It has been 10 years today since my cousin Shannon was murdered in her home in Maryland five days after her 25th birthday. It isn't the easiest date to remember and while I still think of the events of that day (as they affected my life and the lives of my family), I have spent the day trying to focus on the memories of her and her life instead. I told my husband a few days ago that it some ways it seemed like a long time, and yet, it didn't. Because I can still picture her at a family reunion, I can hear how she talked, how she laughed.
I feel a little robbed sometimes, because we had just really discovered our friendship in our 20s. We were competitors and often enemies in childhood, and suddenly in our late teens, I think we both woke up and realized we had a lot in common. Shared faith, values, family, preferences. I still remember our last phone conversation and the deep things we discussed. My last two cards were an Easter card (the first she'd ever sent me) and a graduation card (I graduated from college that year). Whenever a birth or a death touches our family, I wish she was there to share the joy or the grief.
Today I'm grateful. Grateful because I didn't have unspoken thoughts. I picked up the phone and called her to tell her I loved her, was thinking about her, not long before she died. I'm glad I had her friendship and her esteem. She told me some of the most important things about myself. She knew to share with me the good things that others said about me. I'm grateful for Easter and the promise of heaven. And for the certainty that I will see her again.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
"For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.-Romans 8:35-39
4 comments:
Wow, R, that's incredibly touching and a very sweet perspective on loosing a loved one. Thank you for sharing this. I can't tell you how in blessed me.
There isn't much I can say in response to your touching post, except that it brings out both the sorrow and the hope you face even after 10 years.
-- SJ
It's really wonderful to not have any regrets in regard to your friendship with her. It's a reminder and inspiration to us all, to speak up and say, "I care about you," when we do.
I can relate to the pain and the joy, as it's the same on Dec 30th for me. Blessings on you, dear friend, as you choose to celebrate the life of one you loved.
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