Heavenly gates and a friend named Carolann...

I have an amazing friend. She is full of spunk and laughter, hugs and I love yous. Her name is Carolann. I met Carolann when I first moved to the Hill Country from Albuquerque 10yrs ago at the end of this month. I started attending a woman's Bible study through one of the first churches we visited. While we ended up somewhere else for a little over a year I still attended this same Bible study. I found myself to be the only youngin' of the group. :) This group of precious ladies were so willing to help me with my then 1yr old, 3yr old and 6yr old. They loved on them, encouraged me, loved on them, loved on me.... They were a rock for me through some very difficult times.


Carolann was part of this group. She had several physical conditions that didn't allow her to come every time but she did whenever she could. Through out the years I would visit with her a little here and there, but our relationship really started to grow the most about 3yrs ago. She become an adoptive mama. I became an adopted daughter. We would talk about shopping and would even manage to go a few times. See, Carolann still couldn't do much away from home. We would visit numerous times at her home or at church. Talk many times on the phone and try to do things together as much as she was able. Every time I was done spending time with her, I was in awe of how joyful she could be in spite of the many surgeries and difficulties she faced. She carried joy with her. Everywhere.


My precious friend, Carolann doesn't have to be frustrated over dentures that would never fit right, not being able to drive herself somewhere, words that would escape her though her mind went a mile a minute, or surgery after surgery, after surgery. This last week, she went into the hospital again and this time they told her that there wasn't any more they could do. We know that our Jesus is the one with the final say, and He told her that it was ok to come on home. They placed her in hospice and only a few days later, she did exactly as He told her.  She went home. I was blessed to be able to see her the morning she passed away, but that isn't how I will remember her. My memory of her smile and laugh will always carry me to a rememberance of how great our God is and perfect is His plan.


It's a strange thing this time. Death. I'm reminded of 1 Corinthians 15:55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"  Yes, there is a part of me that carries with it a sadness for the selfish fact that I won't see my friend for a while but it's not like the sadness I've encountered so many times before. Unfortunately I've seen death far too much. This time is different. Not because the situation is different or the friend is different. I think I understand that verse more this time than I ever have before. There is no sting. She's with my Jesus and she WON'T hurt EVER again! Just having that new heavenly body has got to be INCREDIBLE for her! What rejoicing is goin' on up in there!!! With her rejoicing, how can I mourn? She went through soooo much on this earth and still gave God glory and praised Him all the time. What a gorgeous example she was for me and so many others.


Thank you Carolann. For your friendship, your hugs, your laughter, your stories, your phone calls, your visits, but most of all, thank you for loving Him the way you do.