On Death and Dying...

It seems as Christians, our goal is to try to prepare ourselves, not more for this life but for the next... What is it we are taught from the beginning? Why did God create us? To love, serve and honor Him in THIS life, so that we may be with Him FOREVER in next... So when it happens that a loved one among us has reached his time to go and be with God, it is not for him that we mourn, but for ourselves... those of us left here to continue to fight on the front lines in hopes that one day, we too will have the opportunity to stand before God and hear Him tell us, "well done, good and faithful servant" and remain with Him forever....

Very soon I will be going to the hospital to see my brother-in-law and say my final 'goodbyes'. After his less than year long battle with an aggressive cancer, he has found his way home to the Catholic Church. God is good! He was able to partake in the sacraments, giving him strength and courage, to go forward for as long as his body would allow him to. The oncologist only yesterday told them that his body was done. It is shutting down and there is not much more that can be done, but pray... So pray, we will continue to do...

We pray for miracles, as we know that God is the God of miracles and no matter the outcome, we have already witnessed wonderful graces come from this terrible time... No matter the outcome, my brother in law has been able to partake of and receive the graces of the sacraments these last couple of months with much joy and peace. My prayer now is that he will hang on at least until Saturday, November 1, the feast of All Souls... What better time?... It was only yesterday when our parish pastor and associate came to his bedside and prayed over him, giving him yet another opportunity to receive the body and blood of Our Lord to sustain him on his journey 'home'... He will be good. He is as ready as one could be... But it is for my sister and nephew that my heart aches... This has all happened so fast... and I don't know if any of us left here can ever be "ready" to let go of a loved one in death....

Please say a prayer for the family. They really are priceless and felt as a soft place to land when they need it most... God's will be done...