I got the news like a thud in the night.

Except this wasn’t my disorganized closet imploding on itself.

It’s my Jesus-fragranced friend.

It’s Sara.

Earlier this week, I opened up Jessica’s email.  It read —

Beloved sisters,
With tears running down my cheeks for hours, I write this note with a heavy heart... Our sister Sara will be home in heaven soon…

I had just seen Sara over Skype at the (in)courage beach house retreat — five days earlier. 

Sara’s Song

I met Sara over a virtual chat in February this year. We had just finished an (in)courage conference call but a small few of us stragglers stayed in the chat room afterwards.

I confided I’d love some prayer. I felt discouraged.  I was starting a special writing project when my barely two year-old and five-year-old started going through a spasm of night wakings.  By the time night would fall, which was often my writing time, the lack of sleep combined with the 24×7 demands of parenting drained me of creativity.

My need for encouragement was the beginning of Sara’s song in my life.

Her Body, But Not Her Joy

Sara’s song has been singing years before I met her online.

Sara’s song began when a painful disease cast her homebound in her condo since she was 29 years old (read about her illness here).

Sara could.not.go.

Outside.

Sara could only move within the boundaries of the four walls of her condo.

As her disease progressed, Sara could not see any visitors.  The allergens that could enter in — could also kill her.

Even though she was sick, Sara’s spirit was not bound by walls.

Her song of joy through her words — leaped free and boundless.

Sara’s song reached deep into hearts everywhere.

Sara started singing words of joy into my life.

Sara’s Voice

Even though I’d never heard Sara’s speaking voice up until last week at the beach house, Sara voice has soared beautifully where only she could speak into.

Sara began emailing me every couple weeks to encourage me to work on my writing project.  No matter how slow I felt my progress.

Pressing keys on her iPad through pain,  Sara’s generous heart and her commitment to encourage others could not be arrested.

Here are words Sara sent to me, just one month ago:

“I recently wrote in a post what I said to my Uncle Barney who was feeling bad about not being able to use his talents anymore because of his cancer…

 

I told him that he used them when he was supposed to. And if those things were no longer in his abilities, then they were no longer what God wanted him to do.

 

You know, Bonnie, I think the same could be said for being a mom and still trying to be all God called you to be as an individual.

 

There is such pressure to do everything to its limits, when all you need to do is do everything to YOUR limit… to the limit God gives inside of you.“

Last week over Skype, I got to hear Sara’s real speaking voice for the first time, huddled around a laptop, along with the rest of our (in)courage sisters.

Photo from Jessica’s blog, showing us thrilled to see Sara

I burst into tears hearing, at long last, her beautiful Jesus-fragranced voice.

“Bonnie!” Sara squealed.

“Sara!  I love you!” I shouted among the the chorus of “I love you’s” ringing from all the other women Sara has sang her song of joy into.

Sara laughed and couldn’t stop encouraging each of us one by one. We were so happy to see her. Her joy was infectious even over Skype!

Open Letter To Sara

Sara is now resting under hospice care at home, with friends and family gathering by her side.

Our sweet joy-singing Sara has run the race well.

Sara is now looking homeward.

Everyone is now writing blog posts and posting Facebook messages to Sara, so that her family can read them to Sara in her remaining waking moments.

I’d like to write an open letter to Sara now.

Dear Sara,

I have to be honest. It’s hard to say goodbye. Your friendship is such a treasure. And we’ve only just begun.

But, I know you are at rest and completely at peace facing Heaven, homeward bound.

So, as you are waiting, I want you to know —

Thank you for singing your song of joy so brightly and beautifully into my life.

Thank you for singing it, even as it is mixed with illness and pain.

You are a gift

— inspiring me to choose joy

— encouraging me to welcome joy as an attitude by trusting God with my limitations.

You know that writing project you’ve been praying for me to complete?

Good news.  It’s not only done.  It’s singing.

Thank you, Sara, for loving us so well.

Sweet friend, I’d like to sing a song for you right now.  Can I?

It’s that hymn I emailed you a couple weeks ago.  It’s brought me such comfort and joy throughout the years, ever since I heard it as a little girl.

This song reminds me of you, Sara.

Click here to hear me sing to you — “All The Way My Savior Leads Me”.

I can’t wait to sing it with you together one day.  For now, I’ll say goodbye and see you soon.   Love you.

Your sister, Bonnie

I’m just one of hundreds of letters already written by people who Sara has inspired, waiting to be read.

Even if she doesn’t get to hear mine read here on earth, I know Sara will read it — along with others — walking freely with Jesus hand in hand.

If you’re a reader of Sara’s blog — or even if you’ve been touched by her story through today’s post — feel free to write about it and submit it to Jessica’s link up — or post a Facebook message on Sara’s wall.

Sara’s family is reading through the posts/messages and gaining comfort and encouragement hearing how Sara touches lives everywhere.

* 9/24/11 UPDATE* Our sweet Sara Gitzen Girl went home to be with Jesus on Saturday 9/23/11 (read update here). Click here for the arrangements that have been made for the wake and funeral.

~~~~~~
Lyrics To “All The Way My Savior Leads Me” by hymn writer Fanny Crosby who was became blind when she was a little girl.

Verse 1.
All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

Verse 2.
All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

Verse 3.
All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way.