By Jennifer (Prater ’98) Bergey

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” To some, this may be just a clever cliché. But what those close to us know is that this is the motto that my sister, Melissa (Prater ’99) Rex, has adopted since being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma last spring.

She and Douglas (’99) were married in 2000 and have 3 children—Caleb (5), Lauren (3, and Audrey (1). Although this story describes her life’s journey right now, it’s about so much more than Melissa. It’s about how God has given her that indescribable peace in the midst of this storm, and how He can do that very same thing for any of us…if we let Him.

The day her chest mass was discovered, which eventually indicated mediastinal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, our boat began to rock. She endured six rounds of RCHOP chemo, which was found to be ineffective. In fall of 2008, she was given a higher dose of chemo. This again failed to work. In January, she was given the highest dose of chemo possible, followed by a bone marrow transplant in February.

I remember that soon after her diagnosis, she said she felt as if God was holding her up above the waves, and she was not letting go. We were reminded of Psalm 61:2: “From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” I envisioned her rock to be high above the storm. I believe that we have all been placed there on that rock. Some days we feel God’s comfort and feel our feet firmly planted. Other days, we’re not only getting battered by the waves, we may feel like we’re drowning. But through it all, we know God understands where we are. He understands our questions, our doubts and our fears. And when we ask Him to, He leads us back to that rock.

Recently, my sister was asked by her pastor what she has learned throughout this journey. Her answer inspired others and myself, and again shows what God’s grace can do if we allow it to work. She replied, “I am definitely closer to the Lord now...closer than I've ever been. I can honestly say that God has been carrying me since the beginning of all this. And I trust Him—no matter what, I trust Him."

We are now just one month past the transplant. At the moment I write this, I am in her hospital room sitting beside her. I watch her resting peacefully, and I literally pray and ask God to save her life. We are hoping and believing that we will hear good news in a few months that the transplant was successful. Right now, we do not know which direction this will go. But we do know this—that God in His mercy understands all our emotions, that His grace will carry us through anything, and His undeniable peace will see us through this storm…peace that enables us to not only wait for the storm to pass, but to also dance in the rain.

“And the peace of God which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Melissa’s updated journey can be found on her blog: www.danceintherainmelissa.blogspot.com