Meet Tom (he's the one on the left in the photo above).
This is Tom's family.
I have been struggling with what to write for this blog about Tom and his family portrait shoot from last Saturday. In a lot of ways it was just a normal family portrait session. But in one particular way, this was definitely not a normal photo shoot.
Tom was just diagnosed with a very rare, very inoperable form of cancer.
So Tom's four kids, and their spouses and kids, came home from 3 separate states to be together.
"Why me, God?" Such an easy, understandable lament to such a grim diagnosis. And while talking to Tom, he said just that. But when Tom said it, it wasn't out of despair. It was out of praise. "Why me, God?" He said it quietly, like he says most things. "Who am I to be so blessed?"
He went on to mention the fact that so many have heart attacks or strokes and pass away unexpectedly. With quiet, genuine awe and humility, Tom doesn't question why God would give him this disease. He praises God who has blessed him with the chance to be surrounded by his family before joining Him in Heaven.
"For me, it's a win-win," he said. Being with his earthly family or his heavenly Father.
Listening to Tom was extraordinarily moving. It has left me shaken. In a good way. So I wanted try to share that with you.
But words are such meager things. Sometimes they just fall short.
Which is why I have been struggling with what to write.
