Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Donna, Death, and Jesus
Donna came back to Jesus several months ago. She had stage 4 cancer and so most of the time I have known her, she had been dying. I have told her coming home story in other places, and it is a powerful story about lost sheep found.
Donna passed this last week and here are three some I was reminded oj from Donna about Jesus and dying.
Die well. This is a Christian characteristic. Knowing what is next. Believing in eternal life. Hope of heaven. Trusting Jesus. Resurrection. Faith changes everything. Donna talked about dying. Made her plans for dying. Focused on the life to come.
Do ministry. I saw Donna share her faith and cancer story with others. Watched her interact with Christian sisters diagnosed with cancer. Watched her in her Jesus Journey class greet others with hugs and smiles. Right up to the end.
Be bold in prayer. Donna lasted several months past what the Doctors first thought. There was a reason. Her first grandchild was due in August, a few months past her expected life span. So she asked for specific prayers that God would grant her life to hold that child. Our elders prayed for that. Our Journey class prayed for that. Lots of us prayed for that. And God granted our prayer. She held her grandson. She died two weeks later.
Healing is real. Make no mistake, we all prayed for the miracle of healing in this life. But we also talked about the healing of a new body after this life. Donna is healed. Cancer does not exist in her life. Nor does pain or sorrow. God always heals. Here or there. But He does heal.
It was a hard journey. But you could see in Donna's eyes and hear in her voice the hope of heaven. It was -- and is -- real -- to Donna. And thanks to her life and example, that hope is more real to a lot of us.
Well Donna. Well done,
See you soon.
