2 years

It's hard to believe it has been two years since Dale passed away.  What seems so vivid in my mind has gone so fast.  However, all the changes in our family are evidence to how much things do really change and how much time continues to chug forward.

This past weekend we were at Brian's mom's house celebrating Easter  (Joy has now remarried and we are blessed with a Godly stepfather, Craig).  Joy announced that she had something to share with us and please would we gather all around.

Joy proceeded to tell us that a man from their church, Bob West, wrote about Dale in his latest book.  I want to quote some of what he said as the way to easily explain so many of our thoughts surrounding Dale's diagnosis and death:

"I've seen different believers face death and say with the apostle Paul, "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21).  Most recently, I watched my friend Dale battle cancer for five months before dying in April...
Dale and I attended the same church, where I serve as a Bible teacher.  Toward the end of his fifty-two years, as I visited him in the hospital, Dale became the Teacher and I the student-- He taught me how to die with peace, speaking of trusting God's plan for His life.  Facing the prospect of imminent death, Dale was thoughtful about the things of God. "This is the life God gave me and I have to live it," he said.  Joy says Dale's attitude helped prepare family members for his passing.
On Dale's last good day he said, "What I'm going through is nothing compared to what Jesus did at the cross." Today his headstone bears the inscription "Romans 8"-- which includes the encouraging truth that nothing "shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (verse 39)."

What an awesome tribute to Dale!  We have never met Bob, but we are thankful for him sharing Dale's testimony.  Joy was right, Dale's level of peace and faith helped ALL of us through a very trying time.

I haven't talked about this with most, but Dale and I lost time.  There was a issue that created (sadly) a lot of drama and bad feelings for over 2 years!  As Dale lay dying, we had to apologize to each other for this lost time and bitterness we had both had at some point.  I cried as I told him that there were no bad feelings anymore.  I feel a need to share this right now because if you are harboring pain or having issues with a family member, I pray that you will talk to them with a loving heart and forgive them.  Life is too short and precious!!  And second, I often think of how we don't approach God because we think we have done too much, are too bitter, or are too backslidden....well, that's the best time to approach God and repent.  He can and will wipe the slate clean! 

This is the book by Robert M West:

Here is the link to Amazon.