Emphasis Preaching Journal

To put it bluntly, Mary was having a hellish year. First, her father became ill. Within a week he was diagnosed as having cancer of the liver. He died two weeks later. Then, six weeks later, just as Mary was starting to cope with the sudden death of her father, Mary's mother became ill. She too had cancer. Mary's mom died just ten weeks after her cancer was found. As if that wasn't enough, Mary was now being asked to consider taking an early retirement. The package was good, but it would still mean less money a month. With two children in university, Mary didn't know how she would manage.