WHEN LIFE AS YOU KNOW IT CHANGES

Let's just say this first...CANCER SUCKS! So now you probably know where I'm going with this post. Last month, our family lost Agnes to stomach cancer. She was my mother-in-law, Ben's mom, Amelia's Omi (grandmother), Mike's girlfriend, Margret, Konrad, Gisela and Meinolf's sister, and Pownal's deeply-loved friend. Losing her has been hard, but what's worse is the pain I see Ben going through. As a wife, I just want to do whatever I can to make it better. It's hard when I feel somewhat helpless in certain areas. I turn it over to prayer and do what I can to be the best wife for my husband.

Something that has helped, but doesn't lessen the pain is the fact that I believe Agnes went to heaven. I know she believed that Jesus died for her sins and that belief brought Agnes into eternal life. So with that faith, I am able to cling to verses like:

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 14

"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Psalm 73: 23 - 26