I last talked with my friend Sara (@gitzengirl) about three weeks ago. We were planning my trip to Iowa to see her this Thanksgiving. We were both so excited about this long overdue visit. Now, just a few short weeks later, I’m Map Questing my way to Iowa in hopes that I may be able to attend her funeral service.
The Lord can change our plans in an instant.
Sara has been sick, very sick, for a long while, and while we knew that this day would eventually come, I think we had all hoped and prayed that it wouldn’t. At least not for a long time. I received the news that her condition had taken a serious turn about a week ago. It’s been a long week full of lots of tears and heartache for me. But I know that my weepiness and selfish longing for her is not what Sara would want. I hear her in my ear reminding me of God’s goodness, of our hope in heaven, of her peace, and the joy that she experiences every day. That’s our Sara, our consummate encourager.
My best effort to honor Sara in her last days is to try and do exactly what I know she would want me to do: Not focus on the loss of her passing, but rather sing praise and rejoice in the life that she has lived.
Through Sara’s friendship I have had the blessing of learning first hand what “a life lived well” is supposed to look like. I have seen pureness of spirit up close in person. I have been given the priceless gift of experiencing what we were created to be on earth displayed for me through the love of my dear friend.
I have seen humility.
I have seen grace.
I have seen kindness.
I have seen selflessness.
I have seen mercy.
I have seen patience.
I have seen trust.
I have seen forgiveness.
I have seen love. True love. 1 Corinthians 13 style love given freely to me and countless others.
Sara has taught me that living my life well isn’t about me. It’s not about what I do, or what I have, or who I know. Living life well is all about what we choose. Joy. Peace. Love.
Sara, thank you for all of the times you have held my heart, kept my secrets, and prayed over the hopes and dreams of me, my marriage, and my family. I love you more than you will ever know.
If you have a favorite Sara story or blog post of hers please leave it in the comments below so we can all reflect on her well lived life.
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13 Responses to Living Well
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Absolutely beautiful, Nicole. I lost a friend earlier this year and I know that it will be an incredibly difficult time for you. I have chosen to live life a little differently and more in the moment based on my experience with my friend and her death, and I think that’s a great way to honor them. Praying for you and your friends during this difficult time.
Thanks Nicole for sharing… she has had such an incredible impact on me though I have never had a chance to “in person” meet her. She continually inspires me.
I think some of my favorite memories of her have to do with her sense of humor… she is a sassy one and I just love that about her! My favorite pic of her is the one Jessica took not too long ago with Elias… how I love that pic of Sara – it just exemplifies who she is – spontaneous and over-the-top joyful…
I’m going to miss her too… though she is going to be forever in my heart. You never know the people who are going to come into your life and change it for the better forever. Sara has been like that to me.
i love this. i read this on my phone when i was out and about this morning… but i had to come back and remind you how much i love you and am so glad we share our love for Sara.
I met Sara through your blog, actually. One day, over a year ago, I saw a comment she had left here that was full of beauty and grace. I thought to myself, “I want to know this person,” and followed her back to her blog.
It was such a blessing to me to be able to peek into her life and read the words of her heart for the past year, even though I was not able to meet her in person. She touched my life in a huge way.
I met Sara in the comments section of Pete Wilson’s blog and discovered we live 5 miles apart. We became friends even though I insisted she try weird foods and she spit half of them out. She’s such a farm girl eater; I am not. That (and our age difference) didn’t stand in the way of us becoming dear IRL friends, and she said Riley liked me best. If she told the rest of you that, I don’t want to know. I’ll never forget the look on her face when she first ate pomegranates. “Where have these been?? Are they NEW??” “I’m pretty sure Jesus ate pomegranates, Sara. They may have even been put on the Ark. Just savor the explosion in your mouth.” “NO, I just want to EAT them!!” Oh how I’ll miss her. But oh, how the angels will rejoice with their new sister, as I selfishly grieve her flight Home.
For anyone coming to Iowa to bid final good-byes, I would love to meet you and help you navigate your journey through our little neck of the woods. She has told me about so many of you and loves you so much.
oh friend…tears.
never have i seen one person loved so deeply.
i will miss her so badly. her voice, her laugh, her humor, her example of right living and loving. but now…heaven will be blessed by all of that…and more.
I love you, too. xoxo
I don’t think I can afford to come in.
Darn hotels.
It’s still hard to believe that we won’t be speaking with her again. Heartbroken.
I’m so glad you clicked through to her blog! Reading that has made my entire blog worth the effort. She is so amazing.
What a great tribute to your friend. Bless you.
I love that picture so much. She is truly amazing.
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