I’ve been part of an amazing group of ladies that meet one morning every week to do a Bible study, pray, and “do life” together.  These ladies have been impacting and touching my life for the past 5 years.  And we are losing one, now, in the fight against cancer.  I don’t think I fully realized how much her input has impacted our group of gals until I started to think of what will be missed when she sits in glory on the other side of Heaven.   I’d like to tell her that.  And, I would daresay, she could be called a Giant of the Faith. We’ve certainly learned some mighty and valuable lessons from her in the time we’ve had together.  Not the least of which is her consistent trust that God is good.  No matter what the circumstances of her life may be. We’ve seen her trust in Him grow, as did her cancer.  That, in and of itself, is an amazing thing to witness. I’d like to tell her that, too.

We, and all those who’s lives she’s touched, are praying for a miracle of healing.  But, in that same breath of prayer, we’re trusting that God’s plan for her is the best plan.  And while we may struggle with the why of the when of her story, we know that God’s love for her is far more sufficient to carry her through than any love we could lavish on her.  (Though it never hurts to lavish a little more love!)  I’d like to tell her that her example to us of continued trust and hope in a God that some might call “absent” during this time, is far more powerful than any lesson from a revered Bible teacher ever could be.

I’d like to tell her that I’m a little jealous of the fact that she’s going to get a new body soon.  That she’s going to get to walk with and talk to this Jesus that we adore so.  I’m excitedly anticipating what God will say to her when she kneels before him, made perfect that side of Heaven.  Indeed, I’d like to tell her all of these things, but I won’t.  Instead, I’m going to hold her up in prayer.  I’m going to try to call to mind how vivid a picture she paints of perseverance.  And I’m going to thank God for the time we have left.

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴” 

John 14:1-3