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Posted on 11/17/2004 6:57:42 AM PST by jrhepfer
A long time lurker and 3 year Freeper is in his last days. Freeper "kixx" known as Chip to his friends will draw his last breath in the next few days after fighting spreading lung cancer. I'm going to pass along an e-mail he wrote to my family (addressed to my wife Kim) just a few days ago when he was still alert and able to read/send e-mail.
Please pray for Chip's comfort in these last days. FreeRepublic was his home on the internet and gave him so much hope!
The little girl he speaks of in the e-mail below is my daughter.
God Bless,
Jim ---------------------------------- Kim, If I had to, I would dedicate all the time I have left re-assuring my friends that all will be okay. The saddest part of this for me is the sadness that I will eventually bring to my friends and family. I can only hope that this sadness will be a short-lived one as everyone realizes that I have gone on to a better place. A place I expect to see all my friends again one day except that I'll have a hard time recognizing any of you since you'll all be old and hunched over by then. :-)
I am at peace with my situation. A peace developed by seemingly unrelated events of the past couple of years. A peace brought on by a journey back to God undertaken years before, almost without my realizing it. Some of the "unrelated" events that brought me to this place were: Country music, 9-11, the presidential election of 2000, the act of forgiving, removing "poisonous" relationships from my life, gravitating toward like-minded, family-values friends, and culminating in the profound affect a little girl with cancer has had on one man's life.
And that very last one was the most important. Everything before got me on the road back to God. Rhiannah put me on that road for good. I had already come full circle, from my Christian youth, through my rebellious and doubting 20's and 30's, and back to believer. But Rhiannah's cancer diagnosis pushed me to the point where I had to put ALL my faith in God and Jesus.
There was no way I could allow my heart to believe that this little girl was not going to make it. And I prayed accordingly. I let God know that I truly believed that Rhiannah's cancer was, indeed, a temporary thing. And to this day, when I tell you I truly believe Rhiannah is cured, now and forever, its only because I know its so.
Little did I know, as I lay in bed at night praying for Rhiannah, that this little girl was already paving the road that would eventually lead her "Uncle Chip" to heaven. Long before I ever thought I would have a need for it. So, thanks to my little hero, when the news came that my time on earth was quickly fading, I was ready. I had the faith that everything was safe in God's hands, I had a peace overcome me that could only come from a divine source, and I'm assured that my sins have been forgiven and paid for.
I also trust that there is a purpose for my cancer. Maybe not, I don't know. But if there is a purpose for me being here at this time then I guess I'll be around till that purpose is fulfilled. Until then I'll just do what I did a few years back, put it all in God's hands and not worry about it.
My biggest regret through all of this is the trouble I've been putting my friends through. I also regret that day when so many will grieve my death. I've never thought of myself as a very significant person and if were to able to watch it all from the next life I know my reaction would be "What's all the fuss about?"
I hope this sets your heart and mind at ease.
I'll talk to you later, Chip
Prayers...
He "never thought of [himself] as very significant," but now he is! Praise God! We are honored to share in this special time of transition for a sweet, loving soul. God bless you, Chip. God bless your family and friends.
God Bless.
In my thoughts and prayers as well as wishing Rhiannah good health.
Prayers on the way!
How wonderful that you have so selflessly shared this part of your life with us. Certainly your life along with the lives of your wife and daughter are so much richer for having a friend like Chip. I ran across this poem that just seems to have been written with Chip in mind, and I would like to share it with such wonderful people who have been so blessed to have such a wonderful friend. Although I will pray for Chip, his family and yours as well, I feel that he already has been blessed by the hand of God.
For Chip:
Before I Go
When my life has reached it's very end,
And I take that final breath,
I want to know I've left behind,
Some "good" before my death.
I hope that in my final hour,
In all honesty I can say,
That somewhere in my lifetime,
I have brightened someone's day.
That maybe I have brought a smile
To someone else's face,
And made one moment a little sweeter,
While they dwelled here in this place.
Lord, please be my reminder
And whisper softly in my ear...
To be a "giver", not a "taker",
In the years I have left here.
Give to me the strength I need,
Open up my mind and my soul.
That I might show sincere compassion,
And love to others before I go.
For if not a heart be touched by me,
And not a smile was left behind...
Then the life that I am blessed with,
Will have been a waste of time.
With all my heart, I truly hope,
To leave something here on earth.
That touched another, made them smile
And gave to my life ... worth.
For Chip's family and friends:
Dear Father, as Chip's time on this earth draws to a close, guide him as only you can to the light, the glorious light which shines his way to you. Take him in your loving arms and heal him of his long and suffering ills that he may find Grace and Glory in you. Comfort him as he suffers heavy sorrow at leaving his loved ones behind, help him that he may come to know that by your Grace, Glory and Love that he will one day rejoice in the great reunion with his loved ones. Our Father wrap your loving arms around Chip's loved ones as they walk the long and difficult journey that lay before them, comfort them that they may rise from the pain of this difficult journey and rejoice in their love and memories of your very special child, Chip. Be with them Lord, that they may find peace in the knowledge and faith that one day they too will come home to you. In Jesus name Amen.
I'm Free
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God laid for me.
I took His hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared a laugh, a kiss;
Ah yes, these things, I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.
Perhaps my time seems all to brief;
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wanted me now, He set me free.
God bless him.
Prayers for Chip and his family.
Please notify me via FReepmail if you would like to be added to or taken off the Prayer Ping List.
Please post your prayers to kixx;
Prayers, and God's comfort.
Words of Hope and Peace indeed. What a courageous and selfless man.
I was just talking of death tonight with a friend who's game plan at present is to beat his Dad by living past 56. He's hoping he can make it three years, anyway. Although he may not have the faith in God of Kixx, they certainly have the same attitude.
(Ever hopeful)
Thank you for this witness to the Christian commission which is hope and the selflessness of a man whose only thoughts at such a time are wondering how he might spare others any grief over his death.
God bless you all ... especially the little one he loves so well.
I lost two uncles to cancer. My condolences.
My dear Lord, have mercy on Your servant.
What a great letter. Very touching.
Rest assured that God has total sovereignty over birth and death and they are always according to His will and His time. Once you understand that, the peace that passes all understanding is attainable.
Those were the last words I said to my Dad before he died of cancer last June when he too could no longer talk back to me.
I thank the Lord for the drugs that helped him in that last week to tolerate the process of leaving his earthly vessal to go live with Jesus.
Prayers going up for a faithful FReeper. He will soon be free of all the pain and suffering, and will be in the arms of Jesus. From that heavenly place, he can ask for favors for all of us down here, who are still struggling on our way home.
I love the way the Communion of Saints works.
God bless you, Chip
Correction: Chip IS TEACHING us about faith. I forwarded this to my Devotion email list. It's a wonderful testimony about the power of one man and his ability to show Christ to the world around him.
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