waiting room for what everyone thought was an update.
“It’s over,” he said, “I only had to cut out a small piece of her tongue. Her neck and lymph nodes are cancer free, so she won’t need chemotherapy or radiation.”
The doctor started to walk away but stopped suddenly.
“You are looking at a true miracle,” he said with a big smile.
Alex sat next to the bed, waiting for Carla to wake up. As soon as she opened her eyes, she handed her a pad and pencil to write on.
“What is that for?” she mumbled.
Alex jumped up and started to cry, “You can talk, you are speaking!”
Carla’s rollercoaster ride was coming to an end. Not only was she cancer free and able to speak, but the hospital refunded her thousands of dollars for her shorter stay and no necessary treatment.
Carla’s rollercoaster ride came to an end. Instead of leading her to the end of her life it led her to Jesus, the Giver of Life.
And as she happily discovered, there are no boring mornings in His agenda.

But he was wounded because of our crimes,
crushed because of our sins;
the discipline that makes us whole fell on him,
and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 CJB