Well Versed: A Remembrance

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25-26

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7

One of my best friends died early this morning. It was not a surprise; she had been in a coma and on a ventilator for 3-1/2 weeks and her health had been gradually failing for months and ultimately for a couple of years. But knowing it is coming does not lessen the pain. The one thing that eases the pain is knowing that Susan is with Jesus now. She loved the Lord with all her heart and looked forward to being with Him at some point. I’m not sure she knew how soon that might be. Oh, the joy, knowing Susan is in Heaven, free of pain and suffering, full of joy, looking down on us and hoping we’ll celebrate her life, not mourn her passing! So celebrate, I shall.

For more than 2 weeks I have been making a list of things that mean “Susan” to me. These things may not mean much to most people but to me, they are Susan.

• Her love for the Lord, first and foremost
• Jacqui Velasquez
• Playing Quiddler and Zilch endlessly
• “I Love Lucy” (and boy, did she ever!)
• Pepsi Floats (don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it)
• Each day is a blessing full of blessings (NEVER forget this! It is always true, no matter what.)
• Her witty, dry humor
• “Deal or No Deal”
• NO coffee!!! Of any sort!
• Koolaid in her water bottle at night
• “Mama’s Family”
• Figure skating
• Newsboys
• Instant messaging for hours
• Her love and concern for her daughter
• Smoking in the bathroom (before she quit)
• Her devotion to reaching out to others with Spina Bifida

I am honored to have known Susan and can’t imagine my life without having known her. I don’t know what to do without her. It will take plenty of time for the hole in my heart to close up. I wish you could have known her!

 (Sorry, couldn’t get the pic to show up full size.  Please click on it so you can see her glorious smile!)