I first met Diane when she joined our weekly “Moms in Touch” prayer group. She and her family had recently moved to the prairies of Wyoming from the beaches of Georgia, where she had belonged to a similar group. She knew the value of consistent, focused times of prayer for her children and quickly sought out a group to pray with here.
It’s funny how you can feel like you’ve known someone for awhile even though you’ve just met. Fellowship in the Lord is like that. Mothering children of similar ages and stages also creates an instant connection. But opening up your heart and soul in prayer develops an understanding and an intimacy that goes even deeper.
I’m thankful for the time I had with Diane, for she and her family moved back to Georgia within a year, preferring the humid coast to the arid high plains. (And who could blame them?) Wyoming was not their home. It was almost as if they were just passing through, never meant to stay here permanently.
Today I received a call telling me that Diane had been diagnosed with cancer this past fall, and had passed away last month. I hadn’t picked up on the one or two subtle references to health issues and difficulties on her Facebook page during that time. But then, Diane wasn’t one to draw attention to herself. Her focus, during the brief time I knew her, was always on others, especially her three kids.
And just like that, she’s gone.
I bet she prefers the crystal seas of heaven to the barren, in comparison, landscape of this earth. (And who could blame her?) This world was not her home. She was just passing through. She was never meant to stay here permanently.
“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 3:20)
And now I’ve got another friend waiting for me there.
Shelly,
Thank you for your message about Diane. The past months have been a tremendously painful time and her passing has left such an immense hole in my life and that of our kids. We are struggling to adjust to not being able to walk upstairs to talk to her, or to call her on the phone. Sometimes I still forget and accidentally start dialing her cell phone to tell her something. It is all still so very hard to believe.
Her faith carried her through to the end and I pray that God rewarded her for her steadfastness while on earth. She has touched many lives and continues to do so. I cannot describe how very much I miss her company and her physical presence in my life every day.
Thank you for being her friend while we were in Wyoming and after our return to Georgia. It’s strange that while on earth I wanted to spend all my time with her and keep her to myself. Now that she is gone I want to share her with the world so that they too can truly know the girl I met in 8th grade and the woman I was married to for almost 28 years.
Thank you again,
Mark
How very beautiful those words are. Diane has always been an inspiration to me. She continues to do so, through the words of her friends. I have been blessed and thank you for posting.