"Leap of Faith and into His Will" by Mary LaFrance

Mary LaFrance has been in my life since she was 10 years old, when a member of my family married one of her brothers. Over the years, it has been fun to watch Mary grown from a shy little girl into a woman who has become a servant and willing vessel for the Lord. What stands out in my mind, was the day we were on a church bus with a group of ladies, heading to a Basic Youth Conference in Portland, OR. My friend Norma Fronko, was on board, and she was cutting up and joking around while keeping everyone in stitches. Now Mary was young, with big brown eyes that sparkled with mischief, tons of blonde hair, and very deep dimples with a smile that wouldn’t quit. This quiet and shy young child kept up with Norma in the joking and cutting up department with her wit and sense of humor! The two of them made that trip one I’ve never forgotten. Since then, Mary has been in my life. She became even more of a constant fixture during her teen years, which were a difficult period of time for her. Mary’s father passed away when she was only 15 years old. He died in her arms, and if that wasn’t enough, one of her sister’s was to be married the next day. While I was busy raising five children of my own, I’d often find Mary coming by the house to talk about things. The years have passed and she has become like one of my own. My door is always open for her to walk through. I’ve watched her grow into a strong woman who puts God first in her life, and to share her love of Him with anyone who will listen. Mary’s biggest test came in May 2005, when she was diagnosed with stage 3B breast cancer. She learned quickly to keep her eyes on the Lord no matter what life throws her way. As the saying goes, “She takes her lemons and turns them into lemonade.” She has done so with a smile on her face and joy in her heart. She knows without a doubt that Jesus is beside her all they way! Mary absolutely amazes me! Going through cancer is tough on everyone, the person diagnosed, the family/friends/co-workers watching, and the medical team trying to do what they can. During her 18 months of chemotherapy, God laid a song on her heart to write called, “She is a Warrior.” She was awakened at 2:00 a.m. with the lyrics and music so powerfully tugging at her heart. It only took her 17 minutes to complete to whole song! She dedicated the song to honor those who have gone through cancer, those who are in the midst of it, and those who succumbed to the disease. She later stated, “This song can really be dedicated to all women, in all walks of life.” My hope for Mary’s book and this blog is that it will bring comfort and encouragement for those of you who are called to walk the same path or even a different one. She tells her story with candor and humor as only she can. I recommend you reading her story on the blog and passing it on to someone else who can glean the treasure within. Thank you Mary, for showing us what a true “warrior” looks like as you faced this dreaded disease and the journey it has taken you through. With much love and prayers, Adi Keel