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TITLE: Heaven's Smile | Previous Challenge Entry
By Amy Kuncaitis
03/13/08
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(*this is a true story and a tribute to my dear friend who went to heaven five years ago this week)

I gripped tighter to her hand as I felt her hand release from mine and fall lifeless to the side of the bed. “Goodbye my friend.” My voice trembled as I spoke the words I never wanted to say to my dear friend. As she drew in her final breath, her chest rose ever so slightly. She then exhaled, very slowly and weak; we knew she was gone. My eyes turned to Kelly’s mother who was on the other side of the bed. She was lying across her daughter’s chest wailing loudly. I could not imagine her pain at that moment. Kelly had battled this ugly disease, cancer for so many years and we knew the pain was finally over, still thirty two years on earth seemed so premature and no one was ready to let her go.

A few years earlier, I had talked with my dear friend Kelly. One night we were taking our evening walk chatting about anything and everything. Somehow, the subject of God came up. She expressed to me that she had never gone to church and really didn’t know much about God. We talked for several hours that night, about the Lord. The following Sunday, she went to church with me and she gave her life to the Lord. She was so excited about her faith and couldn’t wait to share her Lord with anyone who would listen. A few months later, Kelly led her husband and son to the Lord. Less than six months after Kelly got saved, her father was tragically killed in a freak accident at work. A few months later, her 28 year old brother (her one and only sibling) was found dead in his bed; an apparent suicide. Kelly’s faith was shaken to the core but Kelly did not give up. She only drew closer to the Lord and flourished in her relationship with God.

Kelly’s mother however, could not understand why she was losing everyone she loved in her life. With each seeming blow to her life, she would become more bitter, angry, and resentful of God. When Kelly would try to share with her mother about the Lord, her mom would shut down; she blamed God for all the loss in her life. Kelly had shared with me on many occasions her longing to see her mother accept the Lord, it was really Kelly’s deepest longing. I couldn’t help but think it was now too late; Kelly would never see her mom accept the Lord.

On the day of Kelly’s funeral, Kelly’s mom met me in the parking lot. She put her arms around me (which was very unusual for this bitter, angry women to show any affection), and spoke into my ear.

“I think I finally get it. All those times you and Kelly were talking about your God, I was listening. I didn’t want to give up my own rights, my own ways, my own plans, for God’s plans. I didn’t understand why everyone I love on this earth were taken away from me, so I blamed God. When I watched the way Kelly went through the hard times in her life, I realized, I need God. I have resisted all these years because I don’t understand the hurt in my life. Last night, it was like a light went on. I realized God needs me to trust Him. He loves me and He wants me to love Him. He doesn’t want me to only love Him when things are good in my life; He wants me to trust Him no matter what. He wants to comfort me through these trials in life. He didn’t do this to me but He wants to help me as I go through these things. Last night, I prayed for the first time in a very long time but I am not sure what to do next. I want give my heart and my life to God but I am not sure how, would you help me?”

My heart was so full of joy. I was grieved that Kelly would no longer be on this earth with us but I was so happy that I was able to pray the prayer of salvation with her mother right there in the funeral home parking lot. After we got done praying, it was like a huge weight had been lifted from both of us. We both looked up to heaven and smiled.

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