It’s a conflicting feeling when heartache and relief
collide. A few days ago I received word that someone very dear to me had been
diagnosed with brain and lung cancer.
Today I was told that she passed away.
Tears stream from my face as I write this; grief is heavy in my heart.
As I stare out my window, rain is falling from the sky; I think creation is
grieving as well. And yet, there is a
place deep, deep within me relieved about her passing. She is no longer in pain
and is now with the Lord.
collide. A few days ago I received word that someone very dear to me had been
diagnosed with brain and lung cancer.
Today I was told that she passed away.
Tears stream from my face as I write this; grief is heavy in my heart.
As I stare out my window, rain is falling from the sky; I think creation is
grieving as well. And yet, there is a
place deep, deep within me relieved about her passing. She is no longer in pain
and is now with the Lord.
Her name was Ruth, and she was aptly named. Just as the Biblical
Ruth portrayed the character of love and loyalty, so did my friend. When I was
a child, she and her husband, Joe, lived next door to my family. My dad worked
at Allstate while my mom stayed home to raise my two sisters and me. At the age
of 26, my mom had three kids all under the age of 7. Ruth played an important
role in all of our lives.
Ruth portrayed the character of love and loyalty, so did my friend. When I was
a child, she and her husband, Joe, lived next door to my family. My dad worked
at Allstate while my mom stayed home to raise my two sisters and me. At the age
of 26, my mom had three kids all under the age of 7. Ruth played an important
role in all of our lives.
My older sister and I would hang out with Ruth on a daily
basis. I remember standing at her front door, staring through the screen,
asking if I could come in. She always let us into her home. She always had
mints and butterscotch candies too. Whenever it was time to leave, she would
pick me up and give me a big hug saying, “I’m gonna squeeze your guts out!� It
made me giggle every time.
basis. I remember standing at her front door, staring through the screen,
asking if I could come in. She always let us into her home. She always had
mints and butterscotch candies too. Whenever it was time to leave, she would
pick me up and give me a big hug saying, “I’m gonna squeeze your guts out!� It
made me giggle every time.
As a child, I was unable to grasp the depth of this woman’s
heart and the breadth of her influence. However, as an adult I have a much
broader perspective and deeper gratitude towards her. Ruth was an encourager, mentor
and faithful friend to my mother. She was my cheerleader, comforter, protector,
and friend. I could go on forever describing her character, but simply put, she
was Ruth.
heart and the breadth of her influence. However, as an adult I have a much
broader perspective and deeper gratitude towards her. Ruth was an encourager, mentor
and faithful friend to my mother. She was my cheerleader, comforter, protector,
and friend. I could go on forever describing her character, but simply put, she
was Ruth.
Ruth faithfully sowed love and kindness into my family. I am
reaping an incredible inheritance because of it. Her power of influence
transcends time, geographic location, and now even death. She is forever a part of my family and my
life.
reaping an incredible inheritance because of it. Her power of influence
transcends time, geographic location, and now even death. She is forever a part of my family and my
life.
Ruth, I have no doubt that when you got to heaven, the Lord
greeted you with a big hug saying, “I’m gonna squeeze your guts out!�
greeted you with a big hug saying, “I’m gonna squeeze your guts out!�
You are loved and you will be missed. Thank you for loving us
so well.
so well.
Ruth with her kids
