A Tribute to Candy
With Thanks to Nancy for being Candy's friend and mine,
I felt this was a fitting tribute to share her words with family and friends.
Blessings to all and know that we have a special Angel up there watching over us all. Glen
(from Nancy) August 14, 2007 - 5:33 a.m. Glen called. Candy had gone home about 2 a.m. Somehow I knew even before the phone rang. I had not slept well and had been thinking and praying about her through the night. When my cell phone rang in the mountains, I was not surprised when it said 'Candy-cell' as I had her programmed into my phone. I thought of something I had read by Max Lucado just a few nights before. He said that only God can guide us through the valley. Only He knows the way to get us home. And only God is committed to getting us there safely. He quoted Jesus in John 14:2-3, "There are many rooms in my Father's house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am." He pledges to take us home. He does not delegate this task. He may send missionaries to teach us, angels to protect us, teachers to guide us, singers to inspire us, and physicians to treat us, but He sends no one to take us. He reserves this job for Himself. Throughout the last several months that Candy and Glen went through, I could almost see Jesus with Candy's hand in His and with His arm around Glen's shoulders. It gave me comfort thinking of Jesus personally coming to take her by the hand and lead her home. We had both had the same Jesus vision through the years. We were little blond headed girls (somehow mine was curly in my dream, although I have always had straight hair!), and we were swinging and playing with Jesus. It was curious when we found out that we both had had that same thought of being with Him. She was always one to say we needed to 'play' more and have fun and I know that was true. In growing up, we had apparently both been the serious, responsible, studious ones. She's swinging now with Jesus - just playing, with her blond hair blowing in the wind - no more concerns about thinning hair from chemo, just beautiful golden hair and laughter. No more Tarceva, no more blood tests, no more pain. Thank you, Father, for completely healing her to perfection in Christ Jesus. Thank you for your mercy and thank you for bringing her into my life. Even though the years were not long that we knew each other, she taught me so much and we had a special, special friendship. She taught me how to give as she was such a giver. She taught me about compassion - how to be there for someone. This was, admittedly, not one of my gifts, but I felt honored and privileged and humbled to be able to help her - to take her to treatments and appointments and to be a sounding board. We always held hands in the car as I prayed with her before and after the treatments and while they tried to find a vein, etc., etc. And the last time I ever saw her, July 28 at St. Vincent's hospital, she asked me to hold her hand until she fell asleep. I softly cried as I did and when I slipped out of the room, somehow I knew I would not see her again until the other side. She taught me about obedience. When the Lord calls you to do something, you do it, regardless of such factors as your age; regardless of how much study and personal sacrifice it takes and even if it is only used for a short period of time by our measurements. You do it and you do it exceedingly well and to the glory of the Lord. As difficult as it was, I thank God for allowing me to share this journey. I loved her like a sister. She was my sister - in Christ - the best kind. We laughed together, we cried together, we prayed together, we shared our boys' lives together - Jon, Jeremy, Justin, and my own "J"- Joe. We were Charisma girls together - along with Ann, Janet, Becky, and Roberta. Now Roberta and Candy are together in Heaven, praising our Father like we could only imagine at our Charisma conferences. Why Jesus came for both of them this summer, I don't know, but then I don't have to understand. My Father has a Master plan. I am called to just trust Him. Until I can sing and dance and praise and laugh with you, Candy, I will always love you and try to live the faith you modeled so well. The sun did rise this morning, sparkling like a jewel above the trees. It was glorious as I stood out on the deck. I had always remarked to Steve that it seemed we didn't get many birds at our cabin. But today, as the sun rose, gradually there came a parade of birds - more than I had ever seen! They were singing and darting about, going from feeder to feeder - goldfinches, hummingbirds, wrens, juncos, doves. It was as though God had sent them to sing their songs of joy and praise, and in their midst, I could almost hear her sweet voice, "Hey girl, come out and play."
I felt this was a fitting tribute to share her words with family and friends.
Blessings to all and know that we have a special Angel up there watching over us all. Glen
(from Nancy) August 14, 2007 - 5:33 a.m. Glen called. Candy had gone home about 2 a.m. Somehow I knew even before the phone rang. I had not slept well and had been thinking and praying about her through the night. When my cell phone rang in the mountains, I was not surprised when it said 'Candy-cell' as I had her programmed into my phone. I thought of something I had read by Max Lucado just a few nights before. He said that only God can guide us through the valley. Only He knows the way to get us home. And only God is committed to getting us there safely. He quoted Jesus in John 14:2-3, "There are many rooms in my Father's house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am." He pledges to take us home. He does not delegate this task. He may send missionaries to teach us, angels to protect us, teachers to guide us, singers to inspire us, and physicians to treat us, but He sends no one to take us. He reserves this job for Himself. Throughout the last several months that Candy and Glen went through, I could almost see Jesus with Candy's hand in His and with His arm around Glen's shoulders. It gave me comfort thinking of Jesus personally coming to take her by the hand and lead her home. We had both had the same Jesus vision through the years. We were little blond headed girls (somehow mine was curly in my dream, although I have always had straight hair!), and we were swinging and playing with Jesus. It was curious when we found out that we both had had that same thought of being with Him. She was always one to say we needed to 'play' more and have fun and I know that was true. In growing up, we had apparently both been the serious, responsible, studious ones. She's swinging now with Jesus - just playing, with her blond hair blowing in the wind - no more concerns about thinning hair from chemo, just beautiful golden hair and laughter. No more Tarceva, no more blood tests, no more pain. Thank you, Father, for completely healing her to perfection in Christ Jesus. Thank you for your mercy and thank you for bringing her into my life. Even though the years were not long that we knew each other, she taught me so much and we had a special, special friendship. She taught me how to give as she was such a giver. She taught me about compassion - how to be there for someone. This was, admittedly, not one of my gifts, but I felt honored and privileged and humbled to be able to help her - to take her to treatments and appointments and to be a sounding board. We always held hands in the car as I prayed with her before and after the treatments and while they tried to find a vein, etc., etc. And the last time I ever saw her, July 28 at St. Vincent's hospital, she asked me to hold her hand until she fell asleep. I softly cried as I did and when I slipped out of the room, somehow I knew I would not see her again until the other side. She taught me about obedience. When the Lord calls you to do something, you do it, regardless of such factors as your age; regardless of how much study and personal sacrifice it takes and even if it is only used for a short period of time by our measurements. You do it and you do it exceedingly well and to the glory of the Lord. As difficult as it was, I thank God for allowing me to share this journey. I loved her like a sister. She was my sister - in Christ - the best kind. We laughed together, we cried together, we prayed together, we shared our boys' lives together - Jon, Jeremy, Justin, and my own "J"- Joe. We were Charisma girls together - along with Ann, Janet, Becky, and Roberta. Now Roberta and Candy are together in Heaven, praising our Father like we could only imagine at our Charisma conferences. Why Jesus came for both of them this summer, I don't know, but then I don't have to understand. My Father has a Master plan. I am called to just trust Him. Until I can sing and dance and praise and laugh with you, Candy, I will always love you and try to live the faith you modeled so well. The sun did rise this morning, sparkling like a jewel above the trees. It was glorious as I stood out on the deck. I had always remarked to Steve that it seemed we didn't get many birds at our cabin. But today, as the sun rose, gradually there came a parade of birds - more than I had ever seen! They were singing and darting about, going from feeder to feeder - goldfinches, hummingbirds, wrens, juncos, doves. It was as though God had sent them to sing their songs of joy and praise, and in their midst, I could almost hear her sweet voice, "Hey girl, come out and play."
posted by Janice and Ned @ 8:11 AM
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