Today Nick and I gave testimonies, or well I gave the short version of my testimony. Who knew I would still choke up about talking about things of the past? I definitely did not.
From broken hearts, to losing people that I absolutely adored and forever made an impact on my life. If you know me well, you already know who these people are. My dad I have already mentioned in past blogs, but I have yet to tell you about Ashley. Who was such a big part of my life. Who I am mentioning now, because she is part of my testimony and her testimony is worth telling.
Last summer, at age 14, Ashley passed away. She was literally like my litte sister. I had originally met her when she was 2 turning 3 and I was 12 turning 13. All her life she had struggled with cyctic fibrosis, which constantly left her breathless, and in hospitals for the majority of her life. Oh but she was such a figher. Time and time again she was told she wouldn't make it to her next birthday or the next Christmas and so on.
With such a love for Jesus I would witness her in the hospital witnessing to nurses, doctors, other patients and basically anyone who she could come into contact with. She was beautiful and so full of a joy that could have only came from God. People were naturally drawn to her and truly she would listen to the pain of others while going through more pain than they felt.
I know how could I compare pain, but this was a girl constantly being told she was going to die, that her father on numerous accounts said he didn't want her, that she could never have children, and who on a daily basis was proded with needles and needed physio therapy daily to break up flem so she could breath. Could you imagine being told this not to mention other things she shared with me that I cannot share and yet she still held on the Jesus daily.
She was simply amazing. At age 5 she understood what it truly meant to be baptised. As I recall her going to the pastor explaining why she needed to be baptised and him being speechless that such words were coming out her mouth.
Ashley was always viberant and never a bore to be near. Laughter and joy were constantly erroding from her and infecting everyone around her. What a beautiful sight to behold it was. I was blessed to know who she was and how she loved. She showed the world that in all things there could still be hope, and that joy could be had amidst any circumstance.
You can probably tell I could go on about her, there are countless stories that I have with her and about her. However, I feel it would turn into a novel because really there is no way to turn a whole life into a short blog. Even though this is no longer short.
