Saturday, April 24, 2010

My dearest God,

I sat in my friend's church and let its walls tell me about Rose. I looked up into the choir loft and imagined her sitting in her choir chair singing praise to the source of her life. I imagined her in her sewing club and knitting club as she sewed and knitted objects to be given to those in need. I thought about her sitting at the bedside of those in hospice and on the phone with those contemplating suicide. I considered her walking beside and talking with Aids patients for years. I drew in her laughter, her silliness (her daughter called her goofy), her concerns and her friendship. I listened to her prayers for others and the recitation of the Apostle's Creed when she needed extra sustaining power. I watched her hugs fly around the church for anyone not nailed down. I sang with her our favorite song Great is thy Faithfulness. I remembered our sisterhood in Fort Wayne and I smiled. But more than all this I felt her strength and courage coming out of her faith in you and like the other 200 some odd other friends sitting in the pew, I wept her loss and gave thanks for her life.

Thank you
for my friend
Rose,
for her love,
her friendship,
her support,
her funny,
witty ways
and especially
for her faith.
I am blessed
to have
known her
and called her
friend.
I am grateful
for who
she was
and all
she touched
and inspired.
You walked
in her shoes,
gave her
your heart
and hands
and she
used them well.
Thank you.

With a grateful heart, Andrea