I listened to this podcast and reflected on the scripture, thinking back over the past few months. When I learned in December that my youngest brother had terminal, end-stage cancer which riddled his brain, lungs, spine, and hips I found it hard to accept. I had just lost my other brother in August! I felt helpless. I prayed. I asked others to pray. When the Holy Spirit spoke to me “this is the way…walk in it,” I had no idea exactly what “the way” was but I followed. I felt prompted to go to my brother’s house and help out in any way I could. I drove him and his wife to and from radiation treatments, shopped for and cooked food, washed clothes, whatever needed doing, I did it to the best of my ability. The very day my brother was finished with radiation he had another seizure upon arriving home. He was taken by ambulance back to the hospital and released the next day, referred to hospice care, paralyzed on his left side. I tried to provide encouragement to them all, my brother, his wife, his son, and daughter. My heart was burdened by the belief that my brother had never accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. I prayed unceasingly for God to lead and guide me, to give me the words my brother needed to hear. The Saturday before I left to go home for a few days, I shared my personal testimony with him and told him that if he had not made a decision to give his life to Jesus, it was never too late. No matter what he may have done, or didn’t do, God had always loved him and he need only ask forgiveness. He didn’t say anything but I knew he was pondering in heart all that I had said. That night he and his wife told me that he wanted the pastor from the church across the road from where they lived to come over Sunday after church services ended and pray with him. I was slightly disappointed that the minister would not pray with my brother until he had walked him through the plan of salvation (Southern Baptist!) and I sat praying the entire time that my brother would not be discouraged by this. He made a profession of faith by simply saying, “The Lord has told me my time here is short. I know I’ve done things I shouldn’t have, and didn’t do things I should have, and I regret that. I can’t do anything about that now except ask forgiveness and let everyone know.” We all prayed and I was undone.

In the days to follow, my brother would get weaker and sicker until he drew his last breath. When he did, I was sitting beside him, praying and listening to Christian music softly playing in the background. I felt a hush fall around me, a stillness that stilled my heart. He was gone. I closed his eyes and wept. Glory Hallelujah! The next few days were chaotic making funeral arrangements, etc., but I can testify that God went before me, was beside me, and never left me for one second! I can’t really write with the depth of emotion I have felt, but I know without a doubt that I went where the Lord sent me and did the hard and holy work of His hands.

I stayed on until my brother’s daughter delivered her baby girl and finally came home. This is actually the first time I have written about it to this extent. Maybe God has a reason for that as well. I Am Beloved! His banner is over me! Walk in this way…I surely will!