“And He Said Unto Jesus, Lord, Remember Me, When Thou Comest Into Thy Kingdom” ~ Prayer and Blessing for My Beloved

On July 10, 2026, my brother Delano was seated at the kitchen table, feeding himself and enjoying a substantial breakfast that included cereal, sausage, a biscuit, juice, and cookies. Two days later, he collapsed when getting dressed and was placed on life support. He was suffering from pneumonia and a chemo rash that devastated his body due to an allergic reaction to cancer immunotherapy. A few days before his collapse, he expressed to his personal care worker a desire for forgiveness for his past mistreatment of family members and inquired whether God would forgive him. Fortunately, the worker was aware of scripture and assured him that God would forgive him. Many wonder why God allows personal suffering, destruction, devastation, disease, death, and utter desolation. We wonder why it is that the drunken driver lives, but the young child he ran over dies.

In spite of the assaults on my brother’s body, mind, and spirit, I am thankful that out of the ashes of his pain, came his cry to be at peace with God, the creator of the universe.  A cry that said I want to return to my maker with a clean heart and clean lips. Everyone has an end date to their life journey. I’m grateful that my brother chose to reach out to the creator.  I’ve learned that it is never too late for God who leaves the ninety-nine to go after the one lost sheep in order to return him home.

Del had been victoriously fighting kidney cancer for seven months. On July 18, we prayed and he opened his eyes, came off life support, and requested ice cream and a Coke. Praise God who alone has the power of life and death over all creation! We were grateful for the opportunity to still communicate with him and that he could breathe on his own. Unfortunately, on July 22, the doctors told the family that the ongoing treatment was making Del worse and not better. They recommended hospice care. 

We made the decision to move Del to hospice on July 23, 2026. I reminded him that he had asked God for forgiveness of his sins and I believed that just as the thief on the cross had acknowledged his sins and Jesus as the Christ, I too believed that Del would hear the same words Jesus spoke to the thief, “This day you shall be with me in paradise.” I told Del that it was okay to pass on and I planned on seeing him at home in heaven with our parents. Four days later Del passed away naturally and peacefully at 9AM on Monday, July 27, 2026.

My prayer for all mankind is that amidst their troubles, they will come to know the savior and will be among the tenth that will hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things…”

“And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me, when thou comest into thy kingdom. Then Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:42-43)

Enjoy your day, use it wisely and know that the best is yet to come! ❤️ always and forever.