My Mother-in-law

Vickie, my mother-in-law, lost her battle with cancer yesterday morning just before noon. She had been admitted to the hospital Friday because her chemo side effects were so bad, particularly her almost non-existent white blood cell count. At the time the doctors thought it was a side effect of her chemo treatment from a week previous. However, scans Sunday morning showed that the cancer had spread far beyond her liver. She had a mass in her abdomen, and they think it was in her bones, causing the low white blood cell counts. In fact, they now believe that most of the "side effects" were actually the cancer, not the chemo. However, they so closely fit the side effects - just worse - they did not find this until Sunday.

Vickie was such a special person that it is impossible to think of life without her. She was by far one of the best mothers-in-law EVER. She never treated me like an outsider, but like a daughter, and a loved one at that. She cheerfully taught me anything I wanted to learn from her, from a specific cooking skill to a sewing technique. She loved her grandchildren completely. She was always taking them for walks, playing with them, coloring with them, or whatever.

We 're all doing ok. The sadness comes in waves. Services will be Wednesday. My FIL especially is facing many challenges in the weeks ahead, as he'll also probably be selling the house as well as dealing with the normal things after a death.

Vickie was a believer, and because of God's promises, we know this means that right now she is resting in the Father's hands, cancer-free and glorified. One of her favorite hymns speaks to that, and will be sung at her funeral.

Because He Lives

God sent His son,
they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living
just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days
because He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living
just because He lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory
and I'll know He lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone!
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives!

Words: Bill & Gloria Gaither