The crowd attending the blind woman’s memorial service filled the church and spilled into the foyer. From the foyer entrance, my eyes swept across the mourners. It was interesting to note the mixed culture in attendance; a variety of races, genders, denominations and political persuasions were present.
Following greetings and music, opportunity was given for individuals to express fond remembrances of the blind woman. The heartfelt stories were consistent in remembering her good humor, her sincere love of family, each individual and her God. For close to an hour, many shared how she freely poured into them with truth and encouragement.
For 3 years, I had the privilege of visiting her as hospice nurse. With sadness I watched the progression of the terminal illness, taking her total vision and disfiguring her face. Her sadness never was about her pain, her looks or inconvenience. It was always about her not being the wife, mother and friend she thought she should be.
Her questions were about how to understand God better, how to get closer to Him. Her pain was about people who didn’t seem to be that interested in having a close relationship with God or those who would call her with the same problem over and over without the willingness to think and do what was right.
Despite the long, painful and debilitating illness, she continued to unconditionally love, encourage those who reached out to her and grow closer to God. She fought her illness and the emotional/ spiritual illness of those around her through prayer, meditation and Bible study.
My last visit with her was as a friend and not a nurse. As usual, she asked about my well being, as well as that of my loved ones, remembering the names of those dear to me.
I sensed there was an accepting peace about the blind woman that day. Not so many questions and disappointments concerning people. She expressed acceptance that people make poor choices but those poor choices could bring them to a better place as they experienced the negative consequences.
Now, my friend the blind woman, expressed assurance that her dear Friend and Savior Jesus had heard her many prayers, had lifted her burdens and had hidden her in a very safe place of trust in Him. I couldn’t miss her journey of patient walking and waiting through very hard times.
But the best part of the visit was recognizing her greater peace came from truly surrendering it all to the Lord and believing Him to fix it. Thank you my friend for sharing your journey with me and for your courageous example of faith. I will not forget your source of strength as I struggle with the same.
“ But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. “ Isaiah 40:31 TLB