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| Christina looking forward with her Auntie Jen |
Christina went to be with Jesus
six months ago today. In many
ways, it seems like yesterday and yet it seems like so long ago, we were
wondering how long she would be with us.
We were walking day by day with no idea which day would be her last on
this earth. Her last day came on June 13th, 2013.
After many delays, Christina’s
memorial headstone was put in place this week. I have visited the cemetery so often and hoped every day
that I would see that stone in place.
Finally on Wednesday, it was completed. I got the call and burst into tears. My sister, Jennifer and I bundled up
Isaiah and drove quickly to the
cemetery and met my husband, Doug there.
More tears. Finally. The remembrance stone that tells her
story.
I have loved walking through
cemeteries for as long as I can remember.
Not because I am morbid, but because I love people and their
stories. I love to honor those
that have completed their lives on this earth by standing for a moment and
wondering—
What was their life like?
Did they love life?
Why did they die so young?
How did they live so long?
Does anyone still remember them?
Did they know the One who made
them?
I love headstones that tell a
story. Of course, not all the
details but enough to know the essence of the life lived.
Doug Nevill, Doug Ahmann (too
many Dougs) and I labored over this stone. We wanted Christina’s life to be understood by those who
stop to read. We wanted it to
reflect her joy, her courage, and her wonderful God. We wanted Isaiah to understand a bit of his heritage as he
grows. We thought it important
that “mother of Isaiah” was part of her permanent history. Little Isaiah will see his name there
and know that he had a mom who was proud of him. It is the only other name on this stone besides her own.
The tree on the front is an artist's rendering of the tree on our bluff that Christina loved so much. She had a drawing of that tree on her wedding invitations. It is a bit of what she loved in this world.
And we have her life verse. Timid by nature, she learned to trust God with her whole
self because, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity but of power, and love,
and a sound mind.” Because God
spoke that verse into her heart, she chose courage over fear many, many
times. She faced cancer with
courage. She faced marriage with
courage. She faced motherhood with
courage. She faced death with
courage. All because she knew the
One who gave her power and love and a sound mind.
Her joy is represented by the
statement—
The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength
Anyone who spent just a few
moments with Christina could see her joy.
She met often with Jesus to talk about trusting Him and living for Him
and He freely gave her His amazing joy. The miracle of her joy is that even when she was placed on
hospice care with just weeks to live, her joy increased. To watch her worship, you would never
have guessed she was facing death.
That is the miracle of God pouring out joy and it becoming our
strength.
On the back of her headstone is a
quote from her first few months into her cancer journey. It is there so that people can
understand in her own words that her faith was real, her life is not over, and
she is very excited to be with Jesus.
It says--I am okay because my life is not my own. I am okay because my joy does not come with the 'joys' of this life. Philippians 1:21 says, "for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." I am excited to live in Christ joyfully and with full abandon as long as He has me on this earth, and then for goodness sakes, I'm excited for eternity too!
The eagle is a constant symbol to
all of us that “Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like
eagles. They will run and not be
weary. They will walk and not
faint.” Isaiah 40:31
I pray that everyone who stops for a moment to wonder about this 31 year old woman will be able to piece together enough of her life to see her courage, her joy, and her faith in a very great God.
Thank you, and thanks be to God.
ReplyDeleteThank you, John. God is so kind and so glorious and my heart is full. I would love to sit and chat some time.
ReplyDeleteO how perfect that it arrived for this 6 month anniversary and as you explain the stone the picture of Christina's heart & her life just bubbled up. It is so perfect! wonderful gift.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy.
DeleteI am eternally grateful to have been able to observe, learn from, pray for, grieve for, and rejoice with you all as you walk with the Lord. One of my foundational verses is in the Book of Isaiah: You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You. Isaiah 26:3 I see this peace flowing from you, both of your amazing Dougs, and so many others who were deeply touched by Christina's life.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. I have been reflecting on God's peace today. It is a gift from Him to carry us through all of life's circumstances. It is something we cannot manufacture. And His peace is a beautiful mystery. I cannot explain it but I treasure it.
DeleteI have read so many of your posts.. and have cried and been encouraged in my own faith.. my own questions about life and just reading the beautiful soul that Christina was. Thank you for sharing and for those who pass it along on facebook to share with the rest of the world.. I know there are so many people that you don't even realize that are touched by her story..I pray you and your family have a beautiful Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Penny, for reading and being encouraged--that is my hope. I have no idea about who is reading these posts but I write because God moves in my heart. I trust Him to accomplish His purposes. Much love, Jo Dee
DeleteAnd her courage and her joy was contagious! She is a treasure and her memory stone is beautiful. Your labor was not in vain, it captures her beautifully!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cass. There is another thing I am grateful for everyday---and that is Isaiah's joy. It is also contagious. Christina was a very happy baby but I think Isaiah has topped even that. What a gift he is:)
DeleteThank you so very much for sharing Christina's story. I used to go to youth with Rebekah Neville as a teen. I never met Christina personally but her story never ceases to amaze, encourage and build my faith that God uses all things for his good. I was pregnant the same time as her, due a few months after her. when I was 8 months along, I had some tumors UN my thyroid biopsied. On May 5th, 2012, I found out I had cancer. I cried for hours, wondering what God was thinking. I was due with my older daughter on th 21st of that month. shortly after this, I saw Christina's story. it gave me hope and renewed my faith.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to write, Cjandis. I am so thankful that Christina's life has been an encouragement to you. Please be assured that God is so very near in all circumstances. And He is powerful. And He is good. And He cares for you very deeply. Much love to you.
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