Why I’m going to Melissa’s funeral
A lot of people, my parents included, have asked me why I’m going to a funeral for a woman that I have not spoken to in nearly a decade. I’m going to answer that right now.
Melissa was a friend of mine many years ago. Through circumstances that relate in no way to her, I chose to walk away from a lot of friendships, including hers. These were my issues and my demons to deal with. There are many people that I have cherished getting back in touch with since. As I became more and more acclimated on Facebook, I started looking up different people, Melissa included. I couldn’t find her, but I’d become friends on FB with both of her sisters in law. It was through them that I discovered Melissa’s condition. I remember months ago, hoping to talk to her, calling Ben and letting him know that I would be following their journey and letting them know that I was praying for them. I joined their CaringBridge page and fulfilled my promise of following their journey and lifting Melissa and Ben up to the Lord.
Every entry in that journal showed me a glimpse of a woman who loved the Lord more than I could ever imagine anyone doing. She showed me what faith looks like. She showed me what it was to fight. She became one of my greatest heroes.
Looking back, one of the greatest lessons that Melissa taught me was that every friendship is precious. I look back at the past decade and all the amazing men and women I had been blessed to call my friend that I walked away from and I’m filled with a sense of loss. Now I look on at the new friendships that I have made and the ones that I’ve begun to repair and I treat them with much more care. I know that I won’t be able to reconnect to everyone and I know that not every story will move me to cross the country for a chance to say goodbye. I do know, however, that I will never again walk away from someone I love because I’m running away from myself.
In the time that we were friends, Melissa was a good friend to me. She smiled and laughed and was full of life and just a beautiful, vivacious young woman. I am sad to have lost her here on this earth and am looking forward to seeing her in the courtyard of our King.
http://tinyurl.com/jesuslovesyouthisiknow
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