There are so many things that Araella created during her time here and each one is a treasure - a piece of her life that represents who she was. (Insert the sounds of a record player scratching to an abrupt stop.) It has been so difficult to put my thoughts into words since April 15th because of the word was - it just doesn't sit right with me... So, do I change the word and say "who she is." No, that doesn't feel right either - because saying who she is implies that I really understand who she is in Paradise, which I don't. (Hmm, maybe I just began to understand why God is described as being the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come...)
Ok, back to the subject of cherishing...
I spent the day going through some of the things Araella created... The folders she created on Pinterest, the playlists she created on Spotify, the sentences she created in cards and letters... as you can imagine, I remember and cherish her through each one - especially her written words.
And that is when I heard His voice in my heart. "Joelle, I also created things for you to remember Me." And I thought about daisies, and colorful leaves, the wind, and sunsets, the ocean, and birds, and Sukee... Everything He created. Everything! His written Word. God created the Heavens (where Araella is now) and the earth (where we are)... I started to feel encouraged about looking beyond the things that Araella had created to the things He has created... and then, because I think I had still missed the point, I heard Him say, "And I created people for you to cherish."
As I type this now I think... Araella. I cherish Araella. Why couldn't I keep cherishing Rae here?! And a memory interrupts my questioning. Remember... Remember Araella's resolutions? The ones her roommates shared at the service? One of them was, "Love God by loving His people."
People wonder how I am doing it... I don't know really, but a big part of it is love. I am embraced by a magnificent mingle of love from the people in my life and the people in Rae's life. Gosh, I really do love them! I love you all so much! And so I resolve that, while I am on this side of eternity, I will love Rae by loving her people - and I will love God by loving His people.
I cherish you.
Rae's Resolutions:
1. Answer the call to pray for others
2. Be bold in my faith
3. Simplify my life... God is all that matters
4. Rest in His Peace
5. Love God by loving his people
6. Grow in an intimate relationship with God
