The following is a post by my wonderful wife, Heather, commemorating her fist husband’s death.

It is hard to believe that James has been gone that long. His children are young adults now. David is married and Allison is in college. They were both babes when he was taken home.

It was the morning James passed away. I didn’t know how I was going to tell them. We walked out to the swing James had given me a few days earlier on my birthday. We sat down and swung for a bit, Allison in my lap and David snuggled close to my side. I said, “Dad went home this morning. He went to see Jesus.” Allison silent. David says, “Dad’s dead?” I, “yes,” with tears dripping. David says, “can Jesus or one of the disciples make him alive again?” What faith from this little one of 8 years old, I thought to myself.

God is answering James prayers and has made his children born again Christians. Once James became a Christian, he had one desire – for his children to be strong, faithful, loving Christians. They are on that path.

We have had deaths and diagnosis’ of family and friends that have touched my heart recently. It has also reminded me of how I felt when James was diagnosed and ultimately lost his battle with cancer. It has also reminded me this earth is not our final destination. God has blessed each of us with all the things we have and people we love here. He has also prepared for us our final home in heaven that is more than anything we could imagine!

Jesus tells us in John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”! (John 16:33 NLT) There may never be a cure for cancer or any of the other dreaded diseases, but we have the complete cure for our physical, emotional, and spiritual lives. God’s love given to us by his son! Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9

There is not a day that goes by James is not missed but we are comforted and have peace knowing he has reached his final home.