We often think of grief as a response to death, but grief comes from other losses too. Families facing a young parent’s illness grieve the loss of health, loss of finances, loss of productivity, loss of relationships, loss of opportunities, loss of future plans, even the loss of hope. Their grief and their illness make them feel isolated. Renowned preacher Thomas Long describes such grief as “living in a land where nobody speaks your language.”
I have been volunteering for Inheritance of Hope for almost four years. In those years of witnessing amazing moments, my eyes have been opened to the significance of support and encouragement. I want to focus on the loving assistance that we volunteers strive to accomplish for these families living with a parent who has a life-threatening illness.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:35, 37-39
March 18 of this year would have been Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan’s 40th birthday. Though something about that number creates discomfort for those reaching it, Kristen was not the sort of person to be bothered by a number. I know I am not alone in wishing that she had reached that milestone and many more. Some people joke that they are “39 and holding” rather than
February is sometimes referred to as the month of love. We celebrate Valentine’s Day and there are many reminders to spend time with our loved ones. As an Inheritance of Hope volunteer, I recently saw an amazing amount of love at the January Legacy Retreat®. The families were able to have fun and enjoy time together. The volunteers loved by joining the fun and serving the families, walking with them through the difficulties of their illnesses. Each of us needs someone to walk beside us in every circumstance in our life – to love us in the good times and in the hard times. Jesus promises to be with us through every circumstance of our life. In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” We don’t use yokes much anymore, but they were wooden bars that joined two oxen together while plowing a field. Often a stronger ox would be yoked with a weaker ox, thus making the shared burden easier for the weaker one to carry. Jesus is telling us that He will be beside us sharing the burden, helping us when we are too tired and the load is too heavy. I love this image of Jesus walking beside us, helping carry our burdens. I often needlessly carry my own burdens – not just physical burdens, but emotional burdens as well. Jesus promises rest for our souls, and often that is the rest I need the most. This is one way that Jesus spends time with His loved ones.
Dana (right) serving at a Legacy Retreat® in Orlando.
Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan died on October 26, 2012. The following is part of a Bible study series she wrote. If your church, Bible study, team, or group has interest in experiencing together this study from Kristen's unique perspective as a nine-year cancer survivor, simply contact aaron@InheritanceOfHope.org.
My plan for each week is for you to have four days of study and one day set aside for prayer or to catch up on a day missed. Perhaps this could be the day of a longer run. With three young children, our home is rarely quiet. I have recently
Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan died on October 26. The following is part of a Bible study series she wrote. If your church, Bible study, team, or group has interest in experiencing together this study from Kristen's unique perspective as a nine-year cancer survivor, simply contact aaron@InheritanceOfHope.org.
It is said that if Jesus had not used Lazarus’ name when he called him from the grave,
Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan died on October 26. The following is part of a Bible study series she wrote. If your church, Bible study, team, or group has interest in experiencing together this study from Kristen's unique perspective as a nine-year cancer survivor, simply contact aaron@InheritanceOfHope.org.
We will continue our study of strength in weakness by focusing on the character Gideon, the fifth judge chosen by God to defeat the enemies of Israel in the Book of Judges. Gideon was a man of undisputed weakness. He was the youngest, or weakest, member of the weakest family in the weakest tribe of Israel. It could be argued that he was indeed the weakest man in all of Israel. But it is this man that God chose to
Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan died on October 26. The following is part of a Bible study series she wrote. If your church, Bible study, team, or group has interest in experiencing together this study from Kristen's unique perspective as a nine-year cancer survivor, simply contact aaron@InheritanceOfHope.org.
As I felt led to run a marathon, I looked into the training program that was suggested by our wise Team IoH leader, Lisa, and I quickly realized that the training itself was far from my reach. The first week began with a five mile trek, and I was having difficulty walking down the driveway.
The following is part of Inheritance of Hope co-founder Kristen Milligan's Bible study series. If your church, Bible study, team, or group has interest in experiencing together this study from Kristen's unique perspective as a nine-year cancer survivor, simply contact Aaron@InheritanceOfHope.org.
I have come across many people in the past several years who talk excitedly about a very exclusive club -- the Cancer Club. There is no ID card or dues expected when you are a member of this club. There are no official meetings, no speakers, no banquets. The only requirement to join is an unexpected and dreaded diagnosis. It is, in essence, an imaginary club with very real members. Members who are hurting and afraid.
I have always found talk about this club a bit odd. I was resistant to joining, but apparently once you qualify you have no choice.
