I want to share with you the beautiful story of how God has provided for me these last two weeks.
The day after I got home from Honduras, I found out my best friend Kandice had been taken to the hospital, was in very serious condition, and the doctors were saying the next 24 hours would be "definitive." I began spreading the news to close friends of Kandice so people could be praying. Instead of going up, we decided to meet here in Indy to pray for her. We gathered, fellowshipped with each other, and prayed for Kandice and her family for about an hour. A few people left, but many of us just stayed, visited, reluctant to leave. Then we got information saying that Kandice had gone. If I had to lose a best friend, it couldn't have been in a more beautiful way, for many of her close friends to be gathered together and pray her out, and then to be together as we cried, prayed, reminisced, and even laughed about different memories of her after we learned she was gone.
The next few days something unexpected happened: I had been dreading losing my friend, but when I did, so many other people came out of the woodwork to be supportive. It was so encouraging and helpful to hear from concerned friends, some of whom I hadn't heard from in awhile. People sent emails, texts, cards, phone messages, and I just felt overwhelmed with love. To those of you who expressed concern: thank you. It meant the world.
God provided in unique ways. My brother is up late due to time difference and could talk me through things to sleep at night. I had lots of catching up to do with people since I'd just gotten back in the country and was able to get together with so many people and wasn't ever overwhelmingly lonely.
Even the day of the memorial service, I was able to go with Kandice's other two very close friends up to the service and spend the day with them. Since we were all going through the same thing, we were able to be quiet together, to reminisce together, and to love each other and be with each other. Again, it was beautiful.
Then the day after the memorial service God provided lots of friends at church, to hold my hand as we sang worship songs about resurrection that made me cry my eyes out, to hug me in the bathroom as I cried out my grief of missing my friend some more, and to just be there for me. God provided an opportunity to play with and cuddle my favorite 1-year-old for a bit in the afternoon, then a satisfying nap, and then some fun giggle time with friends that was so healing.
There have been beautiful opportunities of ministry too, as I strive to live up to the standard Kandice set with her utter passion to follow God. The interview she recorded two weeks before going on has spoken to many of my friends who didn't even know her, and sparked amazing conversations with a huge number of people. Her passion for life and care for others has encouraged me to continue in that road and be ever more deliberate about caring for people and ministering to them as the Lord allows.
Then the next week the care continued. My Bible study girls got me flowers and prayed over me, friends spent time with me, just listening, and I stayed in touch with people. God's concern for me as expressed through his people just overwhelmed me. Finally this weekend my cousins came out for a previously planned visit that was super encouraging for me too.
And on top of all that, we have the resurrection. I mourn my friend because I miss her so much, but I rejoice in knowing that she is healed. There is no more pain, no more sorrow, no more tears, and no more doubts as she looks Jesus face to face, rejoicing with him. Oh how I long to be there with her, and know I will be by the blood, forgiveness, and resurrection of Jesus in whom I believe. I ache when I think of how much I miss her, but know she is well. I can wake up from a dream about her and rejoice that she is with the Lord. What an end! What a savior!!! Oh how my heart aches that all can know this kind of hope and peace even in the midst of grief.
