My father in law died of cancer. At the time I was not a Christian - so I just thought: 'this happens - people die of cancer'. He suffered and kept his faith strong. My wife asked "Why him Lord?". I noted all this in my rational intellectual mind - but did not really understand it.
Pope John Paul II had a long illness. He suffered. He knew that God allowed this to happen to him for a reason.
Ros suffered. I only knew her for the last years of her life. On reflection though, she was a defining person in my faith. I did not share decades of marriage with her like her husband Phil. She did not nurture me from nappies to marriage like her kids. But she had faith during her suffering.
She showed me why God allows suffering. It built her own character, but it also allowed her to show others the rest, hope and love we can have in God.
God cared about Ros' suffering. Ros is now with God sharing an eternity of unconditional love. Not the love that Phil showed here - as special as that is. An unconditional love that was tested in her suffering.
God is love. God is true love. God is true unconditional love. He showed us that through Jesus' suffering. And through the suffering of his faithful servant Ros. Ros knew this. She knew what her reward would be. She was a good and faithful servant. It means nothing me saying this. But Ros' heart will explode when God tells her!
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Note: I actually wrote this eulogy weeks before Ros passed away. Sometimes I wish I had shared it with her...but then I know God will pass it on.
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