Merry Christmas! Meet Brittany & Cindy!
The end of the year is here, what a year it has been! Society is still finding a new norm, recovering from the various losses and changes as a result of COVID 19. Christmas is almost a way of ending the year with a hug that says “You made it!”. We get to reflect upon what we have and what we are thankful for, but also what we can aspire for in the quickly nearing year. To me, Christmas this year means something a little more. I received a shocking (for me and doctors) kidney cancer diagnosis in March of 2021 at age 25. However, now, at the end of the year, I reflect not upon such a dismal diagnosis, but the ways I saw the Lord provide for me. The ways I saw the Lord’s love. The ways I saw the Lord’s blessings. The way I witnessed the Lord caring for me as the shepherd He is. In the eyes of the world, I had every reason to be spiteful and angry. To sit in bitterness and fear. Yes, there was anxiety when mentally preparing for my partial nephrectomy. Yes, there was fear waiting to hear details about what my long term prognosis would be. But yet, there was peace. The Prince of Peace met me in those moments and “led me beside still waters”. God is so good and I am humbled to say I am now cancer-free and after a long period of rest and recovery was able to successfully complete another semester of graduate school, participate in my best friend’s wedding, and now count down the days to celebrate my sister’s wedding as well.
When I look back over all of this, seeing the Lord’s faithfulness and presence in my life amid much fear and uncertainty, one thing I think of is Reading Circle. I am immensely grateful to have Alysa Marx and my mentee Cindy in my life. I have volunteered with Refugee Resources since 2019 and it has been a blessing to me ever since. I had to took time off from serving and seeing Cindy weekly in order to have my surgery and recover adequately. What a homecoming and reunion it was to come back when I was well and pick up right where we left off. It is a beautiful thing to have the opportunity to love others as Christ calls us to. I previously met with Cindy’s brother Timorthy each week so I have been able to watch Timorthy and Cindy both grow up so much in these last few years! Their sibling dynamic is hilarious and reminds me of my own childhood with my siblings, which always makes me smile so big. It amazes me that I am able to witness firsthand growth in character, confidence, and even academic success just during 1 ½ hours on a Thursday evening. Even during the busiest work/school week I find so much joy taking time to sit down and spend time catching up, reading scripture, praying, and reading with Cindy.
This Christmas I get to celebrate the arrival of this Prince who I have come to know in such a deeper way this year. As blessed as I feel by being cancer-free and being able to serve at Reading Circle, Jesus truly is the real gift, the one that can fulfill every need or want our hearts could fathom. As the body of Christ, let’s grasp onto the joy that this season reminds us we have.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Written by: Brittany Fauley
Edited by: Layne Matthews