Beauty for Ashes - For Sharyl

Cancer Sucks. Yes I said sucks.

It ravages bodies, takes lives, and destroys the hopes and dreams of individuals and families all over the world. Cancer sucks because today I attended the funeral of a friend… Sharyl, a forty six year old woman with her entire life in front of her.

But this day cancer didn’t win. Rising from the box of ashes that remained, is Sharyl’s beautiful legacy of LIFE. You see Sharyl’s life was not DEFINED by disease. Instead this selfless servant of Christ was remembered for living a life of love. She loved by taking care of everyone else from her grandmother - to her treasured friends from Heart to Heart. People who knew her leaned on her strength, even when she lay dying. Those who loved her marveled at her faith, courage and peace in the face of pain and the unknown. Sharly lived a quiet life but it was one of great influence. The way in which she loved; with compassion, kindness, interuptability (#CJISM) and humility is such a testimony of what it means to simply follow Jesus. She did that…. Her Pastor challenged us today – how different the world would be if we all loved even one person the way she did. The good news for us, tomorrow is another day... full of opportunity and full of grace.

Beauty for ashes is leaving a legacy that out-lives a disease with a big name. Beauty for ashes is leaving an example to follow – a testimony that people remember.  

I’m sure Jesus welcomed her home saying – "Well done Sharyl – my good and faithful servant."