The Woman Within

By Liz Cooper, NC native currently living in Chattanooga, TN and breast cancer survivor since January, 1998

Rising to face another day, I stare at my face in the mirror and begin to pray,

Father I stretch my hand to Thee, my Helper and Provider today

help me to stand, renew my strength and take all my tears away.

Mirror, mirror before you I stand, facing a reflection of a new “ME”

Changed on the outside and transformed on the inside, I never knew this would be.

I recall the look on my doctor’s face as sad and somber on that winter’s day

It seemed for a moment the words he spoke took my breath away.

“I regret to inform you, you have CANCER,” the words echoed in my mind

I lay speechless, unwilling and unable to move, suddenly frozen in time.

At first filled with disbelief, thinking surely there must be some mistake

My mind was ill at ease, nervously aware this would be more than I could take.

Fear and doubt reared their ugly heads, What does it mean? What can I do?

I felt my Heavenly Father place His hand in mine and say “I will be with you.”

Words of comfort, whispered ever so softly in my ear,

Words I needed to hear and with those words instinctively I dried my tears.

God ‘s word says “Lean not to your own understanding”

“Believe and trust in me”

The greater the problem—the closer He will be.

I began to pray and meditate upon His word,

With faith comes healing -- I knew my prayers would be heard.

The Holy Spirit had begun His work and I began to understand,

There is a time and purpose God has prescribed for every man.

I was assured I would be healed and bear witness of His love

I knew my deliverance would come from above.

By the blood of Jesus and by His stripes I am healed,

Even more, I have learned to surrender and accept His will.

Like the woman with the issue of blood, she kept the faith, she never gave up.

I kneeled before the Lord as I drank from that bitter cup.

This earthly affliction may have caused me pain

With Jesus as my Peace and Comforter, my life will be renewed again.

Lord, you knew me, even as I was formed in my mother’s womb,

And by your mercies, oh God, I will proclaim your goodness to my earthly tomb.

This temporary trial will always be my testimony, this was a test of my faith,

Lord you see inside me, with just one touch I am healed and my sins are erased.

I could have been dead and gone down in my grave

Lord you healed me, you saved me and made death behave.

Standing before this mirror staring at a reflection of what human eyes can see,

Realizing these eyes are blind to the new life that you have created in me.

My Bible tells me “they that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength,”

Jesus I am filled with thanksgiving to You for saving me from what might have been.

You took away my sickness and You removed my disease,

I have a new walk, a new talk, a new life and my mind is at ease.

Old things are passed away, everything has become new,

Thank you, thank you, thank you Jesus, I owe it all to you!

Now as I stand facing the mirror I see God looking down with love and grace,

And I humbly walk away with an uplifted spirit and a smile on my face.

This journey has taught me well that no matter what I may go through,

God cares, will never leave me and will always bring me through.