Will the Real Lady in Pink Please Stand Up?

Seated toward the back of a spacious waiting room in Mayo Clinic, Shelley and I looked up simultaneously as a blurred figure buzzed by our chairs. A middle-aged woman steered her motorized wheelchair at top speed in a perfect arc around the outskirts of clustered seating areas to the reception desk. Her pink top, pink yoga pants, pink tennis shoes with fluorescent pink laces, and shining bald head distinguished her as belonging to Mayo’s elite group of chemotherapy patients.

Shelley commented, “That is one confident woman to go without a bandana or cap to cover her bare scalp. I’m proud of her for not feeling self-conscious about her condition.”

Finishing her business at the front desk, she zoomed toward our section and parked about ten yards away from us. Shelley was impressed to give her a copy of her book, Spotless—Experiencing the Everlasting Covenant Through Righteousness by Faith, and walked across the way to encounter her.

“Wow, girlfriend, you are really rocking that pink outfit! I’m proud of you and your bold statement. Do you like to read? If so, I have something I’d like to share with you,” she said holding out the book.

With an ear-to-ear smile, the lady in pink said, “Oh, yes, I’d love to read that book. It’s about Jesus, isn’t it? Would you sign it for me?”

As they exchanged names and short pleasantries, Shelley was called back to her appointment.

I had a hard time taking my eyes off this bold person who seemed to be making a statement to the world. The Holy Spirit impressed me to introduce myself and offer her prayer, but I hesitated, thinking she might be called back for an appointment soon.  Her bright countenance unexpectedly changed to one of doom. Making a few bold swipes at her face to wipe away the evidence of tears, she suddenly broke down sobbing.

I quickly headed in her direction, and placed my hand on her heaving shoulders as I sat down next to her.  “Jesus loves you!” I spoke softly.

“Thank you. I needed that. I’m devastated. Will you pray for me?”

In my mind, I asked the Lord to direct my prayer, and He did. Precious words flowed from my mouth straight from the throne of God—words of His loving care for her; words that filled her with His strength. It was a wonderful few minutes sitting at His feet in His throne room. And then we talked.

“Such a contrast! You whizzed in here like a woman on a mission, at breakneck speed in your four-wheeled chariot, seeming so bold, so focused, and so determined. Ten minutes later, you’re crying your heart out. Who is the real lady in pink?”

“The real me? Honestly, I don’t know,” she answered. “I’m still processing. One moment I stand boldly in my mind, the next moment I sink so low. Oh, Lord, help me!”  She shared her Stage IV cancer diagnosis, her fears, and explained she had come to this department to request her medical records from the previous five years of treatment so she could share them with another medical team.

“May I share a couple of Scriptures that might soothe you?” I asked. Gaining her permission, I proceeded, “God says in Deuteronomy 31:6, ‘“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”’ And we’re told in Psalm 34:7, ‘The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.’ God wants you to know His promise of Jeremiah 29:11 that he has thoughts of peace and not of evil toward you, to give you a future and a hope.

“Isaiah 40:31 says, ‘But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.’ And one of my favorite Scriptures is Isaiah 26:3, where God promises to keep us in perfect peace if we keep our mind focused on Him, trusting in Him.”

Her eyes had gone from red to mildly pink, now matching her outfit. A soft smile inched across her face, as she exclaimed, “How beautiful, I loved hearing those words! Can you please write down the Scriptures? I’d like to read them daily. Oh, and thank your precious wife Shelley for her book Spotless. I’ll share this with my church. God sent you both as a special gift to me today.”

Sometimes, life’s circumstances can be overwhelming, and like the Apostle Paul, we are “burdened beyond measure, above strength” so that we despair even of our very lives (2 Corinthians 1:8). So when we have that sentence of death looming over us, we just need to remember “that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9).

If you are on an emotional roller coaster—feeling up and bold one moment and drowning in despair the next—just remember we have a loving God who gives us hope. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV).