Good morning…
After reading yesterday’s post, One Sacred Moment, our friend Cathy Smith described to me a beautiful experience. Her daughter, Abby, journeyed with cancer for five years before going to heaven at age seven. With Cathy’s permission, I share with you her story.
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When we were on Abby’s Make a Wish trip after she had first relapsed in September 2008, I met a mother in the Lego Store at Downtown Disney. She noticed Abby with her Make A Wish shirt and struck up a conversation with me. This woman had lost her daughter to cancer when she was just 4 years old. She told me something that always stuck with me and truly helped me in Abby’s last days and into our final minutes and seconds with her.
She told me that God had given her one of the greatest gifts as a mother. She was with her daughter when she took her first breath in this world and was with her when she took her last breath. Her daughter knew at all times that she was safe and loved and she released her daughter by telling her to run into Jesus’ arms.
I do not remember that mother’s name nor did I get her contact information. But, I always hid those words in my heart. Three years later, Paul and I were able to do the same thing. We sang Amazing Grace to Abby and then Jesus Loves Me and told her to run into Jesus’ arms.
Letting your loved one go is SO hard. But, after you see them go through the pain and agony of cancer or any disease, you do not want them to suffer any more. You selfishly want them to be with you but not at the price of their pain and agony. Even though we were heart broken, the peace in Abby’s room after she passed from this life into the next could only have come from God. I too am very thankful for the blessing of being present with Abby full circle.
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This nameless angel gave to the Smith family intimate comfort in their darkest hour, a comfort she had first received from God.
