Sad day

[Joe Malinowski]

I just rturndd from the wake for a friend who died Friday from pancreatic cancer at the age of 52. Tomorrow another very close friend willl begin chemo therapy for cancer in both of her lungs, she is 54. Times like this leaves you with a lot of questions and not many answers.

[Bill Hudson]

Joe,

I understand. Wednesday, my wife and I attended a funeral for one of her relatives. A very nice young (32) man who left behind a wife, 2 1/2 year-old and twins 8 weeks old. He put up a good fight but the cancer won.

Bill

[VinceD]

And as we get older, we have even more questions and even fewer answers.

[Rudi]

Joe:

Many times those who are stricken with a terminal illness often go through a series of stages. One of those stages is why me.. then it progresses to ok.. time to deal with it and with help, we do. Many times we can find peace during these difficult times by clinging to that which is always with us. Faith. Faith aides both those who are sticken and those who are left behind when we go home to the Father.

In common prayer, we ask for Him to watch over and bless all of His children, and our response to each request is

Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made Heaven and Earth

In truth, our help is with the Lord and in our faith. We can do nothing, He does it all. He does give us the strength we need to travel these oft difficult roads that we find ourselves on as we journey through this life.

Over the last few years I have lost a number of friends and family to Prostate Cancer, Pancreatic Cancer and Brain Cancer as well as other terminal illnesses. I lost my Mom's baby brother to lung cancer/silicosis after a lifetime of working in a hard rock mine. It doesn't get any easier but it is bearable knowing that family and friends and a solid relationship based on faith can help us keep it all together.

Our prayers are with the family and their loss as well as all those who have been affected by your friend's life and his passing. Our prayers will also be with your friend as she struggles with this affliction and we hope that the Lord will bless her according to His plan in His time.

May the Peace (+) of the Lord be with you all.

[daddydip]

Haang in there Joe, sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. But it gets better.

[Joe Malinowski]

Thanks for all of the kind words everybody. I know the whole cancer struggle far too well Rudy, I lost both parents and a 39 year old sister to it, healing does take a lot of time and faith as well. Just tougher to find it some days.

[Rudi]

Joe:

You and yours are in our prayers as well.. I know how well the power of prayer can help... I am a beneficiary of that power... Peace (+). When you feel down or a little low on support, just remember that your friends are here for you and praying for you.

[Joe Malinowski]

THanks Rudi

[thomas B Peterson]

Rudi: Thanks for your input. I too have had my times of sorrow. I lost 6 family members in 8 years 10 days so that averages out to 13 months. The Lord is the one who can hold us up and still going when these times come. Death comes to everyone eventually, it matters how you prepare for it. Trust the Lord and call on him, he will give you eternal life. Blessings, Thomas Peterson