A Love So Loud- Testimony.

My name is Kenton Murphy, and this is Part 1 of my two part testimony.

Invincible.

This is a word that all of us see and believe that we possess. However, we aren’t. In fact, I know first hand how vulnerable we are to this scary world. During my senior year of high school I was diagnosed with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the submandibular gland (or for the non-medical professionals out there, a tumor in my spit gland). Finding out that I had cancer was nothing compared to what was down the road for me, as I experienced some of the most trying times that no teenager should ever have to deal with. Four different surgeries (two being on my neck), twelve weeks of chemotherapy (12 treatments), and six weeks of radiation (30 treatments). As I type those numbers they don’t even seem realistic, but unfortunately they are. Now, you may feel pity for me..please don’t. I say this in the nicest way possible. I am 100% better now, both medically and in my faith.

Before being diagnosed I had a great relationship with God and my faith, but there will always be room for improvement in this department in all of us. We all have flaws which God understands, but we have to strive to be the better person every time that we open our eyes for a new day. I did just this. During the six months that I was back in forth from Boston to Lexington to Maysville I truly learned what it meant to live in my faith and exemplify it in my actions. Not a single day went by that I ever felt like I was alone. I always had my family and friends by my side. There were times that I would be alone receiving a treatment with nobody by my side, but in reality I wasn’t. I had God right there with me every step of the way cheering me on. My radiation treatments presented me with the best time to pray, everyday at 3:00 pm. I looked forward to this time because it was some true alone time that I loved with God that I could thank him for allowing me to wake up that morning, be able to attend Prom, being able to attend my Graduation. These times really gave me the opportunity to live in His word rather than to just hear His word.

Every day we are presented with new challenges and obstacles that life has to offer. Don’t look at them as a punishment from God, look at them as an opportunity to grow in your faith and trust in Him that whatever He leads you to He will lead you through.