RICARDO still remembers sitting with his wife, Maria, in the doctor's waiting room. * Neither of them had the courage to read the results of Maria's latest medical examinations. Then, Ricardo opened the envelope, and they hastily glanced over the medical language of the report. They spotted the word "cancer," and both began to cry as they realized the full import of that word.
"The doctor was very kind," recalls Ricardo, "but he obviously realized the gravity of the situation because he kept telling us that we had to trust in God."
The doctor kept telling us that we had to trust in God
Before radiation treatment had begun, Maria's doctor noticed involuntary movements in her right foot. Further tests revealed that the cancer had spread to her brain. After just one week of treatment, the radiation was suspended. Maria slipped into a coma and died two months later. "I was glad that her suffering had ended," explains Ricardo, "but I missed her so much that I found myself wishing that my life would come to an end too. Often, I would cry out to God: 'Why did you allow this to happen?'"
When Tragedy Strikes, Questions Abound Like Ricardo, countless people throughout the world are forced to face up to the reality of suffering. Many times, it is the innocent who suffer. Think of the heartrending grief caused by the relentless armed conflicts that plague mankind. Or consider the pain felt by the numerous victims of rape, child abuse, domestic violence, and other evils committed by man. Throughout history there seems to have been no limit to the injustice and pain that men and women have been willing to inflict on one another. (Ecclesiastes 4:1-3) Then there is the anguish of victims of natural disasters or of emotional, mental, and physical illnesses. It is little wonder that many ask, "Why does God allow such suffering?"
Even for those with religious convictions, suffering is never easy to deal with. You too may wonder what reason a loving, all-powerful God could possibly have for permitting human suffering. Finding a satisfying and truthful answer to this puzzling question is vital for our peace of mind and our relationship with God. The Bible provides such an answer. Please consider what it has to say as presented in the following article.
How much longer can I take this without you by my side? I've missed you since the day you left, these feelings I can't hide. You know I'll always love you, I miss your warm embrace, I'll never love another, no one can take your palce. I left you without reason but still your love is true. How much you really cared for me, I guess I never knew. I'm glad I had the time to spend inside your loving care. You picjed me up & showed me love, this feeling we still share. I'll leave you now, with one last thought, & please believe this too, That if we meet someday, I'll not let go of you.
Dear Aaron, / Nancy (Lil Sis )
I was going to call you the other day,
But nothing important, got in the way.
I was going to write, maybe send a card,
But finding the time, just seemed so hard.
I'll send you an email, to give you a shout,
That is...if this storm, hadn't knocked the power out.
It's just before Valentine's, what a bad time to bother,
I'll give it a week, then give you a holler.
The card wasn't bought, the call never made,
I truly see now, the price that I paid.
My last chance to tell you, what's on my mind,
I lost that chance, because I hadn't the time.
My last chance to say, Dear Brother I LOVE YOU.
Got buried in a pile, of un-important "To Do's". Close
In Aaron's own words... / Ellen Beaudry (friend)
In going through some things I came across some poems of Aaron's. I thought this one especially beautiful..........
Untitled written by Aaron in 1992
There's one thing I've learned Through life's many years It is, as hard as you try, You can't hold back the tears
Although at times you may try And you'll actually succeed The pain that's within you Is already starting to breed It builds to eruption Then comes on full force The anger within you, Then leads you off course
Though you may try to conceal it And you try and hold back The anger soon wins Self control, you still hold back
So try to be patient And try to be kind Only then, When you've acomplished these things, Will you have true piece of mind Close