In Round 1, he fought it to a draw. It went into remission.

Unfortunately, it reappeared in the Fall of 2008. He wasn't able to fight it off this time. On July 16th, he lost his battle with cancer one that lasted over seven-years.

Their story is one of incredible faith, hope and love. They never wavered in their belief that God would hear their prayers (which He always does.) He just didn't give them the answer they (and hundreds of others) hoped for.

We know a number of people who are (or know someone who is) are in their own life-or-death struggle against a disease or illness. Some will win the battle - some won't. But eventually, death always wins.

In the Bible, we know that death isn't the end - it is only a new beginning.

For those of us who are Christian, we find encouragement in I Thessalonians Chapter 4.

Verses 13-18 read:

¹³Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. ¹⁴We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁶For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Whether or not you are Christian, these verses offer us the knowledge that the end of this life isn't the end of everything. There is a life after this one that lasts forever that is far better than the one we experience here. We WILL see our loved ones again (and yes, that includes beloved pets as well.)

Those of us who believe in Heaven have a great advantage over those who don't. We can only imagine what is to come - but the thought of it is empowering and comforting.

Imagine going to a funeral where the deceased (and everyone else) believed that once you die - that was it.

We mourn when we lose someone - mostly mourning our loss. We draw comfort when people remind us that, "they're in a better place" because we know that's true.

Others may doubt because the afterlife hasn't been proven to their satisfaction. Those of us who believe don't need to see something to believe it exists.

That's what faith is - the belief in something unseen.

Rick & Tina

updated 7/19/2009

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