by Bob VerBurg
(Rev: Jan 14, 2021)
Our whole extended family was blessed to spend Christmas day with Brent and his family. That afternoon Brent could no longer regulate his glucose.
That tumor was impinging on his pancreas so that evening, he was admitted into the hospital again. After some discussions with the doctor, Sherry, and the kids, Brent decided he would return home as soon as hospice and skilled nursing could be lined up – that was Wednesday, January 6.
Once glucose could no longer be maintained, Brent’s body quickly burned up fat and then muscle.
Tuesday, January 12, 2021, around 8:00 am, Brent’s glucose fell and the infusion pump could no longer keep up. Brent told Sherry he was seeing a vision of Jesus; Sherry told him he didn’t have to stay if he didn’t want to. A long exhale marked the time of his passing. He was surrounded by his family. We are very grateful that Brent was not in any discomfort and did not require any medication for pain or anxiety when he passed away. He was fully lucid and aware and that allowed him to transition from this life with joy and expectation.
Our extended family was gathered around Brent by 9:30 am. Pastor Daniel performed a Service of Commendation. I didn’t know there was such a thing in the Christian Reformed Church, but what a wonderful service. And then Daniel lead us in a celebration of the Lord’s Supper to underscore the promise and hope of the salvation God’s Son brings to us and as a reminder that someday, we will all be in a place where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. We will join Brent in the place where God Himself will walk among us and dry all our tears.
The Christian Reformed Church practices two sacraments: baptism (usually infant) and the Lord’s Supper and Daniel did a wonderful job noting these two bookends to Brent’s life and the fellowship Hillside brings to our family and how my parents were able to participate in both. Baptism is the celebration and dedication of new life and the Lord’s Supper commemorates thanksgiving and memory.
What cancer takes is health and vitality.
It burned through fat and muscle and then attacked Brent’s endocrine system. Cancer left pallor and inability.
But what cancer can’t take is faith and perseverance.
Large B-cell, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is usually quite treatable, but God had another plan. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. Because God knew Brent before he was even conceived, God’s plan for Brent brought and will continue to bring honor to God.
Brent never allowed his trial to become a temptation to be bitter. He never allowed cancer to test his faith. And that memory now serves as a legacy by which his kids can bring honor to their father.
Cancer could not take the love and service that the Baker family and First Companies offered to Brent and Sherry and the kids. Your blessing is a testimony of your service to God and your service honors God. The Bakers and their company are also in God’s plan from the beginning of time. God saw First Companies and had plans for them so they could serve God by blessing Brent as God’s plan for Brent blesses his legacy and memory.
Cancer could not take the love and Christian bonding that Hillside Community Church brought and brings to our family.
Cancer will not take our memory of Brent’s Christian faith and the legacy of his courage and faithfulness to God.
And cancer will never take the love of a mother. To be sure: it brings pain and loss; but like God’s love, a mother’s love will remain forever unchallenged.
And even though cancer won a battle, it’s a hollow, meaningless victory. The war is already won – it was won when Christ defeated death and now Brent is living in the wonder and beauty of a spiritual being walking with God Himself.
Finally, death, no matter from where, or when, it comes for me will never take my comfort in knowing that no matter what, I belong body and soul, in life and death to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. Like Brent, I am assured of eternal life and that allows me to live for Christ in this life so that in God’s time and way, I will receive my crown of glory in the new heaven and new earth to come.
