Jessica Kelso

A year and a half ago we bought our home from a couple who lived in New Jersey. They had plans to move down to Florida and live next door to their parents, but eventually decided against it. So in the process of buying our house, painting it, and all that other fun stuff. . . we had plenty of opportunities to get to know our new neighbors, Bob and Marlene. They let us have painters come in and start painting a day before we even closed on the house. They mowed our grass for us before we had a lawn mower. They became like parents from the start. They have fed our fish and picked up our mail while we were away on vacation. They bought us our toaster oven, and taught us how to use our gas fireplace. In the mornings on my way to work they were always on a walk, and I would wave hello. It started the day off right for me to see them on their walk and always so happy. Happy to just be together. Bob has a work shed in the backyard that he lived in. I mean, working in there was his passion. He loved that shed. The beginning of December he went to the doctor to get a spot checked to find out it was cancer. Skin cancer. It had already spread through his entire body. Lungs, liver, spleen, everything. They said it could be weeks. He decided to do chemotherapy to prolong his time here and we decided to pray. His shed quickly became abandoned and their walks have come to a screeching hault. Bob is slowly dying inside his house while his wife clings to hope. I see the pain and fear in her eyes when we talk. It’s so hard to watch.

Cancer sucks. I mean, it really just sucks. In the past few weeks, I’ve realized something about myself. I’ve realized I have a 5-year-old’s mentality of death. I know death could be coming to someone I know and I pray for them, I pray for peace and for God to heal them. . . but I’ve never had to come to the realization of death actually happening. I’ve only had to attend two funerals in my life, one of which I had only met the guy twice and I was probably 12 years old. I’ve never lost anybody really close to me, so I’m very unfamiliar with death.

Kevin’s Aunt Gloria passed away a couple of days ago from cancer. I’m so glad we were able to spend some time with her while we were in Nashville. She was a beautiful person, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity of knowing her. She was a lively spirit and will definitely be missed by many.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4

I am so glad she is no longer in pain. No more tears, no more sadness. Thank God for that! He is my peace and my comfort.