In Sickness and In Health Part 2

My family has been blessed with health up until the last half a year. I have two relatives that are dieing from two very different diseases. My Uncle from Lou Gerhigs and my Opa from COPD followed by stomach and liver cancer.

I've been taught alot through this process of dealing with life-altering diseases. The biggest thing that's affected my family is the reaction to the diseases.

Both of my relatives have had very different reactions to their struggles. One has replied by relying on God and being upbeat and positive. The other by negativity and depression. Both reactions have affected my family.

The person who reacted by relying on God has tremendously blessed and strengthened our family. He has taught us what it is to trust and rely on God during difficult times. He remains upbeat and encourages his family to live life to the fullest. Everytime my parents come away from a visit with him, they remark about how blessed they were. You sit there and just listen for hours to the quiet wisdom that comes from him. You don't listen because you have to, but because you want to. There's an internal strength and peace that emmits from him.

The negative reaction has made it difficult for my family. I see my mom trying to support her father but it's hurting her. There are worries about his spiritual and mental wellbeing. In turn, us kids are trying to support our hurting mom. There is such a dominoes affect with negativity. It's very difficult to go and visit him because it's so trying.

Now, to be fair my uncle has had more time to deal with his disease than my opa has. Who knows, maybe once he's had time to struggle with it things might change. In the mean time, how do you help someone who is slowly (or quickly) dieing because of a malfunction in their body? How do you support someone who is not willing to fight the mental death first?