This article is being written because I have been deeply moved by the story of the Bennetts, and their lives which have been tested with the illness of John. I have been witness to many of my friends, who have either cancer or are relatives of one who does. The same with those who have expierenced heart attacks , as well as the family members who wait by the bedside for that little sign of improvement by their loved one.

So I have decided to let you and those who need that little sign, know  my inner feelings toward the time that we know as life. Life begins at birth and ends with death. With the birth of a baby, it is a blessing from God to two people who will always be there for you, until they get the word that it is time for them to pass on, and we call that death. So you think that it is that simple, but it isn't, because the way that you walk the road of life, decides the path of death.

The road of life sometimes seems not to be fair, as we many times, find something in our path, that will cause us to move sideways, or find another path to follow. For some it will be a straight road and no detours to slow you down. For others, there will be holes to fall in and forks in the road so that you might take the wrong path and end up lost.

As I have followed the story of John and Kristie Bennett and their children, I see a man who so much wants to live, and yet not afraid to die. He knows where he is going and he will make the journey with faith and courage to the promise land. But as all fathers are, they don't want to leave those who love them, and of course those who love him don't want to see him go. As I read what he has said and what Kristie has written down in her journal, I had feelings of both sadness and also of love for that family.

As a believer of miracles, I hope that one reaches that family soon. But then I think to myself that a miracle happens two ways. In one, there is a recovery from an illness so terrible that wrecks havoc on a man's body , so that he might enjoy many more years here on earth, and there is the other that finally gives him peace and that trip to Heaven.

And so John and Kristie, I would like to give you some of my thoughts about life here on earth, and those holes in the road that I have encountered, both during the five months that my youngest daughter had cancer, and the problems that I have had with my heart. There are many things that I will think about and remember, as ways to make my life easier to take. So let this old man give you some of my thoughts that help me.

"Each new challenge will bring you strength."

"Being tired and weary means that you've made a difference."

"God sends Angels for many reasons. Sometimes to help with life and sometimes to help with death."

"Remember that behind those clouds is a golden sun". "I Never walk in another's shadows". "Live your life with purpose, so that you leive behind a piece of what you were."

"The good life is a happy life". "I try to find a way to turn my troubles into blessings".

"Remember that from this day on, somebody is very proud of you, and is thinking of you, and cares about you, and wants to hold your hand, and wants to hug you, and admires your strength, and treasures your spirit, and wants you to know that they are there for you, and they want to give you support,and that each day they will shed some tears for you.

John Martin Bennett Jr. died Tuesday, Nov. 16, 1999, at age 36. He passed away in his home following a brief coma that came shortly after a receiving a dose of morphine. "I don’t know what God has planned for me," Kristie said while she was still taking care of John. "All I know is that my life will never be the same."

Neither will the lives of their four daughters, Apphia, 11, Achaia, 9, Abigail, 7, and Abiah, 5. John’s daughters said goodbye to their father before he took his first morphine dose at 7:30 p.m. Monday. They will say their final farewell during memorial services at 2 p.m. Friday at Morning Star Church in Kokomo.

This writer was very moved with the way that this family was able to cope with this illness that John had. All of them including John, were blessed with love for each other, and that love went out among the whole family. It will take some time for the hurt to go away, as this writer knows, but Kristie and her daughters, will survive , because of the strength and courage of John. John has finally made it home, into the father's arms.

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