My beautiful friend, Fran, is with Jesus. I've been overwhelmed with the depth of loss...emotion...heartache I feel for one I've loved only from afar; one I've had the privilege of knowing on the internet and through mail but never meeting in person. And yet I knew her. And I loved her. One of the by-products of her initial cancer diagnosis 5 years ago is that God connected our hearts on a deep level. Fran's faith and joy impacted me in a tremendous way. Her passion for God, her obvious love for her family, her humor, her courage, her strength...all these things left an indelible mark on my heart. I'm convinced that everyone who knew and loved Fran was better...not because of Fran, but because of God in and through Fran.
In addition to her cancer blog, she kept a family blog called "Happily Ever After." Afterall, isn't that the wish of every little girl---and big girls, too, for that matter? We want to marry the prince, ride off into the sunset, and live happily ever after. The End.
But something called cancer invaded Fran's life. It rocked her world. It changed and altered everything. But it didn't move her. It didn't define her. And when cancer threatened to steal away Fran's "happily ever after," Fran knew better.
She had an anchor. A refuge. A shelter.
She had Jesus.
Because of Fran's faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ, she had hope and assurance. She was confident that even if she didn't experience wholeness and healing in this world, she'd know it fully in the next. While she experienced brokenness and heartache here, she was fully convinced it was but for a season. And God was using it---all of it---to make her such a brilliant reflection of Him. He used Fran to put His strength and faithfulness on display for a watching world. And no doubt, countless lives have been directed and pointed to the Savior through Fran's life and testimony.
Shortly after the recurrence of her cancer a few months ago, I made careful note of the words she wrote. I tucked them away in my heart:
"[God] is going to heal me one way or another. Here on earth or with Him in heaven. I will come out the winner."
Fran knew. She was sure.
And that's why those who knew and loved her have confidence and hope amidst their tears. Fran really is living "happily ever after."
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Happily Ever After
Posted by Nikki at 12:30 AM
Labels: Trials and God's Grace
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5 comments:
Beautiful post Nikki..Fran will be missed so much, but I am rejoicing with you that she is made whole in Heaven now.
I wish I could hug you in person today, but know I am thinking about you and Frans family, she sounds like a wonderful woman and I'm happy she is healed and rejoicing with her Father today.
Nicki,
Thank you for sharing your sweet words about Fran. As I was reading your post I kept thinking, what an example to us. She really had eternity in view.
Love,
Lynn G.
Beautiful post, Nikki. So many are heartbroken and hurting over the loss of Fran. But, as Fran knew and as you reiterated, Fran is living "happily ever after." Fran sounds like a remarkable woman, one that I hope to one day meet. Until that day, we will hold on to the Hope we have. Much love to you!
This takes me back to when my friend Georgia died 13 yrs ago, age 45, 3 girls left behind---7,
11, and 15. I was SO sure she was going to be healed....and she was! Not in the way we wanted, but God's ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. That's the only thing that brought me comfort. Also, in Psalm 139, it says the number of our days are written in God's book before we live even one of them. Someday there will be no more tears, no more partings....Fran sounded like a woman of deep faith who showed the way for the rest of us, of how to face life's difficulties with grace, peace and joy coming from her faith in her heavenly Father, just like my friend Georgia. I look forward to meeting Fran someday, too!
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