In Loving Memory

On April 29 the Joy Club gathered around the bedside of our lovely friend and sister in the Lord, Norma. We had an amazing time of friendship and prayer and encouragement. I cannot begin to write publicly about the depth of sweetness and intimacy we had with Jesus as He filled our hearts and the whole room with His presence and resulting peace. Norma had chemotherapy the day before as she began her battle with cancer. She had just been diagnosed and it took her completely unaware. She thought she was having some trouble with her heart and consequently flew home from Arizona to see her family doctor. Amazingly enough, that very day Judy and I bumped into her husband in a coffee shop as he awaited her to finish the appointment. God brought Norma smack dab into the middle of our Joy Club for such a time as this. Little did we know that our time with her would be so short. Within two weeks of the bedside picture we were honoring her at her funeral. It was held just yesterday. Several posts ago I wrote a little story about Dorcas and Me. The story brought out how Dorcas was encircled at her death bed by the women who loved her. What an absolute honor to have been invited by our Lord to be a part of the final chapter of Norma's life. We have all been so deeply touched by this experience. The young woman in the photo below is Norma's only grandchild. Norma made sure that she was given her little "joy" charm that we all have, to be reminded to carry on the legacy of her grandmother's joy and love of life. Norma was just 72 years old, had just celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary with her husband Les and was in no way anxious to leave this earth.  On the other hand, she was prepared to meet her Creator. It is a bittersweet story as we will miss her very much, but we know that eternity is in our hearts and there is more than meets the eye from our earthly vantage point. Heaven is just a little sweeter with Norma there.