One year ago this morning, I woke up after a night of tears only to get on the computer and find out that Meredith Rankin, the most amazing woman of faith I had ever met, was welcomed home. This woman, who battled colon cancer for many months, was finally defeated...well, physically defeated. Or so I thought.
I couldn't help but sit in my dorm room and cry. Cry for her family. Her Mom, Dad, sister, and husband. I felt so awful that someone at such a young age, who lived her life only to glorify God, had been taken from her loved ones. Taken from a world where love poured out from her. She radiated. God lived in her.
I remember praying for understanding. I prayed that we all could make sense of something that seemed so unfair. Something that seemed so...not understandable. We were all sure that God would bring a miracle. Had God let us down? I prayed for her family's comfort. I prayed that the immeasurable strength they would need could come from God. I prayed that He would welcome her home with open arms and that her legacy would live on forever.
Even as I sit here now and read the online journal entry that her family posted on April 22, 2008, it amazes me to read these words:
At 7:45 this morning the Eastern Gates of Heaven swung open and Meredith Ann Holbert Rankin was escorted through by a band of angels. Her earthly exit was as courageous and elegant as we have come to expect. Her heavenly entrance was absolutely glorious.To God be The Glory
The family went on to write Psalm 23. At the end of the post, these words were written:
For now, join us in praising God for his mercy and grace. She is finally Home!
The morning of April 22 rocked a lot of people. It was upsetting, yet reading these beautiful words...wow. To God be the Glory...praise him for she is finally home. What strength! I realized then, and even more as the year has gone on, that God didn't let us down. When asked about what mattered in life, Meredith said, "relationships, glorifying God, and living life every day like it's your last...that's what matters now, and I wish everyone else could see it that way." Meredith got her miracle. We all did. All that Meredith cared about was people, love, and God. And you know what? That's exactly what she left here. She inspired people to live the same way. She brought me to Christ, and I know I'm not the first. And that, in itself, IS a miracle! Now, it excites me to see that miracles are being produced each day by her colon cancer foundation. Miracles will never cease now that Meredith lived on this Earth. And to think, if God hadn't welcomed her home then, this world would have to wait that much longer for the amazing things that have come from her legacy.
Still, I woke up today thinking that Meredith was physically defeated by cancer a year ago. I haven't wanted to feel that way, but this awful disease took her precious life, and you can't help but feel bitter about that. Meredith's mom posted an entry today, and these beautiful words came from her sister:
Tuesday morning, when Meredith took her last breath, that was the moment of victory. The moment of victory; I love that. Because the moment she saw the face of our Lord and Savior, she had defeated death. There would be no more pain. She was in paradise, in her eternal home, seeing again all those we are so anxious to see again; laughing, exploring, enjoying; all those precious experiences that we get glimpses of here on earth happen every moment where Meredith is now.
She was never defeated.
How do you answer the "fairness" question? Is this (the fact that you have cancer) fair?
"Heck no! But it's not fair that my new friend with breast cancer lost her hair and I didn't. It's not fair that that my friend's dad was diagnosed with cancer 3 weeks before her wedding, and he never got the chance to walk her down the isle. It's not fair that Melanie can't walk into Target without feeling like she's going to suffocate. It's not fair that my friend Julie died one month before graduation, and never even got the chance to fight for her life like I have. And it's not fair that any marriage falls apart because someone decides to have an affair. Of course I have pity parties sometimes when I feel like it's not fair, but in the end, I don't even deserve to be here at all. I am saved by God's grace, and THAT'S not fair." -Meredith
"...and I every day I am more and more amazed by Him for every day that He gives me. Every day is a gift, and I believe God had to watch me go through the deepest of valleys to remember this important lesson. All He wants is for us to love Him so so much" - meredith
What is a miracle?
"A miracle is a pleasantly unexpected event in life that gives hope to those who need it, reassurance to those who don't, and awe to those who never believed it was possible."
I am eternally thankful.
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