God’S Plan…Our Journey…His Grace

Copyright © 2012 MaryJo Soska

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www.TheJourneytoGrace.com

ISBN: 978-1-4497-5276-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-5278-1 (he)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-5277-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012908910

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Contents

Preface

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1 An Unexpected Change

Chapter 2 Just Five Days Since Her Diagnosis

Chapter 3 Becky Has Dreams!

Chapter 4A New Perspective

Chapter 5 Updates For Our Prayer Warriors

Chapter 6 Prayer Warriors-Continue To Pray

Chapter 7 Testimonials Of Becky’s Life

Chapter 8 His Grace After

Preface

Although this story of faith you are about to read is not located in the pages of the Bible, it is also worthy of the Hebrews chapter eleven Hall of Faith. The Lord was as involved with this family’s journey as He was in Abraham’s, Moses’, and Daniel’s. His love endures to all generations.

The plan of God includes many unexpected twists and turns, highs and lows, joys and sorrows. MaryJo Soska is a woman of virtue and faith—much like the Proverbs 31 woman depicted in the Bible. Her journey through grace is evident as she tells her daughter Becky’s riveting story God’s Plan…Our Journey…HIS Grace.

MaryJo pulls back the curtains of her heart, giving us, a privileged audience, a front row seat into her most intimate thoughts and feelings as a mother during those hours when it is discovered that her teenage daughter Becky has leukemia. She lovingly and candidly talks about Becky’s journey and shares the family dynamics in an authentic, genuine, and personal way. She takes us to the mountains, valleys, and ultimate triumph. You will laugh and you will cry. There is no sugar coating—just honesty and integrity.

Becky maintained a strong faith and love for God while enduring difficult and painful bouts with leukemia. You are going to hear the real life story of a young lady who fought the good fight of faith and won when she walked into heaven at the young age of 19 to hear Jesus say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord! I can’t begin to imagine the praise party that was going on in heaven the day Becky entered, but I know that her family here on earth, although grieved by their loss, rejoiced that she now lives with her Savior.

That is what Becky wanted…To glorify God with her life. And she did!

All my love and thanks to MaryJo, Bob, Joe, and God for allowing me the honor of sharing a few words with you. The contents of this book are definitely life-changing. It will make you appreciate life so much more. God anointed MaryJo to write the words you will read, but more than that He anointed her with His amazing grace to tell the story of His faithfulness through it all.

Rev. Germaine J. Hoffman

Friend of MaryJo and her family and

Assemblies of God Ordained Minister of the Gospel

God gave me the idea and title of this book one night in December 2000 as I sat alone, looking at a frozen Lake Erie and crying out to God. It has taken me until now to realize the full extent of His Grace in our journey.

Blessed are they who grow in grace…for they shall flourish.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the memory of my precious daughter, Becky, who at the age of 15 tenderly prayed and surrendered her life to God. She prayed for God to use her life for His plan. She wanted to serve Him totally and was prepared to follow His plan for her life. When she told me of this prayer, I knew that God was going to use her life in a powerful way. She honored and served Him to His Glory until her last breath here on earth. This is her story, dedicated to the Glory of God.

To my husband, Bob: we have shared twenty-two years together as husband and wife. Thank you for always believing in and supporting me. It is my honor to be your wife. I love you with all of my heart.

To my son Joe: you have always been my Sunny Boy and my blessing from God. You make me smile every day, you are my heart and I love you more.

To my parents: Thank you for your love and support. On April 11, 2012, my mom went to be with Jesus and her beloved Becky. Although she did not see the finished book she did read the manuscript. Mom… Thank you for always loving and supporting me. Don’t forget to give Becky a hug from her mommy. I love and miss you.

With Special Thanks to my dear sweet friend in the Lord, Pastor Germaine Hoffman: You truly are a gift from God and I am blessed to call you friend.

Thank you to Steve Barnhart…you are a Blessing!

God’s Loan

By Edgar Guest

"I’ll lend you for a little time

A child of mine." God said,

"For you to love the while she lives

And mourn for when she’s dead.

"It may be six or seven years

Or twenty-two or three,

But will you till I call her back

Take care of her for me?"

"She’ll bring her charms to gladden you

And should her stay be brief,

You’ll have these precious memories

As solace for your grief."

"I cannot promise she will stay

Since all from earth return.

But there are lessons taught down there

I want this child to learn."

"I’ve looked this world over,

In my search for teachers true.

In crowds that throng life’s land,

I have selected you."

"Now will you give her all your love,

Not think the labor vain,

Nor hate me when I come to call

To take her back again?"

It seems to me I heard them say,

"Dear Lord, thy will be done.

For all the joys a child shall bring

The risk of grief we’ll run."

"We’ll shelter her with tenderness,

We’ll love her while we may,

And for the happiness we’ve known

Forever grateful stay."

"And should the angels call for her

Much sooner than we’ve planned,

We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes

And try to understand."

Let the children come to me and do not forbid them; for of such is the Kingdom of God.

Mark 10:14

Introduction

I can remember it as if it were yesterday, finding out that I was pregnant with my daughter Rebecca. It was January 1981, and the weather was cold and blustery as usual for a northeastern Ohio winter. I can remember talking to my stomach as if the child living inside of me could hear, telling her over and over how much I loved her already. I don’t know how, but I knew from conception that I was carrying a little girl, the baby girl I prayed for. Her name would be Rebecca. I chose that name when I was fourteen years old; somehow I just knew I would have a girl first and then a boy. As my stomach began to grow, I began to feel the little life inside of me. What an incredible gift! As the months passed, it was getting nearer to my due date. I was excited and nervous. At twenty, I didn’t have a clue what to expect and although I was married, I was alone. The marriage had failed even before it began. I should have listened to my father on the day of my wedding, when he begged me not to walk down the aisle.but then I wouldn’t have been awaiting the miracle of this little one.

Finally, the day arrived for her delivery into the world. I began having contractions on Saturday, October 3, and went to the hospital around midnight. I labored the entire night. Sometime after 3:00 a.m. I was given medication to speed up the process. However, as I quickly learned, Rebecca did things in her time. Finally, my Rebecca entered the world at 8:23 a.m. on Sunday, October 4, 1981. I cried when they put her in my arms as I counted her tiny fingers and toes. I held her so close to my heart and told her I loved her and that I was glad to be her mommy.

Rebecca was a beautiful baby who smiled all the time. She was a joy and a gift. What I didn’t realize then was that this precious gift could be taken from me at any given moment. The Bible says that God created us and shaped us; He prepared all of our days before we ever lived one.

Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; you know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. Psalm 139:13-16—MSG

Although the above passage specifically tells us that God created us and numbered the days that we are upon this earth, when we have our children we expect that they are going to live long, full lives. The journey that I am about to share with you is one that I never asked to take or ever dreamed would happen. I remember talking to my neighbor one morning in November, 1999, about a friend of hers who had just lost three of her four children in a fire. I had prayed that morning on my way to work for that mom, telling God that I couldn’t imagine losing my child in that way, or any way for that matter. I also begged God to please not take my children before they grew old.

CHAPTER 1

AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE

Our journey began in the year 2000. We had just celebrated the new millennium. This was the year, I promised, that would be my daughter Rebecca’s happiest and most fun ever. After all, this was her senior year in high school. After graduating she would embark on a new adventure in her life—going to college. Moving forward as a family would bring new adventures and challenges.

I had no idea what lay ahead, but I did know that God would continue to walk with me and lead me. I knew that my wonderful husband of then ten years loved me and that my two children would continue to grow before my eyes and someday become adults. Their foundation was built on putting God first. I knew they would become the individuals that my husband and I had cultivated from early on in their lives: to love and serve God, to love who they are, to embrace life to the fullest and, most importantly, to be themselves.

From the start Becky claimed her promise in the following verses, and I continue to claim them today:

For I know the plans I have for you,