I’m falling in love with Instagram. I am addicted to my camera and snapping pictures of life, but cameras are bulky and usually awkward to pull out from my purse, but Instagram is easy and quirky and simple. I like simple right now. Last week a young wife and mother from my church went home to Jesus. Her children go to the same school my children have gone to, and both of these communities have poured themselves out in prayer for this young cancer fighting mother of four. I had never met her face to face, but I still knew her story; at least her mother and wife story. To a certain extent, anyone who is a wife and mother knows her story. But what I continue to remind myself daily is what I don’t know, what I haven’t experienced because I have not walked that path. What I don’t know are all the details of all the Jesus giving grace and mercy that took their entire family by the hand down this walk. I have heard them talk of the peace and intimacy they have felt, how that has been their life line. That is a sacred kind of intimacy, one that I suppose we will each feel one day, that kind of supernatural love that crosses over the known and reaches into the depths of our souls and says “I have healed you, come home to Me”. 
I didn’t want to go to her funeral. For two reasons. One, I didn’t think I could mentally handle it; but also I didn’t know her. I knew I would cry, and it seemed to me disrespectful to cry at a funeral of someone you had never met, when so many others would be there weeping for the one they knew so well. Her funeral was at 10:00, and at 9:58 I knew I had to go. I sat in the back corner, of the last row, and never made eye contact with a single person. I wept until my sides hurt. But I cannot say that without also saying I worshiped like I never had before as well, because God was there. His healing was talked about, His story was told, His love was made known…and I had peace for having gone. Peace that the Lord knew I needed, because when I got back to my car I had 13 missed phone calls. My much adored step-father who had gone to the hospital for chest pains, was being wheeled into the operating room for open heart surgery to fix a 95% blockage. And just like that, this world tries to start pulling you into panic, but there is no room for panic when you have been filled with peace. It’s in that peace that I packed a bag, and was in the car driving to my childhood home within the hour. 
He is a healthy man, and went through surgery well. He is now resting at home with a new foot long battle scar down the middle of his chest. I came back home when it was over, and had 30 minutes to pack for our family vacation to the beach. I didn’t know if I would be able to go. There had just been too much I thought, but when I walked back in my house there were three little people bouncing around full of life. Young, whimsical little hearts that keep on beating despite the fact that I felt like mine had stopped a few too many times over the past several days.
And so we walked the quiet path along the Carolina Coast that we love so much, and rested and played in the pools that form at low tide. We received a phone call one afternoon at the beach from the police telling us our house had been broken into. I wish you could have heard the laughter going on in my head as this person on the other end of the line was telling me this. There was nothing else to do but laugh, and I genuinely could have cared less. I mean that with full honesty. I thought to myself “Oh well, now who wants to go steam some shrimp”. It turns out it was a comical series of mistakes, and everything was fine. Unfortunately though, now half of the neighbors on our street have walked through our house and seen for themselves the DISASTER of a home I ignored and walked away from in order to go on vacation. For real ya’ll, this place was despicably disgusting, and that kind of just makes me laugh even more. Because that’s life on this planet. It’s messy. It’s joyful. It’s mournful. It’s busy. It’s chaotic. It’s unpredictable. And though we are overwhelmed, we are still a blessed people, because we know the One that has overcome it all.
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Thank you for writing about my dear friend. She touched so many and will be deeply missed.
Oh, Amy….what a week for you. What a great victory , though, that when you could have shrunk back, instead you ran head first into each challenge with the Lord by your side. I don’t know if I would have done the same. Peace is ours for the taking and I so often choose not to take it or struggle to take it.
Thanks for sharing and encouraging others unknowingly along the way!
Thank you for sharing! Your blog always encourages me! I have had a rough couple of weeks as well. When I read stories like these, it puts my troubles into perspective. Please tell me how you get to the point of hearing your house has been broken into and don’t get upset?!?!! I need that kind of peace! Thanks again for your sweet blog;-)
Wow! God knew exactly what you were going to need in the days following your acquaintance’s funeral. Interesting how he can use even a funeral to minister, isn’t it? Even though you didn’t know this young mother personally, you are sisters in Christ, and I think it is precious that you honored her life as you did. As Moms, we all know the heartache with the news of another mother’s passing. Hurts to even think of.
I love that you were able to laugh at your house being broken into, and then your neighbors having a front row seat at the mess you left behind. Now that is the peace that passes all understanding:-)
He simply amazes me. His desire and ability to prepare us for what He knows is coming is unmistakable. I can look back so many times and realize that He had prepared my heart. I’m in one of those seasons now and am so thankful for His love and mercy in that way. Simply amazing.
Oh girl, that is just pure craziness! So glad all went well with your step-dad! Sounds like he’s doing really well if he’s home already…thank goodness! And the story about your break in….that’s nuts! I did NOT come break in to steal all of your cool chalk painted stuff and chandys. I just thought about it. Totally DID NOT do it, though. LOL!!! Hey, what’s your name on Instagram? I’m on there, too, and love it! I love how easy it is!
Amy
You summed it up by calling your post, “Life.” That your dear sister in the Lord, whom you never met, but know because of His Son, is now experiencing the joy of eternal joy in the presence of the Lord, and eternal LIFE. And, the peace that you had walking from the church, answering your phone, with God’s peace on your shoulders, enabled you to handle the news, and your step-father will have a better LIFE now due to LIFE-saving surgery. I am glad that you are on vacation, and sorry to hear that someone felt the need to break into your lovely home (do not believe it could EVER look messy, however). That’s how the enemy operates, but now praying the hedge of protection around your home for you, that your LIFE, the way you handle news, is a testimony to other’s LIVES, my dear sweet sister in the Lord. I showed your blog to my daughter, and said, “She is so sweet, and has prayed for us and now we pray for her!” XO
Don’t we all want our funerals to be worship services where people leave filled to the brim with God’s peace and joy and comfort? I do.
Glad your stepdad is recovering and so glad you went on vacation.
Now, I went back and read your post a couple times because I think you said that there was a mistake and that no one broke into your home, after all. I sure hope not!!! How humbling to have friends and family go through your house when it’s chaotic and dirty because you were just trying to get onto your vacation! I’m BAD about thinking that my house has to be clean and straight before I leave. But, there is freedom in just leaving!! I’m learning to do that slowly but surely.
{work in progress}
thankful that God’s peace has carried you…..praying for the family who lost this dear woman.