I just received a letter from Myah's grandmother and I really hope you don't mind but I want to share it with you all, because it may be the most beautiful letter I have ever read:
Dearest, sweet, loving, and faithful family and friends,
Today, in the peace that only comes from God, we share with you that Myah is in Jesus arms. Our grief is undeniable, but so is the joy that Myah is home with Jesus. No more visits to the hospital, no more finger pricks, no more pain…for that we are grateful.
Myah passed away at about 6:00 this morning lying between Mom and Dad. When our spirits were summoned at about 3:00, it was clear that her body was dying, but her heart was strong and her breathing was very much there. We hadn’t really said our goodbyes, and it became clear this was where God was leading us. Myah’s sighs clearly spoke to us over and over, I love you Mom, I love you Dad as we said our goodbyes and let her know that we would see her again in a blink, a minute (in God’s time). God’s peace was abundantly clear and her face shone out happiness, a smile, and heavenly peace.
In our eternal eyes, we were able to see visions of Myah running up to Jesus and jumping in His arms... We saw her holding his hand, jumping, Him swinging her around, and her fingers going through His hair, sweet glimpses of her new life, a life that we will share with her for eternity.
What we want to share most about Myah is the enthusiastic love she has always had for God, Mom & Dad, her brother, her wonderful grandparents and close family, her church friends, her school friends, and really just about everyone she’s ever met. The song in her heart as well as the ones constantly flowing from her lips are life and love. Our desire is for Myah’s passing to extend far beyond being just about us and our sorrow, but the message she was chosen to carry.
Please do not let the loss of Myah to be in vain, open your heart to know Jesus and his love in a deeper way. Reconsider your faith questions, ask God, and listen to His love. We don’t believe God was causing her to suffer; we don’t believe He was the root of her tumor. There is evil dwelling in this sin ridden world of sorrow and loss until Jesus comes back, and we long for the day to join Myah. We want everyone who knew her to join her someday and hear her sing again. Things happen even if you believe in and follow God; Christians aren’t exempt. We don’t know why we have this heavy burden to carry, but we have a hope that’s greater than what we’re going through.
We would ask that you reflect on her life and how she lived and try to live in the same way. The things of this world like jobs, houses, cars, toys, and IPods were not important to her. Often, when something would break or there was housework to be done or on other occasions, Myah would say, “that’s okay it’s not important, people are important”. So let her life change the world by first letting it change your world. Many of you prayed earnestly for Myah and for us…maybe some of you who hadn’t prayed before or for a long time. Myah opened that path; please don’t just close it. Don’t look to the future for the next thing to feel good; live in the here and now, embracing your family and what’s important. Consider your life, evaluate the order of importance of what’s in your heart.—If God is not first, then when the things of this world like sadness and sorrow come against us, we will crumble. In the words of one of Myah’s favorite singers, The Donut Man, “life without Jesus is like a donut, cause there’s a hole in the middle of your heart.”
Finally, we would be greatly remiss if we didn’t somehow try to put into words the incredible blessings we have received from those of you who have surrounded us with love in all forms. Your love and blessings have given us strength beyond what we could have imagined. Your prayers, meals, housework, childcare, e-mails, facebook messages, texts, fundraiser participation, Myah’s celebration and prayer vigil last Friday, the carolers on Sunday evening…we could go on for days. Please read 1Corinthians chapter 13; Daddy read this the other night to Myah. It says, in part, (love) “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”. Your love and God’s love through you has sustained us. Thank you for protecting our time with Myah, for trusting and hoping with us in God, and for persevering with us through this journey. Please continue to pray for us and encourage us by sending stories of how Myah’s message has impacted your life and your relationship with Jesus. Those stories, in part, are the way God is redeeming our loss.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Blessings to you, dear readers, and may your hearts be full of the peace of God this Christmas season.
~ Caren