{This beautiful canvas was created by my friend, Angela.}
Yesterday I attended the funeral of a friend. I am shaken, but I know Jesus is good all of the time and my friend is free of all worry and pain. She is with her Savior in full peace.
I am honored that I am able to refer to her as my friend. She lived her life in a way that honored and glorified God. She was not ashamed of the gospel!
Angela survived two heart transplants and cancer in between the transplants. Her story was not one of valleys, but rather mountains. She looked to God and His faithfulness. She recognized that she was blessed and kept by her Creator. Yes, she endured much yet this is not what defined her. Her definition was that she was God's daughter and His love.
As I sat and listened to a man sing Chris Tomlin's song "I Will Rise", I happened to look over at Angela's mama. She had her hand up praising Jesus. My heart broke and it was convicted at the same time. This woman's baby girl no longer walks this earth. She will not be able to embrace her or touch her beautiful body until she goes to be with her Creator. Yet, she was giving God glory and praising Him. What beauty in such brokenness.
As I watched this, I questioned my faithfulness to my Lord. How often do I grumble rather than praise? How often do I forget to look to God because I am wallowing in self pity? My heart has a lot of work to do. However, I am confident that God doesn't give up on His babies. He loves us just the way we are. He loves us even when we are a turtle and inching our way towards His safety and protection.
I want to be more purposeful with each day. I want to see God's beauty in the mundane of life. I want to honor Him more with my words, thoughts, and actions. I want my desire to praise Him to come through in all areas of my life. This is how my friend lived each minute. God was always at the beginning and end of her thoughts and actions.
I thank God for allowing my heart to know Angela. She is the definition of a woman after God's heart. Her husband said something during the service that summed up his beautiful wife. He said, "Looking at Angela was like looking at Scripture."
May our lives look like God's word in each and every moment He gives us breathe to walk His earth.
