People come and go from our lives. Some by choice and others not. Seasons bring friends closer and seasons pull friends apart. It's when someone is taken away unexpectedly, without warning that makes the pain a little more sharp.
What I wouldn't give to sit with my sweet, dear friend today. My friend who gave me so much when she didn't have to. She came over everyday, when I first moved. She painted. She moved furniture. She hung pictures. She made the boys PB&J while I organized my kitchen.
After all the moving, she would come over and we would pull out our lawn chairs and watch the boys circle around us on their bikes. We sipped iced water and laughed about being the mother of boys. She volunteered to watch the boys for me, which gave Bryan and I a chance to go out. She adored Eli. She held him even when he didn't want to be held. She called him her monkey and eventually he warmed up to her and would run to her arms. My friend, she gave me the one thing that I needed most, her time.
She was only a phone call away.
Today, I call on Jesus to tell her how much I loved her and will miss her. I pray for the boys, who are left without a mother. I pray for a husband, left without his wife. And, I pray for myself, a friend wishing I could have one more afternoon to tell her how thankful I am for her friendship. Wishing I would have known that our time was so short. I would have said so much more to her. I would have hugged her and held her a little to long. I would have given her more of my time.
My tears flow easy and heavy today. Tears for a friend that will be missed. Tears for her family, for the boys who will grow up without their mother. Nothing much brings comfort or stops the heartache. I certainly cannot say "this was God's plan". It doesn't feel like God's plan, at least not tonight. Tonight I cannot understand why she is gone. I only know that I do trust and that brings me comfort enough to dry the tears and get myself ready for bed.
Gratitude rises in my heart. Gratitude for my husband. Gratitude for my boys. For the past few days, I take nothing for granted. Thankful for the messes. Thankful for laundry. Thankful for the dishes. My friend has shown me the gift of time and how precious it is. Something that was taken from her. And, as I climb into bed tonight, I understand that this was part of who she was....someone who always gave me herself and her time....she is doing it again, just not in the way I would have ever imagined.
What I wouldn't give to sit with my sweet, dear friend today. My friend who gave me so much when she didn't have to. She came over everyday, when I first moved. She painted. She moved furniture. She hung pictures. She made the boys PB&J while I organized my kitchen.
After all the moving, she would come over and we would pull out our lawn chairs and watch the boys circle around us on their bikes. We sipped iced water and laughed about being the mother of boys. She volunteered to watch the boys for me, which gave Bryan and I a chance to go out. She adored Eli. She held him even when he didn't want to be held. She called him her monkey and eventually he warmed up to her and would run to her arms. My friend, she gave me the one thing that I needed most, her time.
She was only a phone call away.
Today, I call on Jesus to tell her how much I loved her and will miss her. I pray for the boys, who are left without a mother. I pray for a husband, left without his wife. And, I pray for myself, a friend wishing I could have one more afternoon to tell her how thankful I am for her friendship. Wishing I would have known that our time was so short. I would have said so much more to her. I would have hugged her and held her a little to long. I would have given her more of my time.
My tears flow easy and heavy today. Tears for a friend that will be missed. Tears for her family, for the boys who will grow up without their mother. Nothing much brings comfort or stops the heartache. I certainly cannot say "this was God's plan". It doesn't feel like God's plan, at least not tonight. Tonight I cannot understand why she is gone. I only know that I do trust and that brings me comfort enough to dry the tears and get myself ready for bed.
Gratitude rises in my heart. Gratitude for my husband. Gratitude for my boys. For the past few days, I take nothing for granted. Thankful for the messes. Thankful for laundry. Thankful for the dishes. My friend has shown me the gift of time and how precious it is. Something that was taken from her. And, as I climb into bed tonight, I understand that this was part of who she was....someone who always gave me herself and her time....she is doing it again, just not in the way I would have ever imagined.
I am heartbroken too. She was a wonderful and giving person. I know you guys were close and I am so sorry for the pain you are going through. I am devastated for the boys and her husband. Thank you for writing such a loving tribute to her. I emailed with her last week. I can't believe I won't get to see her again and our plans to get together soon will never come to be.
ReplyDeleteOh, Kris, I am so sorry. It's stirring when something like this hits so close to home. Yet, what a blessing it is that she was able to touch your life in a small way while she was here. Moments, I am sure, you will never forget. My heart goes out to you today and this family left without their loved one.
ReplyDeleteThank you Theresa and Tiffiney. Your thoughts mean so much. I know you will keep this family in prayer. They will need all our prayers in the upcoming weeks.
ReplyDeleteDear Heavenly Father: I pray your comfort upon the loved ones of this woman who left the world so suddenly. I thank you for the fruit of the spirit she displayed while she was here, and I pray that--even though her time was short--her legacy of kindness will linger and influence. I ask, Father, that You send helpers to her family during this time. We love You and thank You for drawing near us when we're broken-hearted. In Your name I pray, Amen.
ReplyDeleteit is great to have friends like that...and i am so sorry for your loss...their loss...and i echo brandee in prayer as well....amen
ReplyDeleteThank you Brandee and Brian for your prayers. They mean so much at a time like this. The funeral is on Friday so, please keep praying. It gives me strength to know that Jesus hears every single prayer that is whispered for my friend and her family.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your loss. Praying for you right now. There is nothing like a true heart friend.
ReplyDeleteShe sounds like a wonderful woman and a treasured friend. I'm so glad you shared her memory here. I will be praying for you and her family. Especially tomorrow. I pray that you all feel comforted by the Lord, our shield and our strength.
ReplyDeleteoh...what a sweet friend...I am sure that made the loss so much harder...and wow...how this does make us stop and count blessings in the smallest of things. thanks for sharing your honest pain here...I lift you now in prayer...comfort and peace to your soul~
ReplyDeletemy dear kris, i have tears in my eyes... how my heart aches for the loss of this beautiful woman whom i've met through your post. my heart aches for you, for her family... it seem so unfair, that she would have to go in this way, but i pray God's comforting arms and presence continue to make her spirit alive for you all. love to you. xo
ReplyDelete