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
Praying for Chip's comfort and for his friends and family.
Prayers for Chip and his family.
What a brave man! In his last moments, he's more concerned about people that he loves than himself.
"One of the many reasons im trying to quit smoking."
One of the many reasons I have been smoke free for almost a whole year. I never thought I was a strong enough person to quit smoking....and even today, I don't really know how I did it. Perhaps some heavenly intervention?
God Bless Chip, his family and friends, and God Bless you, your wife and your daughter.
Prayers big time .....sounds as though he is at peace which is a wonderful thing.
How blessed you are, Chip. Someday we will meet.
God bless both of you and your families. Prayers from ours to yours.
Prayers to you all, friends.
Prayers for Chips comfort.....
What a beautiful letter. It's a testament to his character that he spends his last days thinking of others as shown here. Prayers being sent for Chip and his family and friends for comfort. The Peace of the Lord be with them.
Prayers sent for Chip and his family. May God Bless and Keep them in his loving arms.
I've been smoking for fifteen years and trying to quit for the last seven. Never quit trying! We'll beat it someday.
*
God Bless you on your journey, and may he be with your family and friends through this transition.
God bless him, Rhiannah, and both their families. My grandmother went thru cancer and it was heart rending to watch her slip away, day by day.
Chip, you are my hero. You are an inspiration to those of us who battle chronic illness every day of their lives. Thank you for your letter. May God's favorite angels come to escort you to Heaven! We love you. Maryxxx
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