On Wednesday, August 16, 2000, my family and I found out that my dad had cancer of the abdomen. The doctors said the cancer was so advanced that chemotherapy and other treatments couldn’t help him. They also said that he had three or four months to live, 12 months at the most.

From that day on, we saw my dad’s health go downhill. He got sicker and sicker. Then at 4:45 a.m. on Tuesday, November 14, 2000, he stopped breathing and went to be with God.

During those last three months, my dad and I had some really good times together. We talked a lot about heaven. My dad loved God a lot. He was the pastor of our church. He touched a lot of people’s lives. His being sick brought me closer to Mum and a lot closer to God.

Now I carry some cards with me with verses on them. One of my favorites is Nahum 1:7: "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him." I look at them when I’m sad, and they help me to trust in the Lord. I know now that my dad really was a gift from God.

Clare, 12
Australia

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