I was deeply moved by an update from the wife of a friend and fellow librarian, in which she wrote today that:

“I do not know exactly what to say. We are in the Valley.

These are holy moments. The Lord is near.

John is exhausted from fighting the disease and an infection.

John gave me a blessing this afternoon. I was sobbing too hard to hear all of it. I am hoping Stewart and Katherine will remember the details.

Thank you for your companionship and prayers. We are all one in the Lord.

Blessings, dear friends, Margie”

and she also wrote:

“Tonight John came up and took each child in his hands. He prayed for them and blessed them.

Josiah didn’t know what was going on and just wanted me to hold him. Charlotte said, “Is Daddy going to die tonight?” “I don’t know, Charlotte. I don’t know.” Charlotte cried and cried.

Then she stood behind me and buried her head in my back. And then she dried her tears and went to her “treasures.” She said, “I am getting Daddy a gift.” She brought John a beautiful wooden box. Inside she placed a shell, a pink pearl bead and an acorn. “Keep this with you, Daddy. Keep this right by your bed.” John said, “How precious Charlotte. How beautiful.” He took it and put it right by his bed.

And then we told Charlotte again the story of how Daddy held her right when she was born and said, “I love you Charlotte. I’ve always loved you.” She said, “And then he opened up his shirt and put me on his chest.” That’s right my dear. You have always been close to Daddy’s heart.”

John has been fighting a resurgence of cancer for several months and has been close to death on more than one occasion. But from the sound of this most recent update, it does appear that indeed the Lord is near.

I don’t know John really well but I know enough of him and about him, and about his wife and family, to love them very much in Christian love. I have been so incredibly impressed by their great faith and love for God in the midst of extreme difficulty. Ever since hearing about his renewed cancer battle I have been praying for him, for Margie his wife, and for Charlotte (I think she is about four or five years of age) and Josiah (I think he is about two years old).

Would you please pray for them now as well?