Another One's Made it Home

My heart is heavy tonight as I write. Another traffic accident has claimed the life of another family member-- this time on my side of the family. My mom's first cousin, Rachel was taking her great grandson to school when a car ran the stop sign at an intersection and ended her life. She was 69. Thankfully, her great-grandson, 5, survived with bruises and seatbelt burns. Needless to say we are all in shock tonight.

Rachel was the type of person that was a nurturer. She loved to be of service to people. She loved encouraging people. Every year since my mom passed away in 2001, she has sent me and my sisters a card in memory of my Mom's birthday, which is coming up, May 23. When my sister got to Rachel's home this evening, the family showed her a piece of paper with some of Rachel's printed words that talked of her love for my mom and decision to do this for us three sisters. It was a journal entry of sorts. They said it was lying out with some other things at Rachel's home. I cried when I realized that she had brought it out as a reminder to send the cards this year. The family had no idea she had been doing this annually.

I spoke with both my sisters today and another cousin, and we talked about different things we loved and admired about Rachel. We all had the same memories of her big old purse she always carried. No matter what you needed, she could usually pull it from that purse. Ready for anything. Rachel raised six children; I suppose it was imperative to be prepared. Kerry laughed and said that she always thought that big straw purse was bottomless. Every year at the Strawberry Festival, Rachel packed drinks and snacks for all of us children. We were counted right along with her six. Most afternoons after school we congregated at her house waiting to be picked up by mom. I remember being at Rachel's home when my baby sister was born. I remember them holding the phone up to my ear and letting me hear them tell me it was a girl. I once spent three days during a snowstorm at Rachel and Neal's home, and I remember being tucked in at night with warm blankets by her -- even though I was 18 at the time.

Back when my mom was very young, she and Rachel and another cousin, Robbie, used to sing together. One song, in particular, that I remember my mom saying they sang was an old Southern gospel song, "I'm Feelin' Fine." The first thing my husband said when I got off the phone in tears this morning was, " What's that song Nanny and she used to sing? They're singing it now." My cousin Tim said nearly the same thing. He said when he and his sister talked, his sister Shelley remarked, "We know where she is. And can't you just hear Aunt Nancy sayin', "Well, here comes Rachel." Yes, Rachie and Mama are having a grand reunion. My grandmother said, "We can't question God," after she was told. (My grandmother has been through many tragedies, including outliving her husband and two of her three children, and is one of the strongest women I have ever known.)

It's hard not to question God after something like this. We can't imagine what good could come from a family losing such a precious treasure. We long to turn the clock back so we can say what we left unsaid, or just to hug them one more time. We never know from one second to the next what life will have in store for us. It is imperative that we keep our hearts and minds on our purpose, our ministry, and our God. My Aunt Ramona said that she had just seen Rachel last night at the Mother/Daughter banquet at the church. I'd like to leave you with this thought that was the theme of their banquet last night: "What Kind of Legacy are you Leaving Behind?"