This past week, to put it bluntly, has been a heavy emotional toll for me. I have suffered a loss not once, but three times. First, my father-in-law (my “dad” when my own passed) went home to Glory surrounded by our large family. We cried, laughed and reminisced to the wee hours. Such a wonderfully sweet man.
The next was a long-time co-worker. Shortly after retiring, she learned she had stage 4 cancer. She fought to the bitter end, succumbing to this horrible disease last week. She was a believer, but during her trials, her faith grew deeper and stronger. Her courage inspired me.
Then there was a young woman, my son’s age, whom I watched as she grew up in our home church. A bright, spirited woman, full of life and vitality, she lost her own battle with cancer, but has now found eternal healing with Jesus. She began preparing her family to carry on and left a marvelous example to follow.
All three battled cancer, all three in various stages of life, all three grew to rely on their Savior more deeply than I have yet to experience. They each have given me something that is hard to explain – a strength and a better realization of what’s really important in life. Loving one another … family … friends … community.
I know my family are each grieving the loss of our loved one in different ways. Some of us seek solitude, some of us seek to keep busy, some of us cry at the drop of a hat, some perhaps haven’t cried enough. Everyone experiences grief in different ways and different stages. There’s no right or wrong way. For me, I just need to sit down for a boo-hoo every once in a while.
Yes, this week has taught me the importance of reaching out to one another, letting people in your life know what they mean to you. If God puts someone on my heart, there’s a reason for it. I’m going to tell them I’m thinking of them … they are loved … they are appreciated. This is good medicine for the soul. Life is too short not to lift someone up.
I wonder what would happen if everyone practiced this? Can I hear an Amen?
Ecclesiastes 3 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Tagged: cancer, grief and loss
