Death may come, but Love Carries on.
By: Brittany - Posted on: 8/22/2010 12:06:27 PM

My Nana just passed away 3 weeks ago, and I was supposed to be leaving on the following Monday for National Fine Arts. Being a senior, this was my last year, and I really wanted to go, but at the same time I really felt the need to be with my family and helping out with the arrangements and everything. Losing Nana was really hard on us all. But in the end, respecting her wishes not to be laid out, my parents left the decision to me whether to go to Detroit for Nationals or not. After much prayer, I felt a peace to go, and so I left with my Fine Arts Group, Our Fine Arts Director, and the Pastor’s wife that Monday morning.

What amazed me was my Pastor and His daughter (who is like my best friend) came that Saturday night when my Nana died. That was just amazing!

Monday when we left for Detroit, everyone was awesome! They gave me some space on the way up, and honestly I cried half the way there and had a few breakdowns…(expected…I never had time to let everything sink in. Just one day…)

In spite of everything, that week was just awesome! And my friends and the leaders just loved on me and helped me through so much. They were all amazing! I had a few breakdowns just really missing Nana…but they helped me through it all.

The Monday after I got back from Detroit was the memorial service, and just looking at everything that transpired the last week, it is so amazing seeing how perfectly God orchestrated everything! The church family really took care of us! We had the church for the memorial service, some ladies came and helped out with food and setting up tables and everything real nice for lunch after, and just even the smallest details…the love that was shown to us in this time just blows me away!

God is so good! And his love was shown to us in an amazing way over the last few weeks! Praise the Lord! <3

As for my Nana, I’m taking from her something that she was best at — unconditional love. She helped anyone, forgave quicker than anyone I knew. She always made sure that we knew she loved us, and even when she was in the hospital she continually told us all that she loved us. Her sense of family was so strong, and she would do anything for them.

She was a strong woman and I will miss her so much…but of everything she taught me, it’s to love with no limits, forgive easily and quickly, and never give up on your family. <3

In these last two weeks, I’ve never seen love so strong and I’ll be sure that it continues on. Taking from Nana’s example, I’m going to love without limits! <3

"Character is the best tombstone. Those who were loved and helped by you will remember you. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble." ~Charles Spurgeon

The way God orchestrates everything is just AMAZING! After all of this, I could never doubt God's hand in my life.