Tuesday Grace Letters

This Tuesday I'm writing to someone who has changed my story for the better because of their love.

Dear Kara,

I have never met you personally, but the impact you have made on my life is tremendous. When I was younger no one in my family knew the Gospel, so I was not raised in the truth during my earliest years. It was not until 5th grade that my family and I joined the church we currently attend. That's when my real journey of faith began. Still being young in my faith back then, I was still very weak spiritually. I didn't really have strong friendships or close mentors, so I had to carry the majority of my burdens myself. The summer before 8th grade was when I truly experienced God and was set free from the chains that had been holding me hostage. I had experienced the Holy Spirit occasionally during worship before, but that summer was when my faith was strengthened for good, and I officially dedicated my life to Christ. Since then, my story has taken a turn for the better.

As I grew closer to my church community, I knew I wanted to love on them on their birthdays and other holidays because we never really did anything special on those days in my house. After coming to follow your story, I realized that I didn't have to wait until those special days to love on my church community. Instead, I should be showing them love every time I see them. Thank you for teaching me this valuable lesson.

Unfortunately, I don't remember how I was led to Mundane Faithfulness. What I do remember though is that God taught me more about His love and grace through your story. I just wish it didn't take such hard suffering to have your readers and loved ones come closer to Christ and reflect back on our own lives. That first week knowing that you were in Heaven was probably one of the hardest weeks I had to go through. As I left church on March 22nd, something in my heart told me that an update would be posted on the Mundane Faithfulness Facebook page. Something else told me that the news would not be something I wanted to hear.

Sure enough, as I was finishing up my English project that evening, I checked Facebook during a short break and came upon the update I was dreading. Of course, I rejoiced knowing that you had flew away to be safe with Jesus for eternity, but my heart still hurt for your community. I know how much you mean to them and I know that sending you Home to Jesus was not easy for them. It definitely has not been easy for me, and I think I can say the same for anyone else who has come to love you either. We are all walking on this journey of seeking God's grace and love in the aftermath of your Homecoming together.

Being the oldest in my family, my heart specifically ached for Ella. If I am not mistaken, she will be setting off into high school in the fall. My own mom has been a huge supporter to me throughout my high school years, and I hurt knowing that Ella won't be able to have her mom on this side on Heaven to support her through those years. I know not being physically present in their lives must be hard for your other children at times too. I have 2 younger brothers and a lot of my friends are younger than me. I can't imagine any of us living without our moms. Even though hard days will come, I know that God's grace will be able to carry all the people that love you through their darkest moments, no matter what they are facing.

Music is one of the ways I cope with hard in my life. One of the playlists is specifically to encourage my heart when I'm overcome by grief. There's one song in particular that I always revisit. It's called "For Good" from the musical Wicked. One specific part goes like this:

It well may be
That we will never meet again
In this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me
Is made of what I learned from you
You'll be with me
Like a handprint on my heart
And now whatever way our stories end
I know you have rewritten mine
By being my friend...

I'm pretty sure everyone whose heart you've touched would be able to say this, not just the people who had the priviledge to know you personally. I hope you get to enjoy the farm you've always wanted on Earth in Heaven. I can't wait to finally meet you.

Until we meet in Heaven,
Yahan

Next week's grace letter will be to myself when I am a parent.