A letter to Glory

Dear Richard and Alice, 
I talked to Alvin about Glory just last week when Sophie was in town here in Hong Kong. Alvin told me that he has prayed for Glory since sometimes ago. I prayed for Glory from time to time although I didn't really know Glory or her parents. Then I got a mail from you guys asking us to pray for Glory. Just when I thought God might intervene, I got the news that Glory has been received into the GLORY of our Lord.  
As I sat here reading the past 2 weeks of Glory and the comments, a prayer of Michel Quoist came to my mind, and I would like to share that with you: 
My friend died last night Lord, his life (her life) ebbing away,
fighting the cancer to the very end, with his (her) family and a caring medical team
 
I am not saying Lord: since this is what you wanted,
may your will be done;
and still less am I saying: may your holy will be done
But I am telling you, very quietly...very quietly...
because so many people will never understand,
I am telling you Lord, that my friend died...
and you could do nothing about it;
you couldn't do what I so desperately longed for,
you couldn't do what I so foolishly hoped for,
And I am weeping
torn apart
shattered
but my heart is at peace
because, this morning, I understand a little better that
you were weeping with me
 
Yes Lord I understood...
thanks to you and thanks to my friends; but help me to believe
that you want life, not death
and that because you love more
you suffer more than any of us
when you see so many of your children
dying before their time
 
Apart from a few exceptions, and this is your mystery
I understood that because of your respect and love for us
you never want to take our place in the battle against illness
but always offered to suffer with us
and to struggle with us........................
 
Lord, my friend didn't offer up his suffering,
because he(she) used to say that suffering is evil
and God doesn't like suffering.
He offered his long and painful battle against suffering;
this prodigious energy, the strength he showed,
thanks to you Lord,
the superabundance of love and faith he (she) needed
so as not to despair, but to believe that this life is restored through you
beyond death
 
My friend, Lord,
didn't give his suffering,
but like you
with you
oh my Savior Jesus
he  (she)gave his (her) life
that we might live.
 
Our condolence to Rev. and Mrs. Hom 
Peace
 
Alan and Susan Choi