BLOG

Far Too Frequent Emails?

Some of the Men Are in the Reflection
Some of the Men Are in the Reflection

The servant leader of a Men’s group I belong to, Ralph sent this email request:

I am asking for your prayers for one of my colleagues, Dan Mastrone. He’ll be 39 tomorrow (Dec. 2). Last October, Dan was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer. Doctors found 20 lesions on his brain, liver, bone, bone marrow, and lymphatic system.

You can imagine the devastating news that Dan and his family received.

Since then, Dan has undergone 10 rounds of whole brain radiation and numerous chemo treatments. Today, Dan appears to have kept the areas, except for his lung, from having further metastasis. However, some fluid that he had in his lung, now appears to be solidifying and this is now becoming a solid tumor.

We all know the power behind a faithful, praying community and that is why I turn to you, my dear brothers (and sisters).

Dan also has a website on Caring Bridge at www.caringbridge.com and if you enter his name in one word – danmastrone it should take you to his sight. Let’s give him some encouragement and remind him and his family, that there is NOTHING that is impossible to our God – NOTHING!!!!

Thank you Ralph for giving all of us the opportunity to help Dan.

Next Blog

Hollywood, That Is Love

Movies By The Mouse
Movies By The Mouse

Some people close to us live a love life like a movie script. The script that balances the ups and downs, but focuses on the ups while never sugar-coating the downs. here’s a perfect example…

My friend, Patty Hebert returns to offer a great example of what Love really is.

Movies, especially those not produced by The Mouse, flood the media and bombard our senses with their own branding of love. In many, like the 1999 remake of the Thomas Crown Affair, love’s passion is drunken, explosive, violent and pushing the envelope on abusive. And if we buy into these ideals and believe in alcohol pouring off of cleared off tables and embraces met and returned on cold marble stairs, then we are setting ourselves up for catastrophic failure. For when the glass and alcohol are cleaned up; what’s left?

As my husband and I grow older together, I am reminded of my grandparents, who shared a worldly love for over 65 years. Better than the movies, in daily living color, they lived the tenet that love is a decision and a promise made to each other. It’s not glamorous or wrapped up in fine arts, jewels or fast cars, but instead it is subtle and keep alive with daily small, almost hidden, acts of kindness. And yes, my grandparents had their moments, like all couples. But their promise to each other enabled them to put their differences aside, and find the solution that would bring them back together.

Later in life, when my grandparents required more care, they moved in with my aunt and uncle, and there, I got to witness the most profound gift of their love. Each and every evening, when they were tucked into bed, as they fell asleep, my grandparents held hands. Just as in the day, whatever the night time brought, they would face it together. Hollywood, that is love.

Next Blog