Saying good bye is hard. But in that hard good bye is also the opportunity to remember. I’ve been doing some remembering about a friend I consider dear. Yet a friend I’ve met only online. I think it was Angie Smith’s blog where I first heard about Sara, aka Gitzen Girl. Her story was compelling. Her words authentic. Her life vivid.

As Sara has lived with her chronic illness (you must read her story), she taught me valuable lessons on how to live with mine. And soon Sara will be seeing Jesus. Very soon.

Here are few Sara quotes that have challenged me, changed me, called me to be more like Jesus:

Are you living your life fighting for what your mind wants, or are you trusting and being open to the things that He may be putting in front of you?

The beautiful truth is taht being homebound isn’t limiting my life. It’s just limiting my location.

I had to choose fear – or completely Trust Him – one cannot exist if the other is true.

Sara helped me choose my one word for 2011:

It’s the opposite of hiding. It’s been a life-changing word for me this year.

I wonder if Sara has any idea, really, how her life, her words, her bravery to share both have touched the lives of so many? Soon she will know.

I haven’t been the only Brown girl engaged in Sara’s life. Thanks to her Tuesday’s Project Life posts, my girls have come to know her and love her, too. Oftentimes more interested in Riley’s (Sara’s dog) happenings. Sorry, Sara, but your Riley is a charmer. They love sweet Riley.

Earlier this summer while traveling from Minnesota to Iowa for a family visit, we drove through Sara’s lovely city. I couldn’t help but think of her and pray and smile. At that same time, my youngest daughter yelled out in a most excited voice, “Mom! This is where Riley lives!” Lots more smiles.

I keep thinking of the words to song I read at my Grandmother’s funeral. There’s this line that will not leave me…

Finally Home
But just think of stepping on shore and finding it heaven
Of touching a hand and finding it God’s
Of breathing new air and finding it celestial
Of waking up in glory and finding it home

Thank you, Sara, for everthing…and welcome home.

Sara has touched countless lives. Many, like me, are linking up their Sara stories here. My only advice is to read with kleenex at the ready and an open, grateful heart.

Most people don’t get excited about Mondays. The end of a relaxing weekend. The start of a grueling week. I used to be that way. Until Wayne. My dear friend changed all that.

 Wayne fought the hard fight of ALS with strength and dignity and faith. Lots and lots of faith. When diagnosed in 2007, never would I have imagined the privilege awaiting me. The privilege of helping care for him. Mondays were my days. On Mondays we talked and prayed and read and laughed and cried and solved all the world’s problems. All in one day. We were amazing! Mondays will never be the same for me. I miss them. I miss Wayne.

 Several weeks have passed since our last Monday together. On that Monday Wayne kept reassuring me it would be better soon. “Deb, it will be better soon.” On the outside the ravages of that dreaded disease were winning. Maybe so on the outside. But I knew better. Because for months and months I had Mondays. I had the perfect view to watch his faith grow to the depths. I heard his questions. I saw his praise. His sacrifice of praise. Wayne’s mantra was “always look up.” When circumstances make no sense. Look up. When people don’t understand. Look up. When darkness is all around. Always look up. What a beautiful definition of praise.

 Our last conversation was over the phone. Days before Wayne would meet Jesus face to face. Days before our Monday. Wayne whispered he was doing well. He was lying. We both knew it. I begged God for words. He supplied some of His own.

O God, listen to my cry!
Hear my prayer!
From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
for you are my safe refuge,
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
Let me live forever in your sanctuary,
safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
For you have heard my vows, O God.
You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name…
May he reign under God’s protection forever.
May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him.
Then I will sing praises to your name forever
as I fulfill my vows each day.   Ps 61 (NLT)

 We could almost feel God’s touch on our cheeks. Turning our gaze heavenward. Looking up. Wayne cried. I cried. We cried together. I told him I loved him one last time. Three days later Wayne received his full, complete, lacking in nothing healing.

 When the wave of missing hits me, I think of Wayne’s family, his children, his beautiful wife, Joy. I pray for comfort. I pray for courage to keep looking up. With a grateful heart I offer up praise in the missing.

Wayne, thank you for Mondays.

Looking up!

If my Google reader is any indication, I’m a blog lover. Major blog lover. From blog writers I have been encouraged, challenged, frustrated, brought to tears, led to laugh, and encouraged some more. I read way more than I comment. Trying to be better at that. But there is one thing I haven’t done and that is publish my own blog post. That is, until now.

What’s taken me so long? Good question. I could write a laundry list of reasons (aka excuses), but it really comes down to one thing. Fear. Fear of what? Well, there’s a laundry list! You don’t really want to see it, do you? You can just imagine it, can’t you? Maybe you even have a laundry list of your own.

The bottom line is that God has been setting this before me for a long, long while. And for a long, long while, I’ve said no. Not wise.

Let’s just say I’m grateful for forgiveness and for second chances times lots.

May God us this place of words to encourage you to go deeper with Him. That together we would say no to fear and yes to Jesus again and again and again. I’m learning it takes lots of practice. I hope you’ll join me.

Is there something you’ve been wanting to do, but you’re holding back? I’d love to pray for you.

Until next time,

If my Google reader is any indication, I’m a blog lover. Major blog lover. From blog writers I have been encouraged, challenged, frustrated, brought to tears, led to laugh, and encouraged some more. I read way more than I comment. Trying to be better at that. But there is one thing I haven’t done and that is publish my own blog post. That is, until now.

What’s taken me so long? Good question. I could write a laundry list of reasons (aka excuses), but it really comes down to one thing. Fear. Fear of what? Well, there’s a laundry list! You don’t really want to see it, do you? You can just imagine it, can’t you? Maybe you even have a laundry list of your own.

The bottom line is that God has been setting this before me for a long, long while. And for a long, long while, I’ve said no. Not wise.

Let’s just say I’m grateful for forgiveness and for second chances times lots.

May God us this place of words to encourage us to go deeper with Him. That together we would say no to fear and yes to Jesus again and again and again. I’m learning it takes lots of practice. I hope you’ll join me.

Is there something you’ve been wanting to do, but you’re holding back? I’d love to pray for you.

Until next time,