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#99756 - 12/27/06 02:17 PM
Re: Not-So-Good Update on my Brother
[Re: Eagle Heart]
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Member
Registered: 03/22/05
Posts: 4876
Loc: Canada
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My brother gave me permission to publish his address - but please be gentle with him. He's profoundly grateful to everyone for the prayers and care, and wants you to know that he's thankful. But I'm going to stick my nose in and ask for no "heavy proselytizing". He's just not up for that.
Gary Matthies 1330 Richmond Rd, Apt 714 Ottawa, ON, Canada K2B 8J6
Thanks again everyone for caring!
_________________________
When you don't like a thing, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
(Maya Angelou)
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#99757 - 12/27/06 02:38 PM
Re: Not-So-Good Update on my Brother
[Re: Eagle Heart]
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Member
Registered: 06/03/04
Posts: 2830
Loc: Massachusetts, USA
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I just read this post Eagle. I'm so sorry things are not coming out as good as expected. One thing is for sure. God is right beside you all and He will remain by your side.
Still praying,
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#99758 - 12/28/06 08:28 AM
Re: Not-So-Good Update on my Brother
[Re: Songbird]
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Member
Registered: 03/22/05
Posts: 4876
Loc: Canada
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I'm on the run again today (chemo day and still a housefull of houseguests!). But I just wanted to explain my comment about "heavy proselytizing". My brother has received many emails/notes from one or two well-meaning people who keep badgering him to "repent or else". He just doesn't need that sort of thing right now. We believe in a loving God and we are refusing to go in any other direction than hope and abundance of life, so that "or else" thing just isn't in our spiritual vocabulary right now. These notes cause him some distress and angst. So I just share that to help everyone understand where I'm coming from in asking for gentle compassion when writing to my brother. He loves God with a quiet, gentle faith, and there's no doubt that much of his strength and courage come from the hope that your prayers and care have given him.
_________________________
When you don't like a thing, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
(Maya Angelou)
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#99759 - 12/28/06 09:00 AM
Re: Not-So-Good Update on my Brother
[Re: Eagle Heart]
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Member
Registered: 12/14/04
Posts: 724
Loc: Chesapeake, VA
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Hi Eagle,
I am glad you explained this, because instinctively I would say something like God loves you. I get very irritated when I hear of people saying the "or else". God is the only one that knows the heart of a person, which is why judgement is not ours to make.
My mom got really upset a few months ago because this lady my dad works with approached him. She gave him a mini-Bible and asked him if he was ready to meet The Lord. Ironically, it didn't bother my dad, he just replied, "Yes I am ready to meet my Maker". All I can say is, she should be glad I wasn't there. I know these people mean well, but they are going about it the wrong way. They need to go back and read their Bibles and see how Jesus treated people. With loving kindness. He only condemned those that were the really bad guys so to speak. Someone like your brother and my dad are not the bad guys. I just feel I have gotten to know your brother through you, and he is like a brother to me now as well.
Bless you sis, let us know how it went today.
Cheers and Hugs, Cathi
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#99760 - 12/28/06 10:16 AM
Re: Not-So-Good Update on my Brother
[Re: Wisdom&Life]
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Queen of Shoes
Registered: 05/24/04
Posts: 6123
Loc: Arizona
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When my uncle was dying from cancer, he asked my mom (his sister) if this happened to him because he abused his wife. My mom told him yes. What wonderful words to hear as you're getting ready to pass. People astound me.
Eagle, you and your brother are in my thoughts today and I'll do my very best to get a card out to him.
_________________________
If it doesn't feel good, don't do it twice. www.eadv.netBoomer Queen of Shoes
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#99761 - 12/28/06 04:05 PM
Re: Not-So-Good Update on my Brother
[Re: Dianne]
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Member
Registered: 03/22/05
Posts: 4876
Loc: Canada
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Thanks Cathi. I feel a strong connection to your Dad too.
My brother's chemo was a little iffy today. His blood tests showed problems with the liver (he's been looking sallow and yellowish the past few days), so the on-call doctor was hesitant, but in the end decided to give him the chemo anyway. But we're definitely anxious to see his own doctor on Wednesday!
I didn't stay for the whole 4-hour chemo today; my other brother is staying with us this week and he stayed for the last 3 hours and then drove Gary home while I went to help my granddaughter celebrate her 6th birthday.
Dianne, I don't know why people say those kinds of things. Cancer is cancer, not divine punishment! I think God has better (more life-giving) ways to teach people any lessons He thinks they ought to know! I wouldn't be surprised if He uses the cancer to teach them about His mercy and about other GOOD things, but I can't believe that He GIVES people cancer or anything death-oriented to punish or teach people lessons. What good is learning a lesson if the person doesn't get the chance to live what he/she has learned?
Cancer doesn't differentiate who it hits. My Mom was one of the last people on earth who "deserved" to have cancer, yet she died from it. My brother has never done anything to warrant "punishment by cancer." It is what it is. Why do people feel the need to twist it (and God's love & mercy by doing so) around to become weapons of divine mass destruction!
Edited by Eagle Heart (12/28/06 04:06 PM)
_________________________
When you don't like a thing, change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
(Maya Angelou)
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#99763 - 12/28/06 10:46 PM
Re: Not-So-Good Update on my Brother
[Re: chatty lady]
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Registered: 12/14/06
Posts: 27
Loc: Kentucky
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Eagle Heart, I continue to pray for you and your brother and I'm sorry things didn't go well today. People are very narrow minded when they think God punishes us with disease and tragedy. Chatty is right they need to walk through the children's hospital and I guarantee they'll be singing a different tune. Stay strong and take each day one at a time.
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