This Is Samuel Backus:

Not long ago, my sister in law discovered a website called Samuel's Site. It is a blog written by Jen Backus about her 6 year old son Samuel who was diagnosed with cancer around the age of two. Because of Chemotherapy and other medical treatments he was made even more sick and he and his family have been through greater suffering. His parents Jen and Mark are in a great deal of debt, already having taken out a second mortgage on their home in order to pay for the medical bills. Jen and Mark are very strong in their faith and in their love for Jesus, but they have suffer much.

Yestarday morning at 5:58, Samuel was freed form his failed mortal house and from pain and fear.

His mothers blog entry right after he breathed his last simply read:

"Samuel is free. He is with Jesus. At the very time he would get up to start his day, he left Mark and my arms to be with Jesus. After over four years of suffering, he is now free. "

And now, as I right to you some thirty something hours later, I am still heart broken and my eyes are filled with tears. I can barely see the words I am typing.

Jen and Mark plan to cremate the body which here on this Earth failed him. But, the immortal body which he will recieve will never fail him. For Samuel, the old order of things has passed away. He will no longer feel any pain. The sorrow that we now feel, has no meaning to him.

But, as I write about Samuel and his family there a few realities which must be meditated upon. And it my plea to those who read my blog, that you take them to heart.

ONE

The medical industry failed the Backus family. Don't get me wrong, there is definitely a place and a time for doctors and for medicine. But, the medical industry in many cases does more harm than good. Visit Samuel's Site, and you will see that, much of what made Samuel sick and eventually took his life were the treatments he recieved for his cancer, not the cancer itself.

So, please do not just trust your doctor. Question everything! If you or one of your children or anyone else whom you love becomes sick, don't just accept the doctor's treatment. Research the treatment and earnestly seek the Lord in prayer. The decisions that you make in regards to medical care can very well altar the course of your life. When your pediatrician says that its time to vaccinate your child for this or for that, don't just blindly agree. We have been given by God, children to look over and to care for. We cannot take that responsibilty lightly.

When your kids ask to spent the night at a friend's house, do you say "yes" without knowing every possible thing about the friend?

Do you let your kids watch whatever they want on television or eat whatever they like?

Then, don't let your children be "treated" with a treatment or inoculated with a vaccine that you don't understand completely and havent taken before the throne of God first.

TWO

Hug your children, your wife, your husband, whoever you love!

Tell them that you love them!

Very few things in this live truly matter. Don't waste your time with those you love by bickering and focusing on what doesn't matter.

We have to cherish what we have and be oh so greatful for those we love.

At times, we get so frustrated.

Maybe it's when you walk into the living room and see that your two year old has just covered the floor with a bowl full of decorative plastic cherries.

Maybe it's when your six week old cries and cries and cries, finally falling asleep only to have filled her diaper just before.

Maybe it's when your eight year old isn't hungry at dinner time only to magically be starving five minutes later at dessert time.

Or maybe, its when you have forgotten how much God has given you, how He has blessed you with children, each with their own personalities and beautiful faces.

Perhaps the next time we become frustrated by one of our little ones, it would do us some good to ask ourselves, what we would do without them and then thank God that we have them.

THREE

The Backus family is in a great deal of pain right now!

They need our prayers and our encouragement more than words can describe.

They are also in a great deal of debt. They can definitely use our financial support. My wife and I are planning on trying to help them however we are able.

If you are able to help them, whether by prayer, encouragement or even financially, they can definitely use it.

ONE LAST THING...

If you have a blog, please repost this post on your blog. I want as many people as possible to see this, to take even just a moment to thank God for what they have, to vow to protect that which they have been given, and hopefully to pray for, encourage and if possible to help the Backus family financially.

You can visit Samuel's site HERE!