By Joni Canastraro / Print Media Designer

It’s All About Love

When my husband was first diagnosed with cancer this past February, I ran to God with everything in me. I did not ask the question “why?” I asked “what?” As my husband’s helpmate, what was my part in all of this uncertainty? As helpless as I felt, I knew God had the answer. On those cold and dark early mornings, I met the God of our universe. I learned about a love that went deeper than I could ever imagine. I learned that His love reached far beyond our tomorrows, it touched eternity. I learned that perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18) Perfect love is a love that is mature and trusts completely. As the Lord over and over revealed this truth, I found a peace that surpassed all understanding. 

“My part” was to show this love to my husband and to give him over to the Lord so that His will would be done.

In the short four months of my husband’s illness, the love of God manifested itself through our loving families, the body of Christ and many friends. I had never experienced such incredible love. We were never alone on our journey.

I felt the Lord’s presence as I held my husband’s hand in those final moments. I sang to him the words to a song my mother used to sing “I’ll stand, I’ll stand in awe of You, Holy God to Whom all praise is due, I’ll stand in awe of You.” The very second I finished, Lou breathed his last breath here on earth and was standing in awe of the One who created him and called him by name. In some ways, part of me went with him. Heaven has never felt so real, so close.

Even though I never imagined my life making this sudden and incomprehensible turn, I know the One who met me on those cold winter mornings loves me and my children beyond measure and will love us and lead us into eternity.

“For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” Psalm 108:4

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