No one likes to get bad news – that’s why we call it bad news.
And bad news has a way of sneaking up on you or blindsiding you or sucker-punching you when you’re not expecting it.
A day starts out normal, like any other day, and then it’s not a typical day anymore. Like somebody turned a switch inside your head, whatever it was you were thinking about or worried about or working on doesn’t seem to be nearly as important as it was just a few minutes earlier.
Suddenly, your life has changed, and deep down you know that the days ahead are going to be quite a bit different than the days behind.
It’s like you’ve been shocked awake out of a long daydream, and, all at once, you’re painfully aware that life is entirely real – and that real life involves some very hard, difficult realities.
Bad things happen in real life – even to good people, and even to people you love.
I’m sorry if this column is getting a bit dark, but, in case you haven’t guessed already, I’ve recently gotten some very bad news.
My sister, Natalie, has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Doctors found it while treating her for COVID. And while we don’t know for sure yet how advanced it is, it’s not looking too good at this point.
I hope you’ll pardon me if I don’t offer any deep insights or great statements of faith or anything like that. I’m just not there yet. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea that my sister has cancer.
But I do welcome your prayers. Pray for Natalie and for the whole family.
We’re definitely going to need God’s help on this one.
