For Sara

Today is why I am so grateful I was introduced to blogging.

Because if I hadn't been, I never would have met Sara.

Sara is a woman in Iowa with a chronic, terrible, painful disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis.  Sometime within the next few days, she will be going to be with the Lord for eternity.

I never thought my heart could hurt so badly over losing someone I have never actually been able to hug in person.  Sadly, I don't think I fully realized until today the profound impact she has had upon my life.

Living in unimaginable pain every single day, she never once got angry.  Unable to step outside the walls of her condo, never to feel the warmth of sunshine or fresh air, she never once questioned what God was doing with her life.  She lived in a perpetual state of "it's not about me, it's about Him".  She was grateful to be living her life simply because she knew that she was living the life God needed her to.

I am in awe of this woman, and of what God did through her.

Because of Sara, I learned how to face my own medical issues and trials with a smile and the grace that can only come from Him.

Because of Sara, I learned how to stop focusing on what I wanted.

Because of Sara, I gave up on what I thought my life was and is supposed to be like.

Because of Sara, I learned how to choose joy no matter what the situation was.

And I am just one of hundreds of people across the globe who has been impacted in a profound way by her.

The balance of being happy that she will no longer be in pain and that she will be with her father and her Father and being sad that she will be leaving behind so many people who can hardly imagine life without her is such a fine tightrope to walk.

But even though I didn't know Sara like some people in this blog world, I know without a doubt that she would not want us to think about how it hurts to miss her.  She'll want us to rejoice in knowing that she is HEALED and WHOLE and running free, praising endlessly the One who made her with her dad by her side.  So that's what I will do.  For her.

Dear God, Give Your precious daughter peace and comfort in this final stretch.  Wrap Your arms around her family, her friends, every blogger and reader who was lucky to get to know her, whether it was in person or through a computer.  Your plan is perfect.  You can and will heal our hearts.  We know that You will not stop giving solace to each of us.  Thank You for your everlasting love, and for the gift that You gave the world for 38 years through Sara Frankl.