In about an hour, after I shower and get myself ready for the day, I will be putting on the only suit I own these days. With most of the business world and our church having gone "casual," I rarely wear a suit or even a tie anymore. About the only times I wear a suit are if I have a formal dinner to attend or speech to give or if I have a funeral home or funeral visitation to go to. Unfortunately, today is for the latter.

It seems like I have been putting on my suit more often than normal in recent months and, unfortunately, it's been for the latter reason a few of those times. This time it's due to the death of the mother of a good friend of Lisa's, who has also become a good friend of mine over the years. Her mom has really struggled with health issues for several years though she has done remarkably well. She was diagnosed with bone cancer about seven years ago I guess. Her husband had died of cancer (stomach I believe) a few years prior to that.

It's hard to see our generation's parents passing away. I am preferring to remember what things were like 20 years ago when our friend's parents were both living and I visted them a couple of times on their rural farm where they were both very much in their element and quite happy. Health problems, and especially cancer, can change things so quickly.

I will be praying that God will hold hard to our friend and her family during this tough time, that they will feel His love enveloping them from all angles, and that they will know that her parents are in heaven, enjoying not only each other's company but the company and the glory of our saviour as well. That is the comfort that can come from times like this.

Just the same, though, I will also be praying that I will not have to put on my suit again in the near future.