This post is dedicated to a true hero. A beautiful woman. An inspiration. An adventurer of life.
Amy
Amy and I come from the same church back in Youngstown Ohio. A few years ago I began to notice her at the front of the alter during worship. She was always the one closest to the stage. A true lover of Jesus. That was obvious to everyone.
Amy was diagnosed with cancer in June, 2007.
Many people followed her up-and-down battle with her terrible disease... but aside from her bald head, you may never have learned that something was wrong. She was so full of joy and life!
In the summer of 2009 Amy and her best friend Sherri backpacked through Europe! I wrote about that here. Their trip took place just before a massive stem-cell transplant was scheduled... when she got home though, the transplant was cancelled because she was doing so well! But a few months down the road, it was rescheduled...
She was pronounced cancer-free in October 2010! Since then, her body has struggled to produce new donor cells quickly enough to keep her healthy. She passed away yesterday surrounded by her family and loved ones.
I don't understand why diseases sometimes take away the people we love. I don't know why some have to fight so hard for the lives they've been given. I don't know why our prayers aren't always answered the way we think they should be. But... what I do know is that despite our inability to wrap our minds around the things of this world, God is always good. God's love carried Amy. Her faith in Him was strong through it all - even in times of frustration and pain, she leaned on God. She strived every day to be like Him. Read her blog. You will be encouraged and challenged in incredible ways.
Amy, thank you for showing me what an adventure life in Jesus looks like. I'll see you again someday :)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ...And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
What a beautiful post about your friend. I'm so glad there are people for whom we grieve differently. Sounds like she lived till she died and then just went over to glory. Paul's words must have been her life, to live is Christ, to die is glory! My prayers for your comfort.
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