{Joseph Mark Photography}

Happy Friday’s eve! Today I want to introduce you to one of the most inspiring women I have ever met. You might remember me introducing you to Bailey Heard in one of these posts when I was asking for you to pray for her and her sweet family while her husband battled stage 4 lung cancer. I want to encourage you to continue praying for her family, but the prayer request has changed.  A few months ago her husband Andrew joined Jesus in heaven. While his passing has been quite difficult, the Lord is using Bailey & Andrew’s story to further His Kingdom and for His glory. I could not be more inspired by Bailey’s strength, confidence, and most of all, her faith. Bailey is now being hired to speak across the country and to share the story God has given her & her daughter. Below is a preview into what the Lord has been teaching her!

{Glen Photography}

“Good morning! Thank you so much for allowing me to share my story with you today. September 2012 my husband Andrew was diagnosed with his second battle with cancer. When he was 18 he was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma went through chemo and radiation and was considered medically cured six years later.  He went on to play football at Texas Tech and then played at Baylor when he was in seminary at Truett.  I was a cheerleader at Baylor and was set up with Andrew by mutual friends. From that point on it was a whirlwind. We dated for 1 year and were engaged for 10 months. We married in 2007 and had our beautiful Ellie Grace in 2011.  Andrew let me know early on in our relationship that his cancer could come back possibly as Leukemia. In 2012 his cancer did come back, but as stage 4 lung cancer, progressing to mesothelioma. Andrew never smoked a cigarette but we thought it could have possibly come about from all the radiation to his chest during his first battle with cancer.

I remember the day Andrew came home from a CT scan to tell me he had cancer. I just lost it. It felt like a complete nightmare. I called my mom bawling while trying to not cry in front of Ellie. From that point forward I had no idea the adventure God had in store for our lives.

I can say I really grew up this past year. I was stretched and challenged in my faith in a way I had never experienced before.  Today I want to share with you a few of the life changing lessons God taught me through this experience. My hope is that you would be inspired through what I’ve learned and that it will help you whenever you go through trying times.

{Glen Photography}

The Present is a Gift

I’m not sure if this mostly had to do with being in my twenties, but I felt like I was always either dwelling on the past or focusing on my future. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing to reflect on the past or to prepare for your future. I actually think it’s a great thing, but what I was missing out on was the gift of being in the present. Once Andrew got diagnosed it was like I saw a timer on our foreheads. In some ways it was a gift to know that all I had was the present. It caused me to look at my life differently like I wasn’t invincible and those ones I loved weren’t either. I found joy in just being instead of constantly doing and analyzing. Of the greatest gifts Andrew left me was being in the present himself. On the day that he passed away he was present with all of us until the very end. His last words were that he loved me. It was both tragic and beautiful all at the same time.

One of my most vivid memories of Andrew and my time together towards the end was laughing. Even when he was at his sickest he was cracking jokes and making me smile. He was present. I love that in the middle of our darkest days there was such joy and laughter. His joyful and courageous attitude paved the way for me to follow in his footsteps. If he could choose that attitude with everything he was going through I could do the same!

{Glen Photography}

Begin with the End in Mind

Life became so clear for Andrew once he knew he was going to die. He wanted to leave a legacy of faith, courage and hope to the world. He always wanted to do that, but sometimes, like most of us, his doubts and fears got in the way. It was amazing to me that I watched Andrew wrestle with the details of his faith for so long and it was like the moment he realized life could be over in an instant the details faded to the background and his purpose became so clear. I watched as Andrew spent hours and hours writing his book “A Gray Faith” because he knew God had put a message on his heart to help Christians and non-Christians know that it’s ok to have questions and doubts. And that it’s ok to wrestle with God and don’t let anyone tell you that you are less than because you have questions.  In the end we will never know the answers to some of our most challenging questions but this we have hope in that Christ died so that we can truly live. That is what matters most of all.  I’m honored to help take Andrew’s message to wherever it may lead. I’m excited to keep sharing about our life and journey on my blog and I’m looking forward to getting Andrew’s children’s book that he wrote and illustrated for our 2 year old Ellie Grace published.

{Glen Photography}

Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway

I have to be honest, one of the only reasons I’m able to get up and speak in front of large groups and speak is because I watched Andrew’s courage as he faced one of the most difficult situations anyone can go through- so I tell myself if he can do that, I can do this. I always wanted to be like Andrew, a good speaker and a writer, but I always found excuses for why I couldn’t ever be as good as ‘so and so.’ I let the fear of my beliefs dictate my future. Andrew showed me through his life how to face fear head on and that when we do, we most likely will come out the other end better and stronger then we were before. I have found so much confidence and encouragement in the fact that I have now faced one of my biggest fears (losing my spouse) and knowing that I survived. And not just in the fact that I did it, but in the belief that we can all do it and come out a better version of yourself. It gives me a grateful and fresh perspective on life and on living it to the fullest.

{Glen Photography}

Live Your Dreams Now

Watching Andrew really taught me that we need to live our dreams now! Andrew’s biggest dream was to become a speaker and an author. I watched over the years as he put those dreams aside for other things that he felt obligated to do.  The happiest I ever saw my husband was the last year of his life where he was living his dream. He authored his second book, had a huge online platform, and spoke at different venues. He was finally doing what he was meant to do and he wanted more time to keep doing that. I know that Andrew would want me to live my dream and he’d want you to live yours too.   

Now, more than ever, I see that God has a purpose and plan for our lives. Part of mine, I believe, is sharing my experience and connecting with and encouraging other people who find themselves in a difficult season. I want to encourage you, if that is you now or if that is you in the future, to truly trust that God has a plan and purpose for your life. And be open to where He may lead you and know that you can & you will get through to the other side a better, stronger and a more confident you. My challenge to you today is to go after your dreams now (because life is too short), be present, embrace an attitude of gratitude for all that you’ve been blessed with, and finally reach out a helping hand because you will in return receive the greatest gift of all, love and community. Thank you so much for allowing me to share with you today.”

{Andrew’s book, purchase it here}

I highly encourage you go check out Bailey’s husband’s book “A Gray Faith.”  I promise, it is worth it!

If you want to hire Bailey to speak contact her here

Follow Bailey’s blog here.