KATIE’S SONG

At first, I avoided Katie like the plague.  I had never met her, I didn’t know her, and I had absolutely no reason to dislike her in any way.  Except for one.  She had liver cancer and she was losing the fight.  Just like Mindy.     

She was a faceless name on a prayer list with the same hideous disease that had robbed me of my precious niece, and her daughters of their mom.  I guess I must have been still bitter about Mindy’s death, but I hadn’t realized it.     

Then one day, she had a face.  She was well enough to come to church with her sister and brother-in-law.  As I exited, she hugged me and said, “I loved your song.”    

I’m not exactly sure how, but Katie knew how difficult it was for me to face the disease that had so recently taken Mindy.  I was really careful not to mention it, but I guess she read the same prayer list I did and so, undoubtedly, knew of the progress of Mindy’s disease.    

Every week, she had some word of encouragement for me.  I found myself looking for her when she wasn’t there.  When she was no longer able to make the long ride from home to come to meetings, I really missed her.  She had moved in with her sister, a nurse, and brother-in-law, for home hospice.   My husband drove with me and the kids out to see her a few times when she was able to have visitors.  I brought my harp and we all sang the old hymns.  She loved daisies.    

I will always treasure the example of Katie’s family and their tender, loving service to her in her last days.  In that loving, Christian home, a seed was planted in my heart that continues to grow today.

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