This past week I was doing my usual scan of the statuses
on Facebook when one of them really spoke to me. It said, "How will you be
remembered?" This seemed like such a simple statement, but held a greater
meaning for me as one of my family members passed away this past weekend, and I
had been contemplating on all of the memories that this person held for me. My
cousin, Deana, was one of those people that made a huge impact on you, a true
joy to everyone who knew her and if I were to relate every time she served as
an encourager to me, or friend, or just made me smile, the stories would fill
many more pages than this newspaper could ever hope to achieve.
Her funeral was this past Friday in Canadian, Texas in her
hometown church and the church over flowed so much that they beamed a broadcast
of her funeral to another room in the church to accommodate the many people
that had come to remember her. Her son is the Chief of Police for the City of
Arlington and the Arlington Honor Guard and two motorcycle cops made the long
trip to help escort their Chief's mother to her resting place. The pastor of
the church lined out the fruits of the spirit and then told story after story
of how Deana encompassed every one of them. To say that the world took notice
of the passing of this special lady would be an understatement. For a few hours
on Friday, the earth seemed to stand still to remember and pay tribute to her.
I say all of this to remind you that life is short and
precious. I know that her legacy and spirit will carry on in her family and
those that she impacted.
I don't know how I will be remembered, probably something
like "She was that newspaper chick." But I want to live my life in
such a way that some day when someone remembers me that they use words like:
patient, caring, kind. I know that I am not there yet, but being the work in
progress that I am...I just might get there someday. As for my cousin Deana,
Heaven gained one of its most faithful servants this last week. You will be
missed, my dear.
