laboring...

While everyone in American enjoyed Labor day around a pool or barbecue, I labored. No, not at my desk or behind a computer, but by moving a billion boxes out of a friend's apartment and into a new one. I walked into the apartment and was waist-deep in boxes; it was daunting. By the time it was said and done, the day proved that 1. friends who move an entire apartment in less than two hours need to start a moving company, and 2. when things seems daunting, friends who help you handle it are little miracles from God.

A few days ago I heard a bing while I was shuffling papers around on my desk. Bing indicates that my life must stop and immediately drop all important things and run to my computer to check email. It must be Pavlovian's bell because on cue I'm at my screen, begging for a treat or a pat on the head. But as I read this particular email, something struck me as different. It wasn't long, self-absorbed, or needy. It was honest. As I read each word in the email, my heart began to break as I learned of an Australian blog-reader who daily visits the blog, not because she has to but because she wants to. She painfully asked me to pray for her sister who, being a single-mother raising two kids and having been in remission of cancer, was once again told that her cancer returned. The litany of questions were asked: why, how come, why us?

By the time I finished the email, I walked into their life and I was waist-deep in boxes; it was daunting. I didn't want to pass along a cliche scripture or pretend that it was going to be fine. I did the only thing I knew how: pray. I wrote her sister's name on a Post-It note, stuck it on my office window, and prayed for a miracle. We both were praying for a miracle.

I received an email from my new Australian friend and I nearly started crying as I read the first sentences:

I don't know where to start with all this, i am on my way home from the snow with my sister. We got all her results, the cancer is GONE. We still have a road to travel, but i wanted to thank u for being a guiding light, inspiration and helping me to get back to god...

Box by box the apartment was moved. Prayer by prayer faith was restored, lives were changed, and cancer removed. Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)