Amen, Pat. I know this may not be in the direct context but when Jesus responded to His discples that they gave up everything to follow Him. He assured them that though they lose all their families and inheritances (as was the culture then; a HUGE loss) they would have received manifold in family. You mention the body of Christ. Too often we equate church with a building. But, it is not. When the people leave the church building, it ceases to be a church. The people in Christ make up His church and it knows no boundaries of space and time.

Family in Christ, there will come a time when miles and time won't be the separater. We will get to be in front of our risen Savior alongside each other. We are family! Better yet, what Jesus called His disciples, "I no longer call you servants. For a servant does not know what his master does. But, I call you, friend." Man, I don't know of any other passage I take confidence in than when the God of all creation calls me, "friend." Awesome!

John, the one thing God did not plan for in His six days of creation was sickness and death. That is why we will always have difficulty with them. And Jesus wept because He knew what the effects of sin has done to His creation. And if He can grieve over it, so can we. We pray for your sister and for you as you continue to strengthen her in the days ahead.

Those God uses greatest, He wounds deepest.
Your brother, in Christ,
RickeG