I came across a blog the other day of a darling young mother who passed away recently at the age of 28 from Lukemia. There were pictures of her with her handsome husband, and a beautiful 5 year daughter. You could see the disease taking its toll, she didn't look like herself in the most recent pictures. My heart ached for her family. So many feelings re-surfaced for me upon reading about her death. My thoughts went out to her parents, her sister, her husband, her daughter, her friends...everyone who loved her and will miss her so much. I wondered to myself how different dealing with death is when you are anticipating it....knowing it is imminent watching a loved one suffer in pain. What I know for sure, is that it is the hardest test I have ever had to bear, but did not bear alone or without comfort.
I have been thinking a lot about how my soul is comforted...every single day. I know this young mothers family will be blessed with that same comforting spirit. I can't help but share an incredible story of comfort for us after Natalie's passing. It was the day after her funeral, and the phone rang, it was a young woman from our Morningside Ward. Kent had been her Sunday School teacher over the years. She asked if she and some of her friends could come and visit us. Of course we said yes. Shortly thereafter the door bell rang, and there stood Laura Caballero and about a dozen of her friends all dressed in their Sunday best. We invited them in where they proceded to form a large half circle in our family room and sang to us these three hymns:
"Be Still my Soul"
"Families can be Together Forever "
"God be With You"
We wept. Not out of sadness, but out of complete assurance and joy that we knew without a doubt that Natalie was not gone forever, but that we are seperated for a short time and we will be together again. What a incredible gift of the spirit that these kids brought into our home. No doubt they have all gone on to serve missions, get married, and perhaps could even be parents now. But I am forever grateful for the peace they brought to my soul that day. I list their names below in hopes that you might know them or they might even see their own name and know what a incredible gift they gave us that day. Never again can I sing any of these Hymns without it profoundly touching me.
Laura Caballero
Rachel Crosby
Maloree Hunt
Laura Wintch
Kindra Pectol
Peter Anderson
Erin McClean
Elliott Bueler
Ashley Wilkey
Gregory Anderson
Vannessa Garcia
David Oliver
Cindee Perry
Lex Howard
Denise Cyr
After leaving our home, they let us know that they were going to go to Natalies grave site to sing to her also. I know for a fact that it comforted her as well. What a beautiful tribute to her.
