Yesterday, I shared something about my past that will always be ingrained in my memory – my best friend’s tragic death when I was 22 from a drunk driving accident. Today, I want to share how this came full circle for me 27 years after her death.
My bestie was 24, a ton of fun, and beautiful when she was tragically killed. We went everywhere together. When you saw her, you saw me. We worked at the same place, lived together for a short time, and we both loved people, especially all the people at the local pub.
But all that came to an abrupt end on November 27, 1989. It’s a call I will never forget. It’s not every day a police officer rings your house phone at 5 am asking for information on your best friend and informs you that she was transported to the hospital in serious condition.
Life sure did change and if you want to know the details, check out yesterday’s blog, “The Lord Is Always Watching You: Come Home.” The Lord Is Always Watching You: Come Home
This all came full circle for me in 2016.
My new best friend of many years was losing her mother to advanced breast cancer. Her mom was so sweet, and I had an opportunity to see her many times during the battle. I spent lots of time at the hospital and helping where I could. I tried to be as supportive as possible.
I knew what it was like to lose a loved one to cancer. I had traveled that difficult road in 2009 with my baby brother. The days are long, and the nights are longer as they continue their downhill progression. All you can do is be as supportive as possible. It’s nothing you can control.
My friend’s mother was winding down her time here on earth and the doctor thought it best to move her to hospice to make her comfortable. After many weeks with her mom, my friend had to travel back home to Virginia for urgent business that could not be helped. Being that I had prior experience in a hospice facility with my brother, I volunteered to sit with her mom, so she wasn’t alone. Given the doctor’s assessments, they figured she had at least five days or more. My friend was returning as quickly as possible.
As her mom’s time drew closer, I called my friend and told her that I thought it was time I spend the night with her mom in hospice. I knew the time was getting closer and my friend was due to arrive the next morning, so she agreed.
On November 26, 2016, I spent the night in the hospice room. What I didn’t tell you yesterday was that my father died on November 26, 1990. He died just a few short hours from the first anniversary of my best friend’s death. Talk about a double whammy. I lost two of the closest people in my life within a year.
So here I was, laying in this dark and quiet hospice room, watching my friend’s mom breathe every breath, praying she would be around long enough to see her daughter one more time.
As morning dawned just after 7 am, on November 27, I couldn’t help but remember my best friend’s death when I was 22. It was the 27th anniversary of her passing. Twenty-seven years prior, I was standing in the middle of an emergency room waiting area.
And then it hit me. It had all come full circle for me. Here I was on November 27, 2016, 27 years later, sitting in a hospice facility with my new best friend’s mom waiting and watching. My friend was set to arrive at any moment. A few hours later, she arrived, and I went home and took a nap.
Later that afternoon, I went and revisited her mom and stayed for a short time.
When I got home, my phone rang, letting me know she passed away about 15 minutes after leaving. I grabbed my purse and went back to the hospice facility.
I lost my best friend on November 27, 1989. Twenty-seven years later, I found myself comforting my new best friend in losing her mother on November 27, 2016. Isn’t that amazing? Again 27. That still blows my mind.
The Lord brought my new best friend and me together in 2004, and although she is ten years younger than me and opposite in a lot of ways, we have one foundational thing in common – our love for Jesus. My new best friend discipled me for many years and helped me grow spiritually. She loved Jesus and still does. And we are still besties today. Even though we now live in different states, we will always share great memories. More importantly, is our passion to share Jesus with others. He changed our lives, bringing both of us out of the pits of darkness.
Maybe you are wandering around in the dark, and you wonder if the Lord even knows you. Let me assure you he does. He knows you and sees you. And here’s another thing – he loves you. Trust me when I say the Lord can change your life and bring you from the depths of the deep into a wonderful and loving relationship with him if you allow him.
Neither my best friend nor I saw it coming, but we are glad we didn’t. We might have kept running. Oh Lord, we are so thankful!
There isn’t anything you have done to keep the Lord from loving you. Trust me, I know.
“Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.” Proverbs 28:14
“As has just been said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15
Thank you for stopping by today.
Blessings to you!
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