Alysa was a woman filled with joy. She wouldn’t want this day to be one of sadness, but gladness. For those of you that didn’t know her in her youth she was always adventurous; often times running into streets and parking lots to see what was around her world. That’s also something about her, she saw the world around her with a different point of view, and I’m not just saying this because she was a photographer. Rather, she would find most things we would miss; she always seemed to see the person left behind, the child in the corner, or the old woman who needed help; she had a servants heart. Alysa was always willing to help and serve others often times putting aside her desires so that another may feel wanted, accepted, heard and loved.
That was one of her strengths, love. She loved well, she met people where they were at and loved them in the capacity she could. She loved with passion, desire and purpose. She loved with quiet strength, never trying to be in the limelight or for praise, but simply because she wanted and desired to. Over her life Alysa would have told you that she struggled with finding her voice and confidence, yet it was found in her writing, often times hidden in her journals. She would say that she found volume in her words when God revealed to her that you didn’t need to be the loudest, smartest, or most talented, instead just being obedient to Papa’s voice and through that obedience is what makes people hear the Father’s heart.
Alysa, would be the first to admit that she didn’t really step into her relationship with God till He broke her down to only build her back up in reliance on Him. Through that then she chose a life of abandonment of the things of the world and a radical life with Christ. Her relationship with Abba was beautiful to watch, you could tell when she was basking in His presence and being filled. You could see how she always wanted more, so she could give more of Papa’s love to those around her. So, lets celebrate her time on Earth, but lets give praise for she is finally where she always longed to be, home for that is where her heart always was, home with her Heavenly Father.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever!”
–Psalm 118:24–
