A Friend for the Journey

Rummaging through Kathyrn's wardrobe to organise her clothes, stacked on the shelves I came across a little booklet that I bought for her not too long ago entitled, ''Trusting God When you have Cancer - Help and Hope for the Road Ahead". This book is a compilation of letters of encouragement written by one person who was afflicted with cancer to another with the same challenge.

I realise that all of us walk our journey in life needing a friend along the way. For many that were battling with different types of cancer that we met along the way, perhaps Kathryn had been that kind of a friend to them. She was an inspiration, a person they could relate to, to consult, and to share. Kathryn and I have also been blessed to know those of you who called us up or who were introduced to us by others, some from the Elpizo cancer support group and many others through friends that knew of our journey. You have also been an encouragement to her just as much as she has been to you.

We ourselves struggled at points in our own journey as we looked for some guiding hand, for someone that might have gone before along this road less travelled. O, had there been some landmarks, signposts or directions that we could perhaps see to point us to the way ahead!

I remember feeling elated when we hear about stories of healing from cancer and stories of good response to treatment for some of our friends. There are those that had successfully survived beyond the critical periods. I also remember times when we had to put on a stoic front as we battled emotions on hearing of friends that had fallen along the way knowing that we remain vulnerable as well. Yet the journey continues.

You have also lost a friend for the journey and so have I, a dear one. At the same time, I know that with me there is always another friend, the everlasting friend to continue walking this journey with. What a friend we have in Jesus.



Your friend,

Mark