I need to stop, breathe, think, and get these thoughts down. They are important. As simple as they may sound, to me they say it all and they are worth saying.
My Auntie E is 96 years old and as I write this, she is in her last days; possibly hours. God’s Plan, right? God wrote me into His plan. He gave me a week with one of my most favorite people. The day after I returned home, she took a turn for the worse and has been declining ever since — about a week or so. She is on the east coast and I’m on the west. Upon my return, I came down with the flu which has developed into bronchitis, so returning to her side at this time is not in the cards. E’s loving stepdaughter has remained at her side and along with family and friends, and a wonderful staff at her rest home, along with Hospice, she is in wonderful hands. So that’s not what is troubling me.
I am resolved in the knowledge that I won’t see E again. I’m so thankful that I saw the importance of going on this last trip. I am so grateful that I did not cloud what was so important with silly, self-important excuses — my priorities were where they belonged. When I said goodbye last week, I knelt down and held her tiny hand in mine and looked her square in the eyes and said “I love you so much and I will miss you terribly.” She looked right into my eyes and said “I love you too, and I will miss you very much.” We both knew, at some level, that this would be the last time we would speak to each other.
So what is this sense of urgency? What do I want to say?
I want the world to know that this woman I call Auntie E is, in my opinion, perfect. I used to secretly wish that she was my mom. I loved my mom. Don’t get me wrong — but there is something about E that is so special; so above the norm. She is “God’s Peace” to me. She has always been this way, never wavered. The meanest thing I ever heard her say was “Oh, that BAD ol’ pussy cat!” as she reprimanded one of her rescued “babies”.
Auntie E should win an award for something. There should be fireworks! You should meet her! She is what we all strive to be. A loving, caring human being who can only see good in everyone and everything she touches. No exceptions. Period. We need more people like this in the world. Please celebrate this special life with me! Please lift her up in your prayers.
I am so blessed that you have been in my life, E. God bless you and keep you in His loving care. Until we meet again….
There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. — Proverbs 18:24
My heart starts to beat double-time when I think about seeing these sweet children once again! I simply can hardly wait. My prayer: that we can bring them a reason to hope. That somehow, we can make a difference. That we can once again be a strong link in a chain of loving adults who allow these children to feel safe, even if for a few hours each day. Please pray for these children and for all those waiting to be rescued! My mission team leaves for Cambodia on January 14, 2016.
