365 Project Day 338: I See Her Dancing

Canon 5D Mark ll,70-200 2.8L, 150mm focal length, 2.8 aperture, 1/60 shutter, 1250 ISO

(*Caveat~ the photos in this post are of Salena and Sean Donnelly, who graciously agreed to help me try to express my heart for this post by posing for me. The words are not about them, but I love them dearly!)

 

I lost a dear friend this week. Or should I say, the world did. She was an incredible woman, full of years and wisdom. And laughter. I think I will always remember her laughter.  I can still hear it lilting and lining the edges of her words, her blue eyes sparkling. She had the heart of a child, even in her later years.

I heard about her passing yesterday and my heart sank. And yet simultaneously, I felt something else along with the grief. I sensed a deep joy rising up in my spirit for her. It was a unique feeling, this sadness edged with joy.  I mourned for my loss, for the loss of everyone who ever had the joy of knowing her, but I as I began to think about her, really think about who she is and was, I knew she was happy. Truly happy.  I see her dancing in my head. I know she is dancing, and that laugh of hers is echoing throughout eternity, mingling with the worship of heaven.  I wanted to portray that here, for her, and for those who are missing her deeply. (Thank you, Salena and Sean for allowing me to photograph you to try to depict that.)

I see Daisy dancing. At last in the presence of her Savior, and again united with her beloved husband, who went on ahead of her many years ago. She missed him deeply. I see them dancing together, young again and full of the life and vigor of youth. This is the joy of heaven, of giving our hearts to the only One who can save us. I feel sure she will know the words “well done, good and faithful servant”, and they will go deep into her being. It is what her life was about. Faithfulness. How she loved the Lord Jesus. How everyone loved her. Artist, teacher, prayer warrior, fighter, mother, friend, mentor, painter, encourager.

Daisy. Oh, how the earth sighs with your passing. But those of us who hold eternity in our hearts, we know.

We know you are dancing. So,dance on. We will be with you soon, and we rejoice with you as you breathe in your reward.

We love you, and we are anxious to hear your laughter ringing in our ears again.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ~ “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”