Catholic Fundamentalism received a post from a non-Catholic that is very worthy of consideration. A non-Catholic approach. From Joni Knudson Brost.
“I decided to interview my mom, her name is Joni, she is 54 years old, she is retired, and she was a buyer for a store for many years. My mom is funny, a little scattered brained at times and loves to read. She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in October of 2010, the doctors told her she has 2 to 4 years to live. My mom said she doesn’t care what the doctors say; only God knows how many footsteps we have on this earth.
My mom describes her faith as a personal relationship with Christ who is her Lord and Savior; she believes what the Bible says and trusts Christ with her life and his plan for her. She believes that her cancer is a way to bring others to Christ and spreads the Gospel whenever she can. When she was in high school she lived in the here and now, which in the big picture was a waste of time. As an adult she lives for Christ and tries to live as he has called her to live. She admits she is not perfect and will never be perfect. She studies the Bible and prays and worships at our church and has fellowship with other believers of Christ.
She answered “Faith is like a candle, when you let it shine others will want to know what keeps it lit.”
In describing God she says he is the creator, the Alpha and Omega, He is in control of all things, he knows her inside and out and is secure in his hands and she knows he loves her dearly, and He wants her to live for him.
What feeds my mom’s spirituality is her relationship with God as I described before.
My mom says if she did not have this relationship with Christ, she does not think she would have been able to handle the cancer diagnosis, she says he is always near for her to voice her fears and concerns and he comforts her. She has run into so many people that she has been able to share her faith with since her cancer diagnosis. Since her diagnosis her faith has never wavered, though at times I have seen her cry, but only for a moment or two. She says that crying is God’s built in stress reliever.
She’s says faith is believing in the unseen, believing Christ is who he says he is and believing in the promises he give us in his Word, and following him. It is definitely the road less traveled but will lead the greatest reward…….because no matter who you are; you will meet God one day. So for my mom the meaning of life is to live for our Lord and Savior and not follow the way of the world but to live for Christ and bring others to know Christ. And when he calls her home she hopes he will say “well done good and faithful servant.”
Joni, God bless you and your family. It’s a blessing to all of us that your son, and his wonderful school, recognized the power of your faith and encouraged your son to share his account of it.
All the best, CF.
