I logged onto facebook yesterday -as you do- and saw an RIP message on a friend's profile. This message caught my attention because of the name of the person concerned. The friend on whose profile I read is, someone I met in the UK sometime in 2002, because we attend the same Church, and we soon became good friends. The person concerned is someone I met on holiday in 1996, and I would never have brought the two in connection with one another, so I sent a message to my friend asking where his 'friend' was, and how he knew her, hoping it would be one of those strange instances where people share the exact same first and last name, afterall, I've a few people like that, and they were not even remotely related to, nor knew about each other till I met them. I am yet to hear back from my friend...
Meanwhile, I dashed onto gmail, to find a mutual friend of the person concerned, and although she was not available at the time, I left a message requesting for our friend's married name. I then sent text messages to any and everyone I could think of that knew us both, hoping to get some sort of feedback, and praying fervently that 'no news is good news'. Our mutual friend replied saying she had heard the tragic news, and was still in shock over it. Apparently, the person in question passed away a week ago after a brief illness. I was so overwhelmed, I could not type for a minute or so. When I recovered, I probed a bit further, and it turned out she was suffering from an illness I had no idea about. It just made it so real at that moment that, it is possible to know someone, and not really know them. It also brought home the fact that we had lived side by side in the UK for almost two years, and I had not once spoken to her, or seen her. I always 'planned to surprise her one day' by tagging along with one of our mutual friends, but the cares and worries of this world always came between. I also realized that, as close as I am to some of our other friends, I've not physically seen them in months, some years, and I can't even say I know anything about their daily lives, talkless of their ills, discomforts, joys, sadnesses, etc.
Does that make us less or worse friends to each other? I really don't know. All I do know is that last week, a beautiful young daughter, mother, sister, wife, friend, cousin passed away and that was definitely not a part of her plan for her life. The one assurance I have, and I wish to share with all our friends is that: she has gone to a better place. She is free from the illness, the sick body, the pain. Sure, we will all miss her, but is it fair on her to be here with us and suffering so much pain? I don't know the answer to that. God's way is the only true and proper way, and I believe His will for her life was done, even in the short space of her 20 -odd years on earth. We should not be sad about her death, rather we should rejoice in the priviledge of knowing her, and travelling a part of her journey here with her, no matter how brief. I am glad to have known you, dear friend. May your soul rest in divine peace till we meet again. Much love to your family, now and always. It is well with you all!
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3 comments:
It is always sad to lose a friend or a loved one but we must thank God for everything most especially when the person abide in God while alive because "the world is passing away and the lust of it:but he who does the will of God abides forever" 1Jn 2:17 We must all realice that the time is short.In a few more years,those of us who are believers in Jesus will leave this world to abide with him forever.The Bible points out that all the creatures in this world would pass away. "As for man his days are like grass as a flower of the field,so he flourishes.For the wind passes over it,and it is gone,and its place remembers it no more.But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear HIM and HIS righteousness to children's children'. Whatever man claims to be,he can only be helped by leaving to abide in Jesus and the only way to attain this is to allow the word of God abide in him by the help of the Holy Spirit. May the gentle soul of your friend rest in perfect peace,Amen.
Worshiper,how is everything ,d 1st comment is from me,God will help us all to abide in Him forever
touching, very touching well such is life
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