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Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven…

By: Sonya Monts

Once we understood the cancer diagnosis was terminal, there were occasions when my husband, Thomas, would state how he wanted his final wishes handled.  Sometimes it was as if he had visions of the future and would share these in great detail with me.  As the cancer continued to cause a decline in his health, these statements became more frequent.  At one point during treatment, he laid in the hospital bed and said, “When I’m taking my last breath, be sure everyone is saying the Lord’s Prayer.”  I made a mental note of his request.

On October 14, 2016, the time came that there were no more treatments, no more IV fluids, and no more oxygen.  In my distress, I couldn’t recall the Lord’s Prayer, but I knew we had to say it.  Thomas told me he wanted us to say the Lord’s Prayer!  Crying, I looked up to one of the nurses standing by to help me, and I said, “He told me to say the Lord’s Prayer, but I can’t even remember that right now!”  Lovingly and with great patience, the nurse began to recite the Lord’s Prayer.  Once she started, I, along with the family members standing by us, were able to join her.  Through the strength of this nurse, we were sure that Thomas’ request was met as he took his last breath with us on earth.

In the days after his death, and even now, the verse, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”, is the most special for me.  I would have never chosen for me or for our children that Thomas would die, but this was the Lord’s will.  His will was being done here on Earth, and our children and I remained on Earth to carry out our portion of His will, too.  The words “as it is in heaven” were and still are comforting to me.  I know that Thomas is in heaven, and he is in the Lord’s hands, carrying out His will there in Heaven.  Thanks be to the Lord for his words that comfort us in our times of distress, grief, and solace.