Life is precious.
I know most of us believe it, but over the past few weeks, I have really been feeling it. Wallowing in my own pity, because I am over tired, overwhelmed, over committed (very easy with 6 kids and a busy husband), over tired, and over done, 2 people passed away last week.
Nancy Demus was an amazing woman that was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago and passed away the end of June…
Joshua Ragsdale was an amazing songwriter that my husband knew that passed away July 1st, 2010 from leukemia.
Both are tragic stories. Nancy went to the hospital because she couldn’t breathe, thought she had pneumonia. A week and a half later they sent her home with hospice, with a month or so to live. Joshua was misdiagnosed for 5 years with Lyme disease. Only to then find out he had stage 4 leukemia. He was put on a bone marrow transplant list, found a donor and the donor backed out 2 times. He lost his battle after about a year.
Nancy’s memorial service was streamed live…awesome for me, because I had no babysitter. So I was able to watch it. What a beautiful service. Nancy was full of life, laughter, love for others, and full of Jesus.
Joshua’s service was today. I didn’t know him, but after today, feel like I did, and know that I want to be more like him. Son of a pentecostal preacher from Mississippi. Loved life, loved to laugh, loved to give, and full of Jesus.
They are both home…They are both dancing on the streets of gold, and having amazing conversations with the saints of old, as part of the lyric that Nancy wrote in a song she wrote with her amazing husband Mike. They are happy. They don’t want to come back. It is those of us left here on earth that grieve. I know it’s so difficult for us, for me to comprehend, but our time here on earth is short compared to our time in eternity. We will be there in a blink of an eye.
It is those of us left here on earth, that need others prayers to get us through the difficulty of losing a loved one, a friend, a husband, a wife, a parent, grand parent, sister or brother.
Our hearts are rejoicing in knowing that they are no longer in pain, they are with the Creator of the Universe.
They are good.
Our hearts are broken within our human confines, because we have lost our best friend, our relative, the love of our life, our parent, grandparent, or child.
So remember to say a prayer for Mike Demus today and the dark, empty days ahead, and for the Ragsdale family as they attempt to grasp some kind of understanding of the whys, as they struggle to keep God in the picture and continue to “Give Thanks for Everything”, even when that pain cuts, stabs and slices deep within their hearts and souls. That they will begin to heal and allow God to heal their broken hearts.
Remember, as I have been reminded this week, that life is precious. As I wallowed in my pity of “lack of fun” over the 4th, and being alone with my 3 small kids while everyone else was having a blast over the holiday with other friends and BBQ’s, that I was with my precious little lives. That I am blessed with my 6 amazing beautiful children, wild and strong willed as they may be. That this IS a season…although I have lengthened it quite a bit with 6, it is only a season of my life. To remember that Anya will be off to college in 2 years, they are all growing so very fast. I NEED to savor it!! It will be over so very soon. I need balance, and rest, and a break every now and then, Most important I need to remember to enjoy my life, my family, friendships, other people, acquaintances, all relationships, because life is precious.
