"But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
My heart was heavy with grief and sadness today, as I learned that my dad's 1st cousin, my Aunt Jen, passed away after fighting a long & exhausting battle with cancer. Aunt Jen was one of the happiest, non-judgemental, most uplifting people that I know. Even though she was suffering from such a horrible disease, she never let it affect the way she treated people. Last April, when I was living in Brandon, their family came and met with my mom & I at the mall for dinner... We laughed til our sides hurt, exchanging stories about when we were all little, about how Dustin was always in trouble (teehehe!), etc., and it was so much fun reminiscing for a few hours!! After they went back home to MA, Aunt Jen even sent me a present... A lovely note, and a bottle of coffee syrup for my coffee milk, because we had joked about how much I LOVE that, and how I always have to stock up on it when I go up north... It was little things like that gesture that made her such a unique and wonderful person. I always got sweet little facebook messages or comments that let me know she cared, and that she was thinking about me... It makes me sad to know I'll no longer have notifications from her :-(
I hate living so far away from my family... Especially in times like these. I want to be there for my cousins so badly... For my dad, who loved Aunt Jen so dearly... For my grandparents... For everyone who was so blessed to have known her...
This same week, my mom's dad had a surgical procedure done to put a pacemaker in his chest... My mom's brother, Mike, went into the hospital due to numbness and pain, and they found a mass in his right lung (we are still waiting to hear more)... This year, both of my paternal grandparents have been in the hospital and/or rehab for falls and episodes... And now, one of the best people I've known has passed away. This year makes me realize more and more just how real mortality is... And what it means to grow up.
Auntie Jen... I love you, and you will be missed by SO many people. I find comfort in knowing that you are no longer suffering or in pain, but that you are at rest. I pray for Uncle Tom, Dustin, Kayla and Jeremy, as they are laden with grief and misery right now... I pray even more that this is just one day (and one case) closer to finding a cure for this dreadful disease.
"Even so, come, Lord Jesus."
Revelation 22:20
Revelation 22:20
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