Today Belinda and I got the call from Sandy, Amy Tyler’s mother, that we didn’t want to get. As of the time I’m writing, 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 9, they didn’t think she would live more than a few hours. The family asked us to come and support during this time.

What would you say?

It is a privilege to be present at a birth and it is a privilege to be present when someone leaves this life for heaven. We read Amy’s favorite scriptures to her. We said goodbye. We laughed at some good times together. We cried. I found some prayers that Amy wrote in her Bible and read them out loud. We held each other as various ones wept. We reassured Amy that it was okay to let go—she is ready and we are ready. To be candid we never really are ready to let go but there are these times where if feels selfish to hold on when the body is failing.

I don’t know where we would find hope in times like these if we didn’t have forgiveness, grace, the promise of heaven and the very presence of Jesus. Several people remarked how peaceful Amy looked. How do you look peaceful when cancer has ravaged your body? How do you find peace when you are leaving a young son behind? How do you find peace when there is brokenness and sin all around in this world and even in the lives of those close to you—only one place, in Jesus!

I’m so proud of Amy. I’m thankful for her friends and family. They feel like family to me. Like the apostle Paul said, I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I have remained faithful and now the prize awaits me which is a crown of righteousness. 2 Timothy 4:6-8

I don’t know when she’ll wear it but there won’t be any more stocking caps for Amy to cover her head, there is a crown for her.