God’s Special Things
Note from Carissa:
I’d like to introduce you to today’s guest writer, Nancy Gonzales. She has been married to Steve for 43 years and has three adult children and eight grandchildren. I know Nancy through church and I have been incredibly blessed by her tenacity and faith. Through some difficult situations, she has lived her love for Jesus loudly, for all to see. She is a poetry writer and storyteller and I am thrilled to give her the space to share her testimony with you.
I was raised with two siblings in our humble home of hardworking and heartfelt parents. They loved us to the moon and back. We lived modestly, for which I’m grateful because it taught us appreciation. We had what we needed and they gave us the best foundation for life.
Mom took us to church and we learned our Bible stories. I embrace the memories of holding her hand and snuggling next to her in the sanctuary. Her soft and pretty voice stilled my heart as she sang the memorized, old fashion hymns. Daddy would stay home on Sundays but would be with us in the pews on holidays or if we had a part in a church play. We didn’t say grace, nor did we pray as a family, but we folded our hands in prayer at bedtime. We learned who Jesus was and that God “made the world.” We knew right from wrong, kindness from meanness, and sharing from selfishness.
We didn’t have the means to go on “bigger than amazing” vacations, but we tent-camped almost every summer and they were “bigger than amazing” family times. Daddy would go before us and lead us on sunrise walks to find “God’s special things.” Our dreams were magical when sleeping on hard ground, in a canvas tent next to the safety of our parents. The black wilderness illuminated with sounds of God’s harmonized choir. I have always loved God’s miracles of nature. His beautiful creation speaks of his undeniable existence, including the “bigger than amazing” moon that is in center stage with the star of hope.
I cherish my upbringing. My blessings have been beautiful and fulfilling as I’ve carried my simple lifestyle in raising my children. I have had the honor to be active in the lives of my grandchildren. Going on memorable walks with all of them as toddlers has brought me to awareness and gratefulness for what is priceless. They taught me to stroll with them in appreciation for life, as their short little legs guided our direction to find “God’s special things.”
My youth has passed and the years have gone by like a quick bolt of lightning. I had never really pictured myself getting older. My mental image of traveling toward the end of this life one day seemed to “flash” past my thoughts. I could always look back and see where I’ve been, but I didn’t look forward enough to know where my future would be…until three years ago.
Well, here I am, a self-proclaimed senior citizen, continuing to travel on my lightning path of life. I’ve noticed my quick lightning is slow, my flash is dull, but I still have enough bolts to be alive!
As a born-again Christian, I have always known of God’s grace and goodness, but I didn’t slow down and take time to be with Him when I was healthy and strong. I took God for granted. Even after my husband had survived three heart attacks with God’s mercy and healing hand over him, I found that I shelved the mercy of His miracles. I let life repeat itself as before, not including Him in each today. I was living a partially surrendered life—meaning Christian in Spirit but secular in practice.
But then, three years ago, cancer visited my body without invitation. The news was like an audible clash of thunder. And just as vividly, I knew this was my moment of change. In my personal process of the disease, God showed me how much I needed Him, especially during treatment. He let me know He was present when I lay half-naked in a room that boasted hazard signs on every wall. Being so vulnerable, I finally realized the truth: He deeply knows and loves me. I felt this truth and turned to Him in fullness, knowing that He is my Father.
He blessed me with healing through radiation treatment, prayer, and faith. I chose to follow Him. He did not forget me. I bowed at His feet and received His unfailing love. It was a time of growing in faith and trusting His plan and purpose for my life. It was a time of complete surrender.
For me, cancer has been one of “God’s special things” that struck my life in beautiful light along with refreshing rain. I experienced the joy of new friendships while waiting my turn to go behind the vault-like doors. I experienced the refreshment of smiling at others with returned encouragement. I experienced the Holy Spirit while praying for others because their thoughts were my thoughts. I experienced God.
I now know that my years of living on this earth are not a one-sided journey. I have a personal relationship with Jesus where we hear each other. Because I am His child, we have our beautiful, spirit-filled relationship. He reaches for me to gently hold His hand. I lean into Him and hear His soft, still voice in His word. He goes before me to make sure I am following Him for my protection and away from foolishness. He embraces me when I am ecstatic in worship. He is forever faithful and I rest in his promises.
I was forced to slow down through cancer and seek Him first; to allow Him to lead me in His plan and purpose for His glory.
Proverbs 16:9 says, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
God has redefined my identity, redirected my purpose, rescued my thoughts, and transformed my existence. I love the mercy of each new morning to face my day with confidence, hope, joy, peace, and then gratefulness in all things.
Before my cancer, the flashing lifespan of a lightning bolt would have led to a darkened sky, but through cancer, the path of my lightning bolt shifted. I held on to the hand of Jesus daily and life became more brilliant! Eventually, in the end, it will lead me into radiant eternity with Him.
Below are the words from a song titled, THERE IS A CLOUD*, by Elevation Worship. The melody is beautiful; it was God’s word to me, but also my worship to Him through my journey of “God’s special things.”
Hear the word roaring as thunder
With a new future to tell
For the dry season is over
There is a cloud beginning to swell
To the skies heavy with blessing
Lift your eyes offer your heart
Jesus Christ opened the heavens
Now we receive the Spirit of God
We receive your rain
We receive your rain
Every seed buried in sorrow
You will call forth in it’s time
You are Lord, Lord of the harvest
Calling our hope now to arise
We receive your rain
We receive your rain
Like a flood, like a flood
We receive your love
When you come…
Like a flood, like a flood
We receive your love
When you come
And with great anticipation
We await the promise to come
Everything that you have spoken
Will come to pass, let it be done!
I learned from childhood that we could find “God’s special things” all around us. In adulthood, I know this to be true. Even in cancer, I found the miracles of God which are special things He brings to pass just for us. I hold to this verse and encourage you to do so as well. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” God wants to bring His special things to pass in your life. Invite Him in to do so.
With love,
Nancy Gonzales
* “There is a Cloud” by Elevation Worship (2017) https://www.elevationworship.com/music/there-is-a-cloud
