There and Back Again

Back….Again!

July 23, 2009 at 3:06 am (Faith, Family, Friends)

I realize that I haven’t written in months, but I’ve had some really great encouragement from Ben Davis and Jeremy Freeman to get back “on the horse”. I think today would be an appropriate time to start writing again since there is a great deal going on.

This past Sunday, a very dear friend of mine, Melissa Barone, went to be with the Lord. She is preceded in death by twin daughters that she lost just a few weeks ago. It’s still very surreal when I think that she’s not here anymore. I’ll miss her infectious smile, her warm spirit, but most of all her giggle. It was a very simple and cute giggle, but it was a giggle that was all her own. I’ve been close to Melissa for about 23 years now. She was my first friend in kindergarden and our report cards notated such. There were many instances that referred to us being “Buddies” and talking too much. (Melissa was always good at that! )

So far, as a whole, I’ve been holding up fairly well. But there are still questions that persist. I know that I’ll probably have to wait until I pass to find out why God took her so young and why she lost her babies too. I just have to hold on to the fact that God is good…all of the time. It’s hard to fathom in these times just how great God’s love is. But that has to be the driving force to bring us through the tough situations. I know that We will see Melissa again, but sometimes those words just seem hollow. I want to see her now, hear her voice and make her laugh. I think the solution to that would be to just press in to God harder and rely on his comforting grace to see us through. So for now, we can share funny stories, look at pictures and remember all of Melissa’s wonderful qualities.

I’m going to miss her terribly. I know I’m certainly not the only one… we all loved Melissa Barone.