Providence Defined

prov·i·dence   /ˈprɒvɪdəns/
[prov-i-duhns]

–noun

1. ( often initial capital letter ) the foreseeing care and guidance of god over the creatures of the earth.

2. ( initial capital letter ) God, especially when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.

3. a manifestation of divine care or direction.


That's what the dictionary says.  God defined providence in a much more personal way for me last week.  Last Saturday, a CAT scan done on my sister revealed a suspicious mass in her body.  Surgery on Wednesday identified the mass as malignant, and everything that has taken place since that discovery has seemed anything but real.

As a collegiate athlete, my 21-year-old sister is the epitome of human health and strength.  Hence, this entire situation has been a shocking reminder that we can't control everything, no matter how hard we try.  We cannot predict or expect what tomorrow holds, and letting ourselves think that we can is dangerous territory to attempt to tread.

The amazing piece of this story is that Kelsey really didn't have any symptoms other than feeling a smidge full.  The sole catalyst for the discovery of her tumor was the stubbornly slow healing of the ACL she tore in September.  At the peak of her senior soccer season, this was a devestating turn of events for Kelsey along with everyone who knew her and how much she loved the sport.

Let me brag on my sister for a bit to further communicate the depth of disappointment we felt when we heard news of her torn ACL.

Click here for a pretty dramatic but stellar video summing up the girls' 2010 season.  Don't miss the clip of Kelsey's last collegiate game in which she hammered one into the net to win the game in double overtime.  She tore her ACL in practice the following Monday.

So this disappointment, this let down, this hope squashed- God providentially redeemed it into something good.  It looks like the tumor was caught early and treatment is available. 

In Kelsey's own words, "EVERYTHING happens for a reason, tearing my acl saved my life. He knows what he's doing!"

And we are grateful!