First Fruits Friday - Hope, Help, & Healing

There are certain difficult times in our lives when all of us experience life- defining crises, moments that are turning points that define the rest of our lives. It’s during the hardest days of our lives that everything that we believe, know or take for granted is shaken in a way we thought was impossible.

The suffering can become unbearable, and there is a point when we think: “Where is God?”

On June 30th, 2021 my four year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer. She started chemotherapy and for 822 days, together as a family, we fought with her. During her treatment there were several occasions when we felt our spirits were broken. We felt alone and vulnerable, weak, tired and terrified, but God was with us.  From and through Him, we received  hope, help, and healing.

God cured my daughter, answering our prayers, and the prayers of so many people.  He used so many people to be our hope, help, and healing which allowed us to keep going during this difficult time.

Hope came in the shape of love, encouragement, and support from childhood cancer organizations and the community of families with children with cancer.

Help arrived in the shape of tireless support with multiple helping hands caring for us in our hours of need. Material help is so needed in times like these and we received this.

Healing resulted - not just the cure of my daughter's cancer but also healing of all the trauma we went through, our other two children suffered, made sacrifices and were afflicted as well.

God granted us the miracle and we are forever grateful for His mercy, but we are also grateful for all the people He sent to provide the hope, help and healing we needed in every part of our journey.

When I joined the Seneca team, we were still going through this journey and every time I help moms in crisis I completely understand their hearts. I am so grateful for what we do at Seneca because we offer those three things: Hope, Help and Healing.

God’s love and mercy is endless. During hardships it is difficult to understand why things happen but I truly believe that there is always a good purpose behind every suffering, I am seeing it now. God not only grants miracles but also uses persons to provide to those in crisis exactly what they need.

Last month, my daughter finished her treatment, her port was removed, and she rang her golden bell!!!  Last week, we continued celebrating her victory with a dream family trip. We are ready for our new chapter.

May God use us as instruments to help those in crisis, in any way. Even the smallest gesture can mean the world to someone suffering. May we be part of the hope, help and healing that Seneca offers to pregnant mothers in desperate need now. 

Christopher Snipes