Dear Brooke, this is a hard personal story but thank you for sharing it. No doubt there will be readers who will glean exactly what they needed to read.
May God give you comfort as you reflect . . . and a hopeful joy as you look ahead. Weekend blessings to you.
Thank you, Linda, I hope it reaches the ones that need to read it or be encouraged. So grateful for a wonderful earthly father and Heavenly Father. To God be the Glory!
This was a hard time for you and your family. It reminded me of my father. He also died from lung cancer. He must have been 63 when he retired suddenly. He’d worked building roads and sidewalks for the city of Toronto for 30 years, ever since returning to Canada after WWII. It was the 70’s. He never told us and by the time he died, it had been five years. They talked him into going to the hospital by ambulance. The doctors thought he had colon cancer so they operated and when they looked they couldn’t find anything that wasn’t covered in cancerous tumours they kept cutting all the way up and it was everywhere with ground zero being the lungs. How he lived for five years with no treatment no one could figure out. The pain must have been awful. When the doctor told him, you know you have cancer, right…my dad told him he was full of s#!t. Sheer stubbornness.
As you remember I know God is with you and bringing you comfort. You’ve inspired me to tell the story of my dad, too. Thanks 🙏🏼❤️
Thank you for your gentle words and for sharing the story of your father, Kathie. God, in his amazing ways, bring comfort and compassion to our hearts. 💕
Thank you for sharing your heart with us. I know this must’ve been so emotional to write, we can feel your pain and love through your words ❤️ what a special angel your family has watching you from heaven
Oh, my sweet Brooke! I could feel both your ache and the joy woven through your storytelling, the beauty of his memory, and your deep disdain for the c-word. I truly enjoyed your post and learning more of your story. The similarities to my own are unreal.
Brooke, thank you for sharing such a deeply personal story with so much honesty and grace. I especially felt the grief woven through your memories as I lost my mum to cancer as well (not lung cancer), and your reflections resonated deeply. I wish I could dedicate an article like this to her but I'm still finding it hard to talk about it (16 yeas later). Thank you for reminding us of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing those we love.
Ibtissam, thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. I’m so very sorry you lost your mum to cancer. It is extremely sad and heartbreaking! I’m here if you need a shoulder of support. ♥️
No longer the length of time, grief is grief. God has never forgotten an anniversary and His measure can hold the loss of your dad not being with you, your family and all his grandbabies. Holding both grief and God's goodness in one life, expands our souls to eternity.
Reading this is slightly terrifying. I smoked 12-20 but stopped when I met Christ. 37 now. I remember after being spared so many diseases having terrible panic attacks for the future damage I may yet have to face.. your father's line at the end about just as much chance is an encouragement.. and will continue to shape my prayerful life in trustful dependence that we have a God with Heaven in mind. ❤️
The minute you stopped smoking, your lungs started to heal. God made us to have amazing bodies, AJ. Do be encouraged, you have made so many good choices! 🙌
Brooke, my heart is with you, beautiful sister. I’m so sorry for your loss, and deeply grateful you’ve shared your journey here; it breathes hope and light into the difficult spaces where words often fall short. I love your heart and am thankful for the wisdom and hug🙏🏾
Thank you for your kind words, and I appreciate you, Brooke. Since Kevin’s death, I realized how crucial my faith in Jesus is. Jeremiah 29:11 gives me a lot of hope. He is my comforter❤️
THAT particular verse ministered to my heart so much after my Dad passed away. God indeed gives us a future and a hope and I clung to that promise. God never breaks a promise, Chano, keep clinging to him, my friend!
Brooke, this was such a heartfelt and beautifully written piece. The way you shared your father’s story carried so much grace and honesty. I could feel the love you have for him and the deep peace you find in your faith. Thank you for letting us see a glimpse of that love and the hope that still carries you.
Whew! Teared up on your gentle and generous comment, sweet Mandy. Thankful that what I know and feel came out in this post. Incredibly thankful for my earthly and Heavenly Father, I don’t know what my life would have looked like without them!
This was beautiful Brooke. May the Lord bless your words and grant a harvest of life and healing to all who read it. My dad and your dad might meet up around the throne!
Thank you Brooke for sharing your heart and story. I am so sorry for your loss and thankful for all the treasured memories you have of him. He must be dancing with Jesus in heaven, seeing how far and well the Lord has brought you. My love and hugs to you.
What a tragic loss at such a young age in both his and your own life. I'm so sorry for this hard story for your family. What a blessing that his hope was secure and he lived with anticipation of eternity.
I have lost from this life 2 family members, siblings, not the exact same dates. It is what happens in this world, and each emotional relationship is unique. Loss of a close personal relation is painful. Each emotional relationship is unique. I'm sorry for your situation and also impressed with your writing. Thank you.
Thank you, dear friend, I’m so sorry you have experienced the loss of family members too. Each person does leave their mark on our lives, you are right. Thank you for being so impressed with my writing as you say to become a paid subscriber, you have no idea how that encourages me. Thank you!
Dear Brooke, this is a hard personal story but thank you for sharing it. No doubt there will be readers who will glean exactly what they needed to read.
May God give you comfort as you reflect . . . and a hopeful joy as you look ahead. Weekend blessings to you.
Thank you, Linda, I hope it reaches the ones that need to read it or be encouraged. So grateful for a wonderful earthly father and Heavenly Father. To God be the Glory!
Brooke, I can hear the loss and pain in your words. I'm so very sorry for your loss and am inspired by your father's heavenly focus. <3
Thank you, Tammy. He was a great dad and I’m so grateful. He wanted everyone to know Jesus! He would be so touched by your comment, sweet friend.
This was a hard time for you and your family. It reminded me of my father. He also died from lung cancer. He must have been 63 when he retired suddenly. He’d worked building roads and sidewalks for the city of Toronto for 30 years, ever since returning to Canada after WWII. It was the 70’s. He never told us and by the time he died, it had been five years. They talked him into going to the hospital by ambulance. The doctors thought he had colon cancer so they operated and when they looked they couldn’t find anything that wasn’t covered in cancerous tumours they kept cutting all the way up and it was everywhere with ground zero being the lungs. How he lived for five years with no treatment no one could figure out. The pain must have been awful. When the doctor told him, you know you have cancer, right…my dad told him he was full of s#!t. Sheer stubbornness.
As you remember I know God is with you and bringing you comfort. You’ve inspired me to tell the story of my dad, too. Thanks 🙏🏼❤️
Thank you for your gentle words and for sharing the story of your father, Kathie. God, in his amazing ways, bring comfort and compassion to our hearts. 💕
Thank you for sharing your heart with us. I know this must’ve been so emotional to write, we can feel your pain and love through your words ❤️ what a special angel your family has watching you from heaven
Thank you, Larson, for your gentle words. He was quite a guy! It was a vulnerable one to share. Thank you for being here, sweet friend! ♥️
Oh, my sweet Brooke! I could feel both your ache and the joy woven through your storytelling, the beauty of his memory, and your deep disdain for the c-word. I truly enjoyed your post and learning more of your story. The similarities to my own are unreal.
Thank you for reading, I knew you’d see the similarities we both know so personally! We are bonded, sweet friend. To God be the glory!
Brooke, thank you for sharing such a deeply personal story with so much honesty and grace. I especially felt the grief woven through your memories as I lost my mum to cancer as well (not lung cancer), and your reflections resonated deeply. I wish I could dedicate an article like this to her but I'm still finding it hard to talk about it (16 yeas later). Thank you for reminding us of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing those we love.
Ibtissam, thank you for reading and commenting so kindly. I’m so very sorry you lost your mum to cancer. It is extremely sad and heartbreaking! I’m here if you need a shoulder of support. ♥️
Thank you so much for your kind words, Brooke ❤️
No longer the length of time, grief is grief. God has never forgotten an anniversary and His measure can hold the loss of your dad not being with you, your family and all his grandbabies. Holding both grief and God's goodness in one life, expands our souls to eternity.
Reading this is slightly terrifying. I smoked 12-20 but stopped when I met Christ. 37 now. I remember after being spared so many diseases having terrible panic attacks for the future damage I may yet have to face.. your father's line at the end about just as much chance is an encouragement.. and will continue to shape my prayerful life in trustful dependence that we have a God with Heaven in mind. ❤️
The minute you stopped smoking, your lungs started to heal. God made us to have amazing bodies, AJ. Do be encouraged, you have made so many good choices! 🙌
Brooke, my heart is with you, beautiful sister. I’m so sorry for your loss, and deeply grateful you’ve shared your journey here; it breathes hope and light into the difficult spaces where words often fall short. I love your heart and am thankful for the wisdom and hug🙏🏾
Thank you, Andrea, your words are as soothing as ever, sweet sister! ♥️
Your dad seemed like an incredible father. You honor him beautifully. Thank you for sharing your memories of him and I see you 🙏🏽
Thank you dear friend. I know you have also experienced worse than gut wrenching pain and loss in your life as well with your precious son, Kevin.
I do not know what people do in times of loss without Jesus. I’m glad you’re here now on Substack.
Thank you for your kind words, and I appreciate you, Brooke. Since Kevin’s death, I realized how crucial my faith in Jesus is. Jeremiah 29:11 gives me a lot of hope. He is my comforter❤️
THAT particular verse ministered to my heart so much after my Dad passed away. God indeed gives us a future and a hope and I clung to that promise. God never breaks a promise, Chano, keep clinging to him, my friend!
Thanks, my sweet friend, for this encouragement, as my heart always needs it.
You feel free to DM me anytime!
Brooke, this was such a heartfelt and beautifully written piece. The way you shared your father’s story carried so much grace and honesty. I could feel the love you have for him and the deep peace you find in your faith. Thank you for letting us see a glimpse of that love and the hope that still carries you.
Whew! Teared up on your gentle and generous comment, sweet Mandy. Thankful that what I know and feel came out in this post. Incredibly thankful for my earthly and Heavenly Father, I don’t know what my life would have looked like without them!
Thank you so much for being here, sweet friend!
This was beautiful Brooke. May the Lord bless your words and grant a harvest of life and healing to all who read it. My dad and your dad might meet up around the throne!
Amen and amen to all of this, sweet friend! ♥️
Thank you Brooke for sharing your heart and story. I am so sorry for your loss and thankful for all the treasured memories you have of him. He must be dancing with Jesus in heaven, seeing how far and well the Lord has brought you. My love and hugs to you.
Thank you, Obosa, for your kind and loving words upon reading this post today. Love and hugs back to you, sweet friend!
Thank you for sharing of your Dad’s story, Brooke. In encouraged by the way you share the dual realities of deep grief and profound Hope.
Thank you Ali, I cannot write this story without sharing about the hope in Jesus. Thank you for reading and commenting such a kind summary!
What a tragic loss at such a young age in both his and your own life. I'm so sorry for this hard story for your family. What a blessing that his hope was secure and he lived with anticipation of eternity.
Thank you, Mollie. Really thankful he was my Dad. ♥️
Thank you for sharing this emotional story in honor of your dad, Brooke.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Jillian.
I have lost from this life 2 family members, siblings, not the exact same dates. It is what happens in this world, and each emotional relationship is unique. Loss of a close personal relation is painful. Each emotional relationship is unique. I'm sorry for your situation and also impressed with your writing. Thank you.
Thank you, dear friend, I’m so sorry you have experienced the loss of family members too. Each person does leave their mark on our lives, you are right. Thank you for being so impressed with my writing as you say to become a paid subscriber, you have no idea how that encourages me. Thank you!