Remembering

I hoped this photo would portray in some way how I feel about a good friend who I am missing. The pink awareness bracelet I have been wearing since she told us of her news of breast cancer in January of 2006. The letter, a thank you note she gave me after some of us traveled to Oklahoma City to hear her give her testimony and sing. A scripture she clung to in a very hard time of coping with a serious illness. A bracelet I bought one week before she passed away. It has been exactly one year.



Sherry was a mom to four wonderful kids, wife to a sweet husband, teacher, sister, daughter, friend. We all learned so much from her as she fought so hard. How to stay strong in your faith, use your experience to witness to others, let God hold you when you are down.



In April of last year she wrote me this e-mail. I don't think she would mind me sharing it here because it holds such a promise of hope and lessons for us all. Here's what she said:



"I have been telling God that I will serve him and share my story in any way he wishes. I have told him I am willing to talk to women one on one who are going through something similar or I will sing or speak...whatever. I know you think talking is no big deal for me, but speaking to large groups of people is not easy for me. But I told Him I was willing. I want to be used!!! So a couple of weeks ago I got sooooooo tired and just down and out. I had to make myself read my devotions and I wasn't super faithful. But one day I was reading in my new favorite devo book, "Streams in the Desert". And the text was about resting when God provides rest that you so desperately need so you will be ready to serve Him when He calls. I was feeling guilty about laying in bed and not being out there serving God and teaching school. I just kept thinking if I had enough faith I should be stronger. Anyway this devotion really spoke to me, so I called school and told them I was taking a couple of weeks off and would be back when I got rested, and I stayed home from church on Wed. and Sun. I am now feeling soooooo much better! And then I get this phone call from the Pastor at Southern Hills BC in OKC telling me that their church is emphasisizng their prayer ministry in the evening service this sunday and he was wondering if I could come share a testimony and sing, That church has been very faithful to pray for me and send me notes. I was so overwhelmed at the way God works. So I said yes! Pray for me Sunday. I want to do this and to serve God in this way, but I don't want to wear myself out. Alecia, I feel so honored that God wants to use me when I have made so many mistakes along life's journey. I don't believe for one second tha he caused or even allowed my cancer, but that fact that he wants to use me through it is so humbling and amazing. I have never been so in love with my Father than I am today!!!!
Sher "


What an amazing testimony! Jesse and I thought Sherry's friendship and the lessons learned from her were so important, that we used her middle name, Gayle, to be Emma's middle name.
How neat it will be to share with our daughter about this wonderful woman who is her namesake!



I miss her pretty alto voice in Praise Team on Sunday mornings. I miss her "getting in trouble" with Kary or Valerie during choir practice for cracking jokes or talking. I miss her compliments and encouragement to sing on my own. I miss her visits on the phone to talk about the kids or just to say, "Can the boys come to your house and play?" when she needed a break.



But I see her all the time in her family. I noticed not long ago her mother's hands look like hers. She's funny like her daddy. Maddy is a little momma and has mannerisms that are alarmingly like Sherry's. Grant looks so much like her. Will and Brayden are such gentlemen, taught well and loved so much.



So, I continue to wear my pink bracelets for others that have fought the same battle and are fighting right now and to remember a friend who taught us how to have hope and courage and never doubt the love of our Father.