{life is always ALWAYS a gift}

Elsie and I just got back from Arizona where we got to see many family and friends....AND enjoy 85 degree weather.  While there I was wondering why they call Nebraska {highs in the 20s today} "the Good Life".  Ha!  I'll blog about that trip later.  I just felt the need to share this.  And my thoughts.  

While scrolling through facebook today, I came across this article:
http://livingwithpower.org/brittany-maynard/

The story of Brittany Maynard hits so close to home and everyone has their own opinion.  I'm not judging her.  I'm just saying that watching my father-in-law live with this same type of cancer for 18 months taught me more about life and death than I had learned in 30 years.  His life was a gift to so many.  The amount of people his life impacted is something we will never know.  But I do know this - He impacted mine.  He impacted my husband's.  He impacted our children's.  

Kolbe was just a little over a year old when Jim was diagnosed with Glioblastoma.  We were so fortunate to live close enough that we could drive to Sioux Falls every weekend while Jim lived with cancer.  When Jim died, Kolbe was two and a half, but the impact he had on Kolbe's life is so amazing.  Kolbe knows his Grandpa Jim.  He talks to him.  He prays for him.  He can't wait to see him some day in heaven.  And every time he sees a red bird, he looks up and shouts "Hi Grandpa Jim" with a smile on his face.  

Did it suck to see him suffer?  Of course.  Does it still hurt that he isn't here?  You bet.  But I believe, even though I don't understand, that this happened for a reason.  His life had a purpose.  His life had meaning.  

I agree with the author of the article when she says, "Life is sometimes hard, too often painful, occasionally interspersed with hopelessness, but always always life is a gift."