I had planned to blog about a new thrift store treasure I had fixed up, but some sad news caused my thoughts to wander in another direction. The frivolous was overwhelmed by the faithful.
A dear friend went home to be with his Lord yesterday after a long battle with cancer. Fifteen years ago, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and given the news that he would die within 6 months. His young wife and and two little boys prepared for a life without him. And he lived.
Over the next several years he endured several rounds of chemo and radiation as well as surgeries. During every round he suffered through, he continued to praise God. As a husband and father, he poured his life into his family, making the most of every opportunity. As a school guidance counselor he shared the love of Christ with students and staff. And he lived.
As a musician, he wrote music and lead praise and worship in churches. His "band" of friends adored him and it was obvious to everyone that their music came from the heart and was used to reach others for Christ.
There were many times he would sit on a stool, weak from chemo, and direct our choir during practice. Most of the choir members never new how he suffered from nausea and weakness during treatments. The music flowed. And he lived.
A few weeks ago we noticed a sudden turn in his health. He was aging before our eyes, stumbling and weak. Last weekend, an MRI showed the cancer had returned and taken over. He went home and was surrounded by family and friends and music. And then he lived - but not on earth.
He left the voices of his loved ones, singing on earth, to participate with the residents of heaven singing praise and worship to his Lord and Saviour. If I ever need a reminder of how to live - or how to die well, I'll think of my friend.
Please pray for his grieving wife and teenage sons and also for our church. We'll be celebrating his life on Monday night. Tomorrow will be rough - Hubs and I are the praise team for tomorrow's worship services. We'll be worshiping - and living.
A dear friend went home to be with his Lord yesterday after a long battle with cancer. Fifteen years ago, he was diagnosed with brain cancer and given the news that he would die within 6 months. His young wife and and two little boys prepared for a life without him. And he lived.
Over the next several years he endured several rounds of chemo and radiation as well as surgeries. During every round he suffered through, he continued to praise God. As a husband and father, he poured his life into his family, making the most of every opportunity. As a school guidance counselor he shared the love of Christ with students and staff. And he lived.
As a musician, he wrote music and lead praise and worship in churches. His "band" of friends adored him and it was obvious to everyone that their music came from the heart and was used to reach others for Christ.
There were many times he would sit on a stool, weak from chemo, and direct our choir during practice. Most of the choir members never new how he suffered from nausea and weakness during treatments. The music flowed. And he lived.
A few weeks ago we noticed a sudden turn in his health. He was aging before our eyes, stumbling and weak. Last weekend, an MRI showed the cancer had returned and taken over. He went home and was surrounded by family and friends and music. And then he lived - but not on earth.
He left the voices of his loved ones, singing on earth, to participate with the residents of heaven singing praise and worship to his Lord and Saviour. If I ever need a reminder of how to live - or how to die well, I'll think of my friend.
Please pray for his grieving wife and teenage sons and also for our church. We'll be celebrating his life on Monday night. Tomorrow will be rough - Hubs and I are the praise team for tomorrow's worship services. We'll be worshiping - and living.
What a beautiful tribute to your friend. Thank you for sharing your feelings about his life and "living!"
ReplyDeleteKelly,
ReplyDeleteThey will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Sue
Oh dear, please accept my sympathies with his family and friends. Such stories remind us how short life can be.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Corinna
My prayers to his family,friends, & church Family. Thank you for sharing this beautiful tribute.I'm sure heaven is rejoicing!
ReplyDeleteKelly, this is by far my favorite post. He was a wonderful man who was full of God and full of love! When I need an example of living a victorious life through Christ I will think of him. I can't even imagine how many lives he has touched and how many seeds of life he planted over the years. I know he is dancing and singing right now with our Heavenly Father. What a great blessing and gift to leave to his loved ones left behind.
ReplyDeleteI'll be keeping his family (and you guys) in my thoughts and prayers. It's hard to loose a loved one, but so amazing that he made it so far down the road! Precious time.
ReplyDeleteThe family and you are in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for the family and dear friends like you. You will both be in our prayers. Hugs
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to hear about your friend. We will keep his family and you and your family in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this reminder. It's so easy to get caught up in the little inconveniences of life and forget Who we are living for.
ReplyDelete