Life Lessons

How do you say goodbye to a part of yourself? How do you let go of your future? My family learned this past week that it is with lots of tears and dependence on a God of Great Promises.

 A love story…..

In 1984, my brother Todd began dating his friend from work. Karen had fixed him up with several of her friends over the months, but none of them had clicked. So….Todd took Karen on a date. I won’t say it was love at first sight. Karen and Todd had grown up in the same church and attended the same school all of their lives. They knew each other, and that was about it. But when they decided to take that first date-everything changed!

After dating a couple of months, Todd knew Karen was his soul mate. He bought a ring. Karen had been fighting some health issues for a few months and making trips to the dr. Ironically, just as they were getting engaged, Karen was finding out she had cancer. The doctors gave her six months to live.

Everyone who knew Todd began to give him advice. They told him that not marrying would be best for everyone. They encouraged him to let go before it hurt too bad, but Todd refused. He said he would take 6 months or 6 days, whatever he could get with her…..Karen and Todd celebrated their 28^th Wedding Anniversary in December, 2013. 

The Lord blessed them with many years together. She was his soul mate, his best friend, his wife, and his world. Many months throughout their days together they faced hardships. She battled a heart aneurism and many complications from her chemo treatments, which damaged her lungs terribly. Todd had both hips replaced twice. She took care of him, and he took care of her.

On Tuesday, April 22, I watch Todd tell her goodbye. She lost her battle with illness, but won sweet victory in Jesus. I try to be there for my brother. His hurt runs so deep that all I can do is pray for the Lord to place a little of his hurt on my heart so I may help ease the burden. I hurt too. I lost my sister of 28 years, my confidant, my friend. I am comforted in knowing she is with Jesus. She is with her mother Emogene, her sister Ellen, and brothers Michael, and David. We will see her again.

Please pray for my family.