Thank you for the love, support and prayers during the two years that Ann had cancer and the six months since her death. It’s hard to stay angry at God because he has repeatedly shown us his love through his people, especially through you in our LifeGroup. Here are some of the ways in which you have been God’s arms of comfort during our storm:
- By praying for physical healing even when doctors never gave us any basis for hope.
- By bringing meals three or four times per week for two and a half years.
- By being there at the hospital in her last hours, encouraging her to go be with Jesus.
- By cleaning our house on the day of the memorial service.
- By providing flowers for the service, bringing beauty to the darkness.
- By planning and participating in Ann’s memorial, sharing treasured portraits of her life.
- By painting our kitchen, fixing the garage door, patching my leaky roof and replacing mini-blinds in two rooms.
- By being a mom to our kids, especially at Drew’s graduation, Matt’s sleepovers, and Hannah’s first Homecoming.
- By going out for dessert, giving me a chance vent, cry and discuss the New Earth.
- By praying for our comfort so we wouldn’t lose hope after Ann’s death.
As Dave mentioned last time, I’ve been studying about the “New Earth” (the eternal heaven) in order to attempt to make sense out of Ann’s premature death. I now believe that after the Resurrection we’ll live in physical bodies on a renewed earth and will enjoy human friendships and activities.
My relationship with Ann has just been interrupted, not extinguished. One day Ann will introduce us to our three babies who were miscarried. One day we’ll introduce Ann to her grandkids. Then we’ll enjoy adventures on the New Earth in places like Colorado, Monterey, Alaska and Mongolia. Selfishness and irritability will never mar our relationship. Time constraints will never be a frustration. Neither cancer nor death will ever again separate us.
I also believe that we’ll have LifeGroup reunions. We’ll remember and recount the ways in which we all encouraged each other during tough times and celebrated life together when times were good. In fact it’s possible that the most treasured “crown” that we’ll receive at judgment is a special depth of relationship with others on the New Earth, a depth based on the love and sacrifice shown in this life.
If this is indeed my future, then I’ll deal with the pain and grief of my present. If this is indeed our future, then I look forward to the depth of our friendships on the New Earth.
Love,
Howard & Ann, and Paul, Drew, Hannah & Matt
