Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
Less than 36 hours and I will be on my way back to Guatemala. As usual, I am in the middle of my preflight frenzy with a million things to do for work and a burning desire to clean out my refrigerator, reorganize my closet and clean everything in sight. I don’t know why I have this compulsion to leave a clean house when I travel particularly since husband and oldest son will be home the whole time I am gone. They will probably not even take the trash out once during the week. Despite grant deadlines, meetings and history tours, I took some time to go to a funeral of one of our church members today. Not, much older than I am and blessed with the same name, Cathy Walton was the Director of our church preschool for many years. She was the smiling face who greeted both my boys on their first day of school. A genuine encourager, she helped many moms like me recover from the fear of separation and was gentle when she had to tell us about some mishap our child was involved in. Fifteen years ago, Cathy battled and won the fight against colon cancer. Her doctors told her just last year that she was the longest living colon cancer survivor that they knew. Then, last fall, the cancer returned with a vengeance. Ready to get back at Cathy for winning the first time, the disease hit her hard and fast. By December, she was failing and her family was preparing for her death. As a Believer in Christ, everyone knew where Cathy was headed, but when she settled into that predeath deep sleep at Hospice and lingered there for five weeks, it was very hard. Though they told her she could go on and that they would see her in Heaven, her generous, giving heart kept beating. Finally last week, she slipped away. Though we all mourn her loss, the service today was a true celebration. Friends and family spoke about her, told sweet stories about her life and intermingled with it all was laughter. Because Cathy loved to laugh. Once by one, people told about the tricks she had played, the jokes she had told and the way she loved so boldly and so strongly. But, mostly what they talked about was how she was the living hands and feet of Jesus. Always ready to offer encouragement or a hug. Calling someone out of the blue because God put them on her heart. Showing up on someone’s door with food or a gift. She lived life large and extravagantly with no fear for her future. She faced death square in the eye and did not flinch because she knew where she was going. After the service, several of us commented that we hope when we die, people will speak so well of us because what better thing can we say than someone was like Christ? Or to hear Him say, “Well done.”
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