A Tribute to Laura...

I have a very dear friend from college, whose sister struggled her entire life with the limitations of cystic fibrosis. She wrote a book about her journey while an adult which was incredibly inspiring and transparent. She passed on last November after nearly 40 years of life. She lived fruitfully in many senses of the word, and loved to experience her life versus be a bystander as many of us tend to be. My girlfriend had much to carry as a sister who loved deeply and sacrificed, as well, on many levels. Following the funeral, I wrote this poem ~ I had not looked at it and edited it until recently. It is my heart for my girlfriend Julianne, her brother Sean, and their sister, Laura. Bless all who have ever lost a family member to a slow progressing illness...

The burden falls on family
of children “born to die,”
encumbered with their suffering ~
Helpless, yet close by

The heaviness of dis-ease
is but for One to bear.
Heavy-laden, tortured hearts
haunt all close by who care.

Joyousness loses ground;
Walls are built up high
Somehow it isn’t fair to live;
One loved will surely die.

Sharing, laughing, fun together,
Always finding time…
Within our hearts; constant thoughts
What is purposed, Thine?…

Then the “what if” dreams of joy,
so many thoughts of trade…
Gladly we’d give a day, or more
to see our sister saved…

How fair is it for one to struggle ~
So young and innocent.
How fair is God, who says He’s love,
Yet allows such pain, we vent…

But God knows best, His mighty plan,
that we aren’t blessed to see…
The way our sister touches those
whose lives are not in He…

Dear Laura lit a way for some
who never would have known…
Our Savior died to rescue us,
and now sits on the throne.

Spirit tells us He is real;
He wields a mighty hand.
The days we live are not for us,
His love has greater plan.

He seeks redemption of all men,
He seeks our hearts for His.
If more were saved by Laura’s grace,
than this is why she lived.