Today marks two-years-ago my life-long friend (5th grade) Sally's heavenly homecoming after a whirlwind battle with cancer. I still long for our conversations... especially the ones about faith, Jesus, and loving our kids, and families. She prayed for mine and I prayed for hers.
The ache of missing Sally is real, but the truth of the reunion ahead keeps our eyes fixed on the hope we have in Jesus. Sally's husband, Lyn, posted a quote that resonated deeply, "You can't take anything to heaven but your neighbor." Great quote and perfect to reflect Sally's passion for the life changing power of the Gospel.
One of my closest friends at church is battling that ugly disease of breast cancer. She is celebrating her birthday today. She is a reason to celebrate every day. Serving with Julie in youth ministry for more than 30 years together has been something I cannot put into words. Her faithful testimony in this trial humbles all of us around her. She has the best parts of "Mary and Martha." She "washes the feet" of everyone in her circle... even when she is sick. She is a faithful servant.
September 7th marked a decade for Jill in heaven. Jill's celebration of life was on September 11th, which is also Dad's and our nephew Jason's birthdays. Celebration of joy and sorrow seem to almost always overlap. Todd was blessed with Sarah... who just celebrated her birthday on September 6th... a gift of joy around the same dates
My sister, April, woke up in heaven on August 26, 1995... next year, it will be 30 years next year. We buried April on my Sister-in-Love, Jennifer's birthday, September 2nd, when Jennifer was very pregnant with my niece, Ciara. April had a beautiful military funeral instead of a wedding. Ciara arrived just a few days past April's birthday, giving us great joy to ease the sorrow.
September 9, 1985, was to be April's wedding celebration to her fiancé, Mark. A wedding uncelebrated. Twenty-nine Wedding Anniversaries that did not happen. Learning to trust God's heart when His ways make no sense at all.
Sister-in-Love Jennifer's brother, Jeff, died on September 8, 2022, after a 7 month cancer battle. September 13th was his celebration of life. Cancer makes every single birthday more special. Jeff's last big outing was Ciara and Cody's wedding day. We had the best conversation about God that day. He was a special guy. I write each of these gratitude posts at a desk surrounded by his woodworking skills. Jeff shared his skills and talents with all of us.
Our special friend, Tonya, celebrated her birthday yesterday. She is a beautiful person with a beautiful soul. Tonya has filled a sister role for Randy, because she and his sister, Lola, are so much alike. We are very grateful she was born and placed in our lives. God provides our every need.
Just around the corner, Donna (Emma and Leah's Mom and our dear friend), has a birthday ... her second in heaven. I celebrate all the "mom things" we shared. We are so grateful she raised the perfect wife for Chase. Last year, on September 9th, Emma's father, Jeff, married a beautiful girl named Sherry. New love is a sweet gift after great loss. It does not betray the memory of loved ones' lost, it is a reminder that God does not abandon His children. We were born for relationships.
This week, a dear sister, Linda, at church said good-bye to her sister. She stood with us at April's grave 29 years ago and gave me the book, "Traveling Light" by Max Lucado that I have shared many times over. She and our church family have traveled to Clifton to be with us in all of our losses. Matt and Jennifer know many of them and have reminded me of the blessing of our church faith community.
We have had four funerals at church in the past month. By God's grace and Jesus's work on the cross, each one knew the peace of trusting Jesus this world cannot buy. Each one is still grieved deeply. Life goes on, but there are missing pieces of our hearts grieve not on a timeline that comes to an end, but in waves. The waves come and go... even after 30 days, 30 months, and 30 years.
If you did not follow all of that, don't worry. As I wrote it, it felt a little like the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew and Luke. The purpose of my ramblings is to show that the first weeks in September are full of different kinds of time markers and celebrations. Some are sad. Some are happy. Some come as surprises. Others are anticipated. In September, like every other day of the year, we have to choose how we respond to the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful. Yes, we choose.
The beautiful-ugly, and some things are both at the same time, reminds us that we must be intentional about our celebrations and in our mourning. God designed us to live in a community that lives, laughs, grieves, and loves with us.
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." - Romans 12:15
Today, I am grateful for celebrations.
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