I KNOW THIS IS LONG. PLEASE READ ALL OF IT!
The thought of heaven for some is only when a loved one passes on, and then only maybe. Many spend their whole lives never knowing anything about the after life. However, for Laurie Lee, the realism is too close; it is her.
Many times you have heard me speak of my best friend Erin. Her very good friend (for more than 25 years) is battling cancer, and the doctors say that the battle is almost over, but not in Laurie Lee’s favor. Well, that is not true because she has the favor of God, and that is all she needs!
I have never heard of such great courage in my life!
Though I have personally not met Laurie Lee, I feel that I truly know her. We share our hearts with the same great friend and the same great Savior! Because of the many, many times she has come in our girl talk, I know that she is an amazing woman of God!!!
If I had to say one thing about Laurie Lee, this is the picture that has been painted to me:
“Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for You” (Ps 25:21)
It breaks my heart to hear
Erin
‘s crackling voice when she speaks of Laurie Lee. I am without words. I know that she loves her deeply! When a friendship is so deeply rooted, there is an attachment that even a “godly death” can not alleviate the pain. I do pray that Holy Spirit, our Comforter, would consume both their hearts!
Here is an email from Greg, Laurie Lee’s husband:
“
Erin
, this is Greg, it is Friday morning. I just wanted you to know that we saw the doctors again, yesterday.
Basically, since you left (about 2 weeks ago) she’s been spiraling downward and the pain has been increasing. We had a biopsy done on one of her lymph nodes.
The kind of cancer she has is one of the worst, aggressive types.
The doctors told us to contact her friends and family to let them know it is very probable that Laurie won’t be with us very long.
I ask you to continue to pray for a miracle of God.
We ask that you join us for a weekly fast on Mondays.
We beseech God on her behalf. As you know, she’s prepared to go, be with her Lord.
She is medicated well.
I
pray God heals her on this side; I know she’ll be healed on the other side.
We pray she responds well to the medication and that the pain is managed.
We love you and know God is good.”
Greg’s call was followed by a call from Susan, a friend of Laurie’s in
Lynchburg
. Lauren, Laurie’s oldest
was to be married in November.
The wedding has been moved to this Friday, May 4th. Susan also told me she had a great talk with Laurie the day she had the biopsy (and heard the news about her type of cancer).
Laurie was given the prognosis of 2 – 3 weeks before she’d be with Jesus.
As Laurie sat on the bed, processing the news, she looked around at her friends who had come to hold her hand, she smiled and said with all sincerity, “Isn’t this a beautiful day?”
She truly knows the value of good friends.
She and Greg asked each of
their 5 children to come to her bedside, one-by-one, as they told them the news the doctors gave.
Isabelle (10) and Frances (12) took the news with the greatest difficulty; the older children
Jordan (18), Scott (20), and Lauren (22) were heartbroken.
All of them are trusting God through this process.
Their world has been shaken violently and they have chosen to bless the name of the Lord.
Now you see why I am without words. There is no faith (or heroism) that can stand to the hope in Jesus Christ when you know that you are dying (but not perishing!). How, except through the power of the Resurrected Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
“
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him”
(Pr 3:5f)
“
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple
” (Ps 27:4)
”
For My thoughts
are not your thoughts,
Nor
are your ways My ways, ‘says the LORD’
For
as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts” (Is 55:8f)
To Laurie Lee, a very special woman indeed. I am so sorry for what you have to endure. May you be strengthened, encouraged, and HEALED, in Jesus Name! Please know that you are loved, and powerful prayers are going up for you and your family!
PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR THIS AMAZING FAMILY. Please pray for Erin too!
