To the editor:

God gave man the Ten Commandments and the fifth commandment states, “Thou shall not kill.” Today some people want to control their life and death and live like God doesn’t exist or have a plan for their lives. That includes deciding when and how they, themselves, want to die.

God can use suffering and the dying process to give the person the opportunity to 1) find God and faith and attain heaven; 2) grow into deeper relationship with Him; 3) experience miraculous healings of body, mind and/or soul; 4) experience forgiveness and reconciliation with family members; and 5) grow in love for others.

In 2014, when Brittany Maynard was dying from brain cancer and killed herself by assisted suicide, 19-year-old Lauren Hill was also dying from brain cancer. Lauren inspired us with her will to live and the joy of watching her play in her first college basketball game. She also inspired us with her courage, spirit, faith, resolve to fight cancer and live each day to the fullest. She begged the Lord to use her as she wanted to find a cure for cancer. Her charity, “The Cure Starts Now Foundation,” has raised thousands of dollars for cancer research. Many persons who have heard about Brittany have never heard about Lauren.

Tara Tippet, a young wife and mother of four young children, who was also dying of cancer in 2014, wrote Brittany Maynard a letter. Here are some of her words to Brittany: “You have been told a lie. A horrible lie that you’re dying will not be beautiful and that the suffering will be too great.” “Suffering is not the absence of goodness, it is not the absence of beauty but perhaps it can be the place where true beauty can be known.” “In your choosing your own death you are robbing those that love you with such tenderness of the opportunity of meeting you in your last moments and extending you love in your last breath.”

If we all would do more to pray for, assist and visit the suffering and dying in our family, friends, neighbors, church, community, hospices and nursing homes, we could alleviate a lot of loneliness, isolation, anxiety, depression and bring love, joy, hope and faith to the dying (and to our lives in the process).

Colleen Tebbe

Anna OH