I’m not certain I can even write this…my precious friend Sara (@gitzengirl) is in her last days…hours on this side of eternity.
Do you know her? If not, please visit her blog home, Gitzen Girl. Read her words. I promise you won’t be the same.
I met Sara a little over 3 years ago. We had an instant connection because of her furry angel-on-earth Riley. The Husband and I have 3 pups that look just like Riley… so began a friendship.
A friendship I can’t explain.
This online connection. A connection some would dismiss but one that connects me to Sara. One that is as real as my beating heart. Sara has been a part of every significant thing that has happened in my life or the life of my family for the last 3 years. She rejoiced with me, cried with me and comforted me like only Sara can.
Recently, when our friend Vicky was diagnosed with cancer, Sara set up a private facebook group. She called it The Couch because she said one day the three of us will sit in p.j.s on her couch and watch movies and talk and laugh the day away…
Every morning I check the couch first thing to see what Sara and Vicky have written the night before. Sara…always the night-owl.
Some mornings we cross paths on twitter. Her going to bed. Me just getting up…the exchange goes something like this…
‘good morning Love, I’ve been praying for you while you slept. But now, I’m going to bed.”
“Good Night Sweet One.” I’d say back. “Between the two of us Sara, we have 24 hours covered. I’ll pray you to sleep…I love you to the moon…”
“to the moon and back” she’d say.
Sara has a way of nurturing everyone she comes in contact with.
*****
The last time I talked to her was on my birthday in July. My heart jumped for joy when I saw her name on the caller ID…her voice was hoarse and her words took effort. I found myself holding my chest and breathing deep for her. But I smiled for an hour after she called, still wrapped in Sara-love.
*****
Sunday in church we sang Be Still My Soul. It’s haunted me non-stop since. Now, I understand why…Sweet Holy Spirit pouring comfort into me…something Sara would do.
From the moment I heard that Sara was making her journey home the song has been gentle background music to my tears. To my prayers.
Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.
*****
*****
I’ve asked God to please have my mom come to Sara’s welcome party on the other side of eternity, and to let Mom wrap my friend in a warm embrace and whisper in her ear how very much she means to me…how much I love her…
I’m going to close with a small quote from Lysa TerKeurst’s blog post about Sara…
“Even when our tears slip we know His hand never does.
Since we know that full well let’s not say goodbye, Sara… let’s simply whisper, until then my friend. Until then.”
Yes… until then Sweet One…until then…
Beautiful sweetie, so heartfelt and filled with love… love you, crying and praying with you…
Vicky…words fall short don’t they? loving you from here.
I came to know Sara through your blog, Robin. She was a huge inspiration to me, and I am so sad she is leaving. On the other hand I am crying tears of joy that she gets to go home sooner rather than later, where there will be no more tears or pain, and RUN into her Father’s arms! I am looking forward to meeting her…one day…Until then I will choose joy in her honor…thanks for the introduction, and hugs to you dear friend.
A beautiful, heart felt tribute for your very special
friend and a true inspiration for all who knew her
by way of her Gitzen Girl blog.
You brought me to Sara and her amazing love. Hard to express it, but I told Ricky about her this morning on the front porch. Her sweetness, mercy, and unwavering faith. It goes so deep. Cuts right to my heart.
LOVE
I, too, met Sara online, but we quickly became IRL friends when we found we’ve “known” each other through mutual friends for years, and live just a few miles apart. In these few short years I’ve depended on her for encouragement and laughter, all in spite of her struggles. I hope she’s forgiven me for making her eat “weird” food. What a joy and blessing she is, how the angels will rejoice when she arrives. My sadness is trumped only by her deep heavenly breaths and knowing she’ll dance with her daddy.
candy–you’ve been on my mind this day, as i know you through sara’s blog. i’m so glad you were able to be His hands and feet to her! know what made me cry this morning? thinking about you not having to go to Sonic anymore to get her her cherry limeade. i hope that you will tell the workers at that Sonic about her so that they will know about her witness and have a chance to hear about her Lord.
i know you were a blessing to her, candy, and i was happy she had you to care for her, since those of us who would’ve loved to couldn’t because distance separated us. please let us know what happens to riley, would you? that made me cry too, thinking of what that sweet doggie must be going through. we’re all going to be at a loss. all of us, except Jesus.
Candy, dear sweet Candy, you need to know a few things….
#1: Your food is not weird. It’s delicious and nutritious. She’s really enjoyed eating it (plus, what you always made her try was right up my alley, so she was more willing to try some of my stuff 🙂 )
#2: You have loved her well, and in a way we all want to all of the time. I’ve always been quite thankful that you are in proximity to drop by and give her the contact and face time that most of cannot. Thank you for every moment you’ve loved on her.
#3: I’m asking God to provide her with pointe shoes, so that when she dances, she doesn’t do so on the knuckles of her feet.
Love you, sweet girl. Deep breathing all around.
Thinking of you Robin.
Hate starting my day with tears, but you touched my heart! Peace be with you and help you through this hard time…
Good tribute Robin. Although I never read much of her blog before, I had heard of her by way of blogland. Read MPT’s this morning and was so touched I linked to it. http://billgrandi.ovcf.org/wordpress/?p=6553
Sometimes we forget what we have until someone comes along and reminds us. Sara reminds us of our health, but more importantly, how to choose joy. And I never tell anyone good-bye. I always see, “See you later.” Love and hugs to you.
Praying for you and for Sara and her family . HUGS ! Joanne
thanks so much for posting a link yesterday on FB, or i may have missed my opportunity to convey to sara my love and thanks. i’ve struggled with tears in the last 14 hours, not only for me, but for those closer to her. we all grieve with such mixed emotions, don’t we? we were BLESSED BEYOND BELIEF to have known her as long as we did.
call if you want to talk. love you!
Even knowing she will be with her Heavenly Father soon it is hard not to be sad. I needed a good cry today…it is the two year anniversary of my mother-in-law’s passing. It was around that time I found your bog and you wrote so beautifully of your father-in-law’s passing. 🙂
Well said, dear friend. There is nothing like Sara’s voice to wrap you all the way up and fill you past overflowing. Thanks for loving her so well, I know how she treasures you. I’m thankful that for her, “until then” will be but a moment. It’s the rest of us that will do the patient waiting until we meet her again.
What a beautiful post for Sara. She touched so many people. I read her blog for years and my heart breaks and yet rejoices at the same time.
It will be…until then.
and ???? connects – now I know of you – because of her – tears. aren’t. stopping today. But for an intentional diversion for an hour or two because my head hurt and I needed to breathe – thoughts toward her – and not enough prayer – I’ll be fixing that now.
(((((((heart this)))))))))
thank you.
God bless and keep!!
What a sweet blessing you must be to one another, what a privilege this kind of heart connection is. One day, no more goodbyes forever and ever. Much love to you Robin.
Robin:
I have been *lurking* quietly on your blog for awhile. Mostly, because you seem to be able to find words for feelings I can’t express, my young beautiful daughter, has Celiacs disease and I pass your wisdom on to her, and now, Sara. I wish I had known about her sooner, I too would have friended her, supported her, admired her. What a brave, beautiful, faithful woman. I will get to know her better, maybe posthumously, through you. Thank you for your blog. Lisa
Lisa…I just saw this comment…how could I have missed it? My mind is mush lately. I’m sending you love and hugs for your daughter too! How is she? xo
Robin, I just got home from 2 days away and just saw Sara’s blog right before this. My heart is breaking too. She is one of the most inspirational people I have ever known. I pray that God will hold her in his loving arms on this her final journey. I will ask MY Mom to meet here too, with open arms. XOXO, Pinky
Dear Robin,
Although I do not know you, and only met Sara through her blog just recently, I believe she has brought us together. I am so touched by the loving tribute you have written, and know you will miss her dearly.
I too have lost my mother to heaven’s arms, yet she is still in my heart, and I hope my mother will join yours to embrace sweet Sara.
I have a 25 year old Sarah, and there is something about the hearts of those with that name, the name of a princess.
I hope you and I can get to know each other sometime. Until then, know that I am praying for you, and I grieve for your loss, but rejoice for her gain.
Leslie…I so look forward to getting to know you my new friend. Thank you for your prayers and love to you…
What a very special person Sara was. Her love and special gifts will live on in all her friends. What more could a person ask for in life. hugs to you, Linda