Thanks For Life

She taught me grace. She taught me truth. 

She taught me about relationships. She taught me about kindness and patience... what it was to be grateful and content. At the time I didn't know this, but she taught me how to be a missionary. She taught me how to love people and to receive love. She taught me how to listen to people and encourage others. She knew me. I knew her. She was one of my closest friends. She was my mentor.

It is hard to lose someone you know and love. Your heart is prepared somewhat for people who are old or are sick. Even though it is hard, you expect it when you hear of their death. It is so hard to hear of someone who is young and well that dies. It's even harder when it is someone who was close to you, someone you knew and cared for, someone who had cared for you... someone who was a dear friend.

She was one of the first who made an impression of knowing scripture and even by memory. Every night as her kids turned out the light, I remember her reading scripture to them and Bible stories. She loved the Bible. You could tell by the worn out, taped together pages; and by the words and favorite sentences painted with different colored highlighters, some brand new, some faded from time. She loved His Word. It was so cherished by her and part of her life as she spoke it to others.

As I think on her passing, I realize how it must have been when the closest to Jesus first knew of his death... and resurrection. They were terribly saddened by His passing because of the symbol He stood for and great power He showed, but because even more of His endearing friendship. They were so surprised yet filled with great excitement that their Lord had not ceased to live but to live in eternity. They were such in awe of their friend and teacher, sad by His physical absence, yet so wanting and with a sense of urgency to tell others about who He was and what they knew of their friend. This urgency I realize might have been because of the awesome news that Jesus IS the Son of God and had raised from the dead, but even more I realize from the personal relationship each one had with Him. They loved Him. He was their friend and teacher. This must be in part what it means to tell others the "good news" of Christ. I find in knowing of my dear friend's passing, great sadness for I will never again be able to talk to her, embrace and encourage her, or even hear of the wonderful ways God is working through her in China... but I find this overwhelming urge to tell others of her life and impact she had on me... the life she led... the love she had for Christ... the self-sacrificing love and service she had for others and her family... the love and teaching she poured into her children... the love and respect she had for her husband.

I am severely humbled by the Lord's will in taking her. I know we are limited here in this life by time. I know it is short. Knowing that, doesn't make it any easier to experience the passing of someone cared for deeply. It is hard to experience death. Death is cold and lifeless. There is a life that is gone... a love lost... a friendship only remembered...

Nonetheless, He is the God of all comfort. He is the one who holds the keys to life and death. He is the one who takes life and gives life. He doesn't need our help in this life. He is the one who created the magnificent mountains who pour forth praise to God just in their mightiness and magnificent stature and creation. How loudly they praise God! How loudly they tell of the works of your hands! Are we deaf? How can we not hear their praise? How can we not see it?

He knows us. He knows my every thought. He knows my pain... my loss. I loved her.

He is the One who calms the storm... the One who brings peace. Oh Lord, I do not understand your ways. Although, I do know your ways are good. I can trust in your ways. I wanted to see how she would serve others in a foreign land... how You would work in her and through her. But this is not about what I want.

I was made to worship You. You made me to worship YOU. You made me to worship You by loving and serving others... which was the life of Ruth. What a privilege to know my friend, mentor, and example. I know You more because of her. What a privilege to be known by my creator who gave me my sweet friend whose memory still challenges me to worship God by loving and serving others.

She is/was beautiful to me, therefore I KNOW God is good.