By: Shanta
Smith
In the summer of 2004, it was discovered that I had
stress fracture on the navicular bone on the top of my right foot, and had to
have surgery (twice, because the first pin that the doctor put in was just a
little too long). I spent the
second half of my summer and the first half of the first semester my senior year
in college in a pink cast and on crutches.
My comeback was extremely slow so I was blessed with the opportunity to
red-shirt that track season.
That summer after I graduated from college I had so many ideas of how my life was about to turn out. The school was willing to pay for that last year if I decided to take classes and keep running, so I spent all summer getting back in shape. I enjoyed running and I love to sing. Since I already graduated I could chose not to take a heavy workload and use my spare time to pursue something else. I could put more effort into my music, I could get a part time job, I could look for an internship in some field, or I could start grad school. Maybe I could even run track professionally. I never considered it before but I would just see how the season goes. I had the freedom to explore. I know that my heart was in singing; I just was not sure where GOD wanted to take me. I prayed about it, but I could not sit still long enough to listen for where He wanted to guide me. Instead, I did some of everything. I took two internships: one in music the other with an on campus ministry. I started interviewing for another internship for the fall, this time with a government agency. I applied for an undergraduate research assistant position; I made the last minute decision to apply for graduate school in international affairs and started studying for the GRE. The whole time my undergrad degree was in business management with minors in both Finance and International Management. My logic was simple. Since I did not know where GOD wanted to lead me, I would get into everything and see which way He says to go. I got the internship but not in the department that I wanted, so I turned it down (I was still picky with what I did). I didn’t get the undergrad assistant project, but it worked out perfectly for me to take grad school classes. Great!! It turns out that I did not like International Affairs that much, and in the second week of school on my second day practicing hurdles, I fell and tore my ACL.
That was the one injury that could keep me out for yet another season. The MRI that came back revealed that not only had a significantly damaged my left knee, there was also a cancerous tumor that was hidden back there as well. I had no prior illness. I never felt sick or had to go to the hospital for any other reason, and there is no trace of it my family. There was no other way for me to detect it this early. Thank GOD, that the injury allowed us to catch it in time before it had the chance to spread and chemo was not a part of the original plan. Right after the news of my cancer and surgery was announced, the boy that I had been praying for came back into my life and offered me his love and friendship (that is a whole other story). But the knee replacement surgery meant the ended my track career. It’s a good thing my life goal was not to run forever.
But, that was not enough to take me out. GOD knew that as long as I was able, I would still be thinking too much. I was trying to push forward and trying to make things happen in my way and in my time. So He took me out completely. The news of my need for chemotherapy came as a shock. For one, the Dr. told me earlier that it would not be needed. Secondly, I did not want to lose my hair! But the LORD is sovereign. I was forced to drop everything and chill out for a time. It was then that I could focus on Him and what He really wanted for me. David wasn’t joking when he said, “He make me lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2a). Sometimes it is not about the food; so much as it is the rest.
It was then that He gave me the vision for Spoiled By GOD. The roommates and boyfriend that he blessed me with at the time helped tremendously with dealing with the physical transformation that I had to undergo. We had a hair cutting a party so that losing my hair would not be as traumatic. They kept me laughing. I got gifts and signed shirts from other schools and other sports teams. The love and kindness was so over whelm both from strangers and those close to me. My family members took turns coming to stay with me and take care of me, so I didn’t have to go through any of it alone. Jesus wasn’t joking when he said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). My church even me blessed with a scholarship of $1500(without even knowing my situation). That was all GOD. And even though I didn’t want to lose my hair, it turns out that I look good with short hair and now it is growing back beautifully. And just when He knew that I could not take any more, He ended my treatments early. It is awesome to trace how one thing leads to another and I cannot help but to acknowledge how GOD has been working. On to of it all the school paid for EVERYTHING! Through my experience, GOD has taught me so much, and He didn’t pull me out until I had learned it all. I attribute this to James 1:2-4. And it is amazing to see the word of GOD be alive and active in my life including 2 Corinthians 4:7-11. It is plain to see that has worked all things out for my good (Romans 8: 28). All of these significant events come together to form the surreal story that is my personal testimony.