I lost my mom to cancer when she was just 62 years old. Young. Pretty. So loved. True loss.
I lost my dad from the effects of a stroke when he was 89 years old, ready to go, having lived a good, long, and productive life.
I’ve felt loss and the helplessness of losing someone so much a part of your life you really can’t imagine them not being present in it anymore.
The Word tells us we’ve been given a particular number of days. Hezekiah pleaded for additional days after he had been given his pronouncement of death. God relented and gave him 15 more years on planet earth.
Kristy Dykes is by all medical accounts dying of GBM brain cancer. Like you and me, her days are numbered, and in the natural they’re coming to an end after a life dedicated to serving the Lord in multiple ways. She and her husband Milton, their daughters’ families and all their relatives along with their church family at home and around the world have represented faith and trust in God throughout this entire ordeal, asking for the extension of days for Kristy’s time here on earth while exalting the Lord’s goodness, believing in the possibility for healing, and trusting that whatever God does is good.
It’s been both an ordeal and a joy, a painful yet sometimes pleasurable ride for this loving lady who has demonstrated what it means to be sustained by the God of heaven. Honestly, things don’t look real hopeful right now. And, in fact, as it’s been ever since the diagnosis, it will take a miracle for Kristy to survive this disease. She is in her early 50s.
I would ask you once again to pray for her and her family as they face the decisions of our Sovereign God. Let Jesus guide your prayers for them and allow the Spirit to fill you up with His words and directions. In the Name of Jesus, we ask for your mercy and your divine touch on Kristy’s life.
"Milton, here:
Faith and trust go hand in hand. While they are similar if not the same in definition, I see faith as expecting, believing, having bold confidence, and actively pursuing. Trust stands, holds on, patiently endures, and waits for the answer. They are more inter-related than these few words, but hopefully you see my intended connection.
Our faith reaches out while our trust holds on.
Last night we had to exercise both faith and trust as Kristy had a rough evening and night. This morning Hospice came back and will be managing her care. She is sleeping more and more and is confusing her words. But her spirits are high and her praise to God continues.
Saturday evening we had a long talk like couples need to do in situations like we're in. It was frank as Kristy shared from her heart and I shared from my heart to her. Our lives have been full and we have been greatly blessed. We have many dreams and goals still within so this is really tough to work through. But with God's grace and help, we will make it.
We are holding to the loving hands of our Lord for He has been with us every step of the way. Keep praying for Kristy and for us. God is yet working in our lives and in the process touching many other lives.
Do we have faith in Him? Yes, we do!
Can we trust Him? Yes, we can!
This hurts, but remember. 'God is good,' as Kristy says.
Look at the gull. He is at peace with not a worry in the world. God sees that gull and even more He sees and watches over us." [There was a picture of a seagull to accompany this statement.]
Yes, He does. In the Name of Jesus, yes, He does.