I have this friend...

Her name is Meredith Briley. Well, actually, she is not just a friend, she is family. You see, she married Patrick Briley. The Briley's live across the street from my parents in Greenville. So, Carl, Rebecca and I grew up with the Leigh Anne, Traye, and Patrick Briley. I consider them my family, so since Meredith married Patrick, she is not only my friend, but also my family. Here is a picture of Patrick and Meredith and some pictures of us all.

For a while, I just considered Meredith as Patrick's girlfriend. But somewhere along the way she became my friend, a true friend. I started to get to know her, especially during a time that she and Patrick had a "bump in the road." It was a hard time...we talked over lunches and dinners, at Starbucks, and over ice cream. I don't think I had ever met someone so trusting in the Lord, with such a desire to KNOW God's will, so persistent...so forgiving....not someone with all of those qualities at the same time and at such a hard time. The Lord bonded us together as friends very fast...He gave me another true friend at a time when I least expected it....Well, the "bump in the road" was over and Patrick and Meredith got engaged a few months later and then married in July 2005. I was a bridesmaid that day, and that is when she became my family.
From Fall of 2005 to the Spring of 2007 (a year and a half's time) Meredith's grandpa passed away, her great-grandparents passed away, her grandma's brother passed away, Meredith was diagnosed with cancer, and her mother passed away due to cancer.

Meredith had a tumor the size of a volleyball in her abdomen. She had surgery on October 17, 2006, and one of her ovaries had to be removed. She had to have chemotherapy. She lost her hair. All the while, she was in Pharmacy School at Campbell.

It was the next Spring that her mother's condition worsened. Meredith was dealing with the aftermath of her own cancer and surgery, and then she found out that cancer was overcoming her mother's body.

Through all of this, I saw those same qualities in Meredith that I had seen during that "bump in the road." But this time I also saw peace and joy and thankfulness and strength. AND SHE GAVE ALL THE GLORY TO THE LORD! I talked to her right after she found out about the tumor and then right after she found out it's size. She was amazing. She told me that no matter what, she wanted the Lord to be glorified in all of this. Then again, when her mother passed away, she praised Him. She never lost faith; her faith only grew. She spoke at her mother's funeral; it was beautiful; she is beautiful. She has touched so many lives. She touches my life again and again. She makes me want to know my Lord more and more. When I read this verse in Habakkuk, I am reminded of Meredith:

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of deer, he enables me to go on the heights."--Habukkuk 3: 17-19

To read her entire story, click here.

The reason for this post is because Meredith graduated from Pharmacy School this weekend! Through all of this, she didn't get behind in school...she graduated on time! Praise the Lord!!! And Praise the Lord, Meredith is cancer free! She is now a pharmacist; you can call her Dr. Meredith Briley! As I was thinking about this amazing accomplishment today, I began to think back to all she has been through these past 4 years of Pharmacy School. This is a special time! I celebrate, you, Meredith, and I love you! And, most of all, like you would do, I celebrate Jesus and give Him all the praise and glory!

Thank You, Jesus, for Meredith...she is my friend, my family, my sister in You!