There was once a woman who was the kindest person I have ever known. She exceled at loving people and making them feel welcome and important. And along with her husband, they were one of the best tag-team married people acts I've ever seen. I love them both dearly and hold a special, reserved place in my heart for both of them - one clearly marked "Dabney and Mary Ellen" and no one else gets real estate in that part of my heart. And I was lucky enough to marry into their family so that made us related - which is one of the most special things that ever happened in my life (both marrying Matt AND getting to keep them). I liked to ask Mary Ellen for advice about "pastor wife-ing" although, her "bishop-wifeing" was a giant step up from that and about life and about people. And I thought about her every time I would imagine the type of woman I'd like to grow up and one day be. Every. Time.
Matt and I aren't the best at expressing uncomfortable emotion. We feel very sad - for ourselves because we'll never get to share laughter with her in this life again - but even more so for her husband, children and grandchildren and the heavy weight of grief they bear. Because we love all of them too. I would never pretend that I know what to say to anyone about it at all. We just know this: We love Mary Ellen. And we will forever.
I just keep thinking this:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb 12:2)
and I am ever so thankful that our God beat death.
"When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we first begun."
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