The cold, wet, drizzly evening sets the backdrop as we walk into her home. Each of us filled with gratitude and joy that we could be there while also feeling the weight of what our presence means.

Our friend is dying.

It’s a melting pot of emotions for us all and it’s written on our faces. Hugs, smiles, laughter, all while holding back the tears we know will eventually come. Not sure how to act, feeling a little awkward, but all the while grateful.

We climb the steps that lead to the landing outside of her bedroom, where the breathing machine echoes and her daughter sits by her side.

Her son has come to accompany us with his guitar and his beautiful voice will guide our worship.

We gather around her door and start to sing. Some of us are on key while others are not, but the walls of the landing are filled with a joyful noise. Worshiping our Creator, praising Him for who He is, reminding her of her hope in Jesus, and filling her bedroom with love.

She lays in wait, eyes closed, just listening. At times, she raises her weak arms in worship and other times she mouths the words of the songs right along with us. It’s beautiful.

As both sadness and joy meet in the tears on our cheeks, the mood is somber yet hopeful. We know where our sister is going. We know that her faith has been unshakable. We know how she loves the Lord.

We’re about to sing our last song and we move in close to each other. Through the opening of her bedroom door, we want her to see us all singing to her; our way of loving her from this life to the next.

As the last line of the song leaves our lips, her daughter in law begins to pray. We huddle in even closer, holding on to each other as more tears fall. We’re sisters in Christ, connected by our love of the Lord, and our love for our sweet friend.

Our time has come to an end and we make our way across the landing to head for the stairs.  We walk by her doorway and see that with the strength she has, she is blowing us kisses. We blow them back knowing this will be the last time we see our friend this side of heaven.

Her daughter would later tell us that while she was listening to us sing, she was praying for us. In her last days on this earth, she’s praying for “God to bless us”.

This is our friend.

Walking through the storms of her life, praying for those around her. Selfless.

It’s a unique gift to sit in the space between earth and heaven with someone you love. Every single precious moment is one to treasure, one to hold, one to remember. While we pray for our friend’s transition from this life to the next, we are filled with joy, honor, and gratitude to have been a part of this heartbreakingly beautiful act of service. She has left an imprint on all of our lives and she will be deeply missed. We’re fortunate to know her, blessed to call her friend, and our lives are enriched by her legacy.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2