The phone call came in a day before my friend was to come home after her 2nd knee surgery. It was a call that stalled the hands of the clock. You see Marci was my special friend. we shared the same surgery, and many moments of insightful talks, clever laughs and artful dreams. Marci crossed my path during my work with Avon a few years back. She embodied the perfect representative. A teachable spirit, giving heart and creative in all her ideas.
It's no mistake she became a friend. This woman walked a path in life that the weary or fearful in heart would have crawled into oblivion to. I know in her path she picked up many broken "birds" along the way. Yet she came to me as one of those "birds" needing a bit of mending herself. I opened my heart to her thinking it was I who helped her. Nay. It was the opposite.
The call stunned my world. "Did you get the email? Did you know? Marci died this morning." SILENCE. Breathless I stated, "What are you talking about? She was fine last night, this can't be true." Yes it was. I simply burst into tears that wouldn't stop flowing. So did my friend on the other line. In unbelief we wailed at this loss, wavering on the fence of denial and anger that it could happen. I got off the phone and frantically searched my journals looking for glimpse I wrote about her. I tried to find that thread in our history to pull myself into this new reality. Her face shone before me, "I am OK, don't be sad, I saw heaven and here I am."
My memories of her slid through my thoughts like a slide show. Her smile, the wisdom with humorous quips her honest soulful brown eyes which contained a well lived life. The last time we met, she brought her final scrapbook project she was giving to her son Scott. She took me through each and every page with a pride and love only a mother can know and feel. Not only that she showed me her incredible artistic talent up until that time was carefully hidden. I was in awe of her talent and ability. We spoke about painting together so she could feel the paint and practice of art.
We then moved to the table for lunch. We had Italian Wedding soup with bread, shared about our children and lives. She loved them each and everyone. Yet her concern for her daughters and grand children brought alarm to my soul. We prayed together, each recommitting our lives to follow Jesus all our days and that our children would do the same. They too have struggled with choices in life that crippled them with addictshuns. May her prayers for them be fulfilled in all ways.
I gave her my amplified Bible which she clung to her heart as if it were the Lord himself, writing in the cover a remembrance of our day together. We both shed tears that day of joy and sorrow. Healing and cleansing. I know my sister Marci is in heaven decorating with Jesus all the mansions he is preparing for us. She's that bright and lovely you know!
So today I bid farewell to my friend and near a sister, Marci. my soul is raw. it's heart wrenching to say an earthly goodbye to such a friend. the service today was lovely, deeply moving and i pray mountains of God's healing mercy for her family. May her daughters, grandchildren carry on with the strength of their mother. Blessings on her son Scott who carries the twinkle of her spirit within him. God's tenderest mercy on her father, brothers and sisters for their loss. her husband not forgotten - to you Jim whom she loved with all her heart - your new chapter has just begun. She's smiling on you forever... she lives within our heart and certainly will welcome us all at the pearly gates!
So all your who fight addiction or love an addict. Be sure and know that our life is fragile. Addiction hangs you on the edge of life and death. Not only that but the people who love you too. Choose life. Choose Health. Get help and make yourself whole.
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