Posted on 03/24/2013 12:07:58 AM PDT by proud American in Canada
Hi, everyone.
I hesitated to do this, because I know it's not right to post and run. However, I will check this thread first thing in the morning and reply. because I'm going to try to get some sleep. I just was hoping for some prayers sent out for my ten year-old nephew who died today.
He had cancer, which spread to from his adrenal gland to his lungs, then to his brain. My sister, who lives in Wisconsin, called the ambulance yesterday; James slipped into a coma, which I learned early this a.m. At around 3, our family spoke to him (my husband, my daughter and son, and myself) to wish him goodbye. He died about 30 minutes later.
She called me at around 6 to tell me; I had some work to do at 6:30, which is unimportant.
At this point, I feel that my faith is a little shaken. I wear a Cross every day, and I was praying for him. Now I wonder, where is he? I felt so sure before, that the soul lives on, but now I don't know. And what can I do for my sister? She lives so far away.
Anyway, I felt I had to reach out, even though I am exhausted. I will try to sleep, and will reply tomorrow. I guess I'm asking now if for prayers for a ten year-old boy who will never know what's it's like to fall in love and have a family.
I don't understand why God takes the innocent.
Julie
I will pray for his soul and for his family at Mass today.
Prayers going up and cyber hugs going out to you and your family. As your nephew suffered through this disease he was figuratively on the Cross holding onto Christ so your wearing the Cross through this has much meaning for all of us reading - you are bringing all of us closer to Him. God has taken all your nephew’s suffering and has turned it into His Love showering down on all the world for the forgiveness of sin. It is unbearable to see such young ones and those we love go through this, unbearable except for the support and the Love of family and friends through which God heals our hearts along the best medicine, his Mercy and Grace.
I cannot understand the loss of an innocent child, either. But I believe children like your nephew are very special, here to teach the rest of us compassion and love, giving more to the world in their short time here than most of us do in a longer lifetime, and now resting comfortably in the arms of the Lord. Deepest condolences, Julie, to you and your nephew’s family. Please don’t feel that you have to respond to this post. Your nephew, you, and the family will be in our prayers today.
My prayers are with you and your family. I am so sorry for your loss.
With deepest sympathy,
Gandalf the Gray
No, life on earth is not the best thing God has to offer us; heaven is. In the case of a beautiful young child like this, his death on earth is not God's punishment. Instead, God welcomes him quickly into heaven, where there is no weeping or pain, only love and perfect joy.
You say that your faith is shaken, and this is natural--you and your poor dear sister did not get what you asked God for. You prayed that Jamie would be cured, and God's answer was "Not on this earth, not now. He will join Me in heaven and will be cured there. He will be spared the travails of life on earth." In our pain, we often shriek to God, demanding and accusing Him. That's OK; He understands, and He can take it. Yet God is not an ATM who gives us whatever we ask, if we do it in the right way, or hard enough, or often enough, or if we round up enough people to join our prayers. We can't understand why He sometimes says No, and we must wait until we too are in heaven, rejoicing with the loved ones who went before us, before we learn His reasons.
The consolation, if you are a Christian, is that yes, we will someday rejoice in heaven with the loved ones who went there before us. It's a long, exasperating wait until then, but for some reason the Lord keeps some of us here longer, working in His service and learning His lessons, until we have done everything He wants us to do (or until we've had every chance to do so). Then you and your sister and your brother-in-law will be with this child again. If the desire to spend eternity in heaven with Christ isn't enough to motivate us to devote ourselves to Him, surely the hope of seeing our loved ones again is!
Until that happy day, let me tell you a secret: other Christians may disagree, but I believe--I know-- that in many cases, the dead will visit us before they go away. They may come in dreams or they may appear in the darkness while we are awake (not appearing to our eyes, but to other senses that have no names). Wait, listen, attend, and pray, and if it is permitted, you may have the comfort of some little sign of love from your nephew.
Dear Julie,
It’s normal to question everything when something like this happens. But I truly believe your nephew is at peace in heaven now, with God and the angels and saints and those of your family who have gone before.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s OK, of course this totally s*cks. Please give our condolences to your poor sister and her family.
I’ll remember you and your nephew and family in my prayers.
Very, very sad.
Jessica
My condolences to you and your family on your loss. May the young man rest in peace.
Prayers up for James and his loved ones. May the Good Lord grant peace to those here.
My heart hurts for your loss and for your confusion that you feel toward God. We live in a fallen world; however, God does not hold a 10-year-old accountable for salvation. He has saved your nephew, and that little guy is experiencing heaven even as you read this. I know that you prayed and prayed over him and that you wanted him made well. God wanted him well also. When we get to heaven, we will find out the answers to the “why” questions. For now, we must trust Him. It is the only way. May His comfort surround you and your nephew’s immediate family. The temptation will be to be angry with God and to stop talking to Him. I urge you to pour out your anguish upon Him. He is big enough to take it and can certainly understand how one feels when a loved one suffers and dies. God bless you.
I’m so sorry to hear about your nephew. May his spirit be with God, and may God comfort you. I believe your nephew is in Heaven, and I wish I understood why God allows things like this to happen. The only conclusion I can come to is that God has a plan, and it’s ultimately a fallen world because of sin. There will be suffering in this world, but if we live right, there won’t be in the next. The next is what matters because the next is eternal. I say these words to you, but I know they are far easier said than understood and lived when you’re in the situation you’re in.
Here is a song that is very comforting for the loss of a loved one, especially one who seems to have gone before his time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-hJ87ApWtw
This second song I have listened to this past week because we had to put our cat, who was a member of the family, down Tuesday after a brief but horrible illness claimed her too soon. It comforts me, and I believe it will bring you and your sister comfort:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8q_7iVQF0w
Terrible news. Prayers for you and your family.
I am so sorry for your loss. And...it is heaven’s gain so it’s not over for your nephew’s existence and you will see him again.
I will be praying for you and your family.
Lord Jesus, rest the soul of the innocent young man with the saints and comfort his family.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen.
You are as close to your sister as the telephone. I would let her know she can call at any hour and I would check on her by phone several times a day. My suggestion for regaining faith is prayer and meditation. There have been days in my own life when I have dropped to my knees at least once every waking hour, sometimes in an office cloak room. God will clarify everything in time. Though your nephew is beyond earthly cares you can visualize him with your every act of kindness and love.
Julie, I am so sorry for your loss. I know that sometimes I will start missing someone so much, that I just ask Jesus to give them a hug for me. It makes me feel better.
Prayers for you and the family! So sorry...
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