So tonight I sit in pause, thinking, mulling over a few
things in my head. Why? Well, because, I lost a precious sister in
Christ. Her name was, and still is,
Sonja. Today was her service. Some of my most near and dear friends were at
the service. We were there to
celebrate Sonja’s life. Her precious life.
Over my years of blogging, I have spoken how God is the
master weaver of life. He intertwines
friendships in such a way that there is a connective reason for such a
crossover of the threads in our life. He
has a plan.
Be it incomprehensible at
first, but a realization of the whys later on.
One thread at a time. One friendship
at a time…and step after step after step, thread after thread after thread, the
masterpiece comes together. The
realization of the beauty of the piece is displayed in a way that each thread
has a name, a reason, a purpose. The
humans, who are the threads, may not at first notice the importance of the such
thread, but if you pay attention, each thread has a name – a reason, a soul –
and those threads all become the shroud of life. Sonja was one of those threads in my life.
Maybe I am losing you, my reader, by now. Should you venture on and not finish what I
have to say, that is ok. I am a believer
and my purpose here is not to offend any of those who are not. But should you continue to read on, then that
is just wonderful. I am honored.
As I grow older, my mortality is becoming heightened. I am 54, however I have lost so many loved
ones who are so much younger – and older – than I. My sensitivity to death was elevated when
I lost my oldest son, Jordan, and then, after that, death became more fragile
to me. My heart just breaks when I lose
a dear friend or family member. But
then, my grief is shortened when I know that they did not die, but are still
living and have met Jesus in person. Life is forever.
Today I attended a celebration of life for my friend
Sonja. Sonja was one of those women who
had such strength, such a faith in God, and such a will to want to live, though
she knew that only a miracle would allow
her such continuance on this earth. And
God decided to take her home instead.
Sonja was 81 years young.
Not an old 81, but one of someone who seemed a lot younger than her
physical years. She was not only a
sister in Christ, but a wife, a grandmother, a sister and a friend to many. She was an inspiration to many,
including myself, and had the most impeccably beautiful home – one of my
favorite homes in our community. Her tenacity and get it done attitude was reflective in her home and garden. Over the years, I have admired her will, her collections, her home and her faith.
Her death made me think of so many things. I drove past her house the other day and had
to pull over for a pause. I sat and
stared at her amazing iconic cottage home.
I thought about the flowers out front, the wonderful shutters that she
had recently painted a French blue and then about everything else that embodied
her and her home…her husband, especially, and how he would endure her passing
onto Heaven. Their faith in God is
strong, so knowing that makes everything a little more bearable.
And with this, I am so grateful to have known Sonja and to
have had her in my earthly life, though I did not get to know her as much as the other
friends in our circle. She was there for
me when I was at my lowest point in life, and I will cherish her friendship and
Godly sisterhood.
Sometimes there are things in life that rock your world
really hard and to make you stop dead in your tracks and to think about the
short time on earth that we really do have. Today was one of those days. Knowing that the promise of life for an eternity does take the sting of
death more bearable. The promise of
life, forever, to all of those who believe in Jesus and to accept him as our
Lord and Savior, makes leaving this earth, our temporary home a lot easier. I know that Sonja slipped from her earthly
body and into the arms of Jesus. No more
pain, but a life eternal in exchange for the few years she had on earth.
Life is fragile. A vapor. Really. It really is.
It is only saying so long for now……
Till we hear the trumpets sound...
Till we see the clouds part and the lion run
Scoop us into the arms of our Lord.
The beauty of faith is never to really have to say goodbye...but for now, it is just a "see ya later!"
A smile in my heart for Sonja...and happy for her for making a full circle of life. So happy for you, sister. Peace.....love....and thanks for being such a precious friend.