“Though my health may fail and my spirit weaken, God is my heart’s strength." ~ Psalm 73:26
I lost a dear friend to pancreatic
cancer this week. His spirit was amazing. Even though he went through unimaginable physical and
mental suffering, he continued to spread optimism, goodness, love, and
happiness to all those around him.
He knew he only had but a short time to live. We all knew it too, but didn’t say it. Friends and family rallied around, kept him
company and supported him until the very end.
During that time the world became a smaller place.
When cancer steals the life of someone you love, there are
no words. Simple words don’t do an
entire lifetime justice. Nothing can
explain why cancer swoops in ... grabs a hold of someone you love and swallows
them whole.
Charlie used every day to build his legacy; vivid rainbow colors that will echo for eternity. Even in this difficult time he gave more than he took, helped others more than he helped himself, and returned even more love and light than he was given.
He also taught us about prayer. Praying for someone with an incurable
condition is not mainly about trying to "fix a problem" or even
"finding the right words."
It's about joining the suffering in crying out to a gracious and
powerful God, acting as living testimony to God's promise in Christ that
darkness won’t have the final word.
I wish that all of you could have known what my friend knew
and live with the same joy, love, and passion that he lived. I wish that we all could see deep in our
hearts just how precious this life is; that every second we’re given can be a
moment of caring, of happiness, of humility.
So, let’s never let a second of our lives go to waste. Let’s not wait until an illness threatens our
lives before we start living. Choose
love today; share love this moment.
Rejoice in the life you’re given. Take the countless little choices you make
each day and make them with a loving heart, a kind thought, and a joyous soul.
Hug your family. Let
your friends know you appreciate them. Tell
those you love just how much you love them. Care for yourself, others, and the world
around you. Live your life the way God
meant for you to live. He may not
guarantee constant happiness, but He does promise to be an ever-flowing source
of joy.
Charlie, you’re someone who used your life to touch so many
others. I’ll always feel lucky that mine
was one of them. God speed my friend!
“Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat eis. Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant
in pace.” Amen (Catholic Blessing for
the deceased)
