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My heart is saddened at the passing of Shirley Hawthorne…a friend for many years. Our paths crossed often…but it seems as if each time we only had a minute or two to talk and catch up. About two weeks ago, I was at Boswell’s Dream Extreme where Shirley worked. I commented to her how clean and sparking she always kept everything in the kitchen area (her territory)…Her friends and co-workers immediately began “carrying on” about how Shirley made everybody “clean up their mess.” We laughed and talked and I bragged on her “beautiful area!” Little did I know that would be the last time I would see or talk with her. She has so many many friends…and a wonderful family…I know everyone’s heart is broken.
Shirley died in her sleep…peacefully and with grace…just as she would have wanted…I even bet there was a smile on her face. I don’t think I ever saw her not smiling.
When someone is “snatched” from our lives, our world is just flipped…we are in a world we didn’t want and surely not ready for. Aren’t we glad we are Christians! We know where Shirley is…we know she is singing and rejoicing with family and friends that have gone before her…but we are left here to try and make sense of something that “sense” can’t be made of…and this my friends is where faith comes. Faith in a God so much wiser and caring than we can ever dream of being…a God who stands faithfully with us when we may turn the other way…I have no answers as to why…I have no understanding of why…but I do know we serve an awesome God…and He alone will carry us through this time.
When I hear Shirley’s name what I see is a smiling face…a face that brought smiles to other faces all of her life…Thank you for your smile, Shirley…your smile will live on in our hearts forever.
Prayers for the family and friends.
