Tags
Ann Mardoian, Bill Lewis, Eternity, George Guzzardo, Jackie Lewis, Jesus Christ, LIFE Leadership, Orrin Woodward
Sometimes I lay in bed at night and think about the day’s events and just wonder if all of this is real? I have to pinch myself just to make sure that I am alive. It’s on nights like these, when my mind will just not shut off, that I reflect on how strong God made man to be.
This past Monday I had to bury my grandma. She was my last living grandparent and a woman who stole my heart while she walked this earth. We had a very special bond that I believe very few grand-kids develop with a grandparent. I never imagined living my life without her and now that she is gone, it has made each day just a little bit more empty. She lived her life as a reflection of who Jesus Christ was. She was self-less, loving and forgiving. She lived a full life into her late 80’s and fought all the way to the end. Just moments before her passing she still had the strength to make the sign of the cross as the priest prayed over her. A woman who is living life eternally with the Creator of the world, she has left a legacy behind to all those who were blessed to know her.
In the meantime, during all the events of my grandma’s passing I was thinking about and praying for a very special lady who has also made an imprint in my heart as well as thousands of other people’s lives, LIFE co-founder, wife, mother of four and friend to many – Jackie Lewis. When I heard of her worsening condition Sunday evening I fervently prayed that God would heal her. Each day that went by her condition continued to worsen and by Tuesday evening we were praying for a miracle. In those days I have never prayed so much or cried so much.
I believe Jackie’s fight brought 10’s of thousands of people closer to Christ in just a matter of days. And in her last 12 hours people literally put their life on hold to lift Jackie, the doctor’s, her family and friends in prayer in hopes that a miracle would happen. Communities around the world were consumed by her story, her fight and her faith. People who have never believed in anything started to pray and began to have faith and believe in a higher power. People who didn’t even know Jackie were crying out to God for a healing. While Jackie may not have been able to physically see the impact that her fight was making in thousands of people’s lives in those days, I am certain that as she looks down on us today she can smile and know that she is still in this world by the legacy she has left behind in people’s hearts and souls.
Isn’t it interesting how God has a timeline… or hourglass (as my friend and mentor George Guzzardo likes to say) for everyone’s life. We don’t know how much sand is left in the hourglass; but what we do know is that one day, our last grain of sand will reach the bottom and it’s what we do before that last grain falls that makes all the difference. We would all like to hope that our sand moves slower through the hourglass so that we can live a long life into our late 80’s, just as my grandma did. But that isn’t always the case. We see that in a woman who went Home to be with the Lord at 32 years old and realize that the hourglass is so unpredictable. We recognize that we have no control over the speed of the sand that falls. But what we do know is that Someone is in control of that hourglass – and it isn’t us.
Jackie lived on this earth for 32 years and while we may not understand why she was called Home so soon – we can know that she made a difference in more people’s lives than most people do who live a full life. Not only did she impact thousands of lives while she was living – she changed even more lives while she was dying. We can never claim to understand why God does the things that He does but as I reflect on all these events this past week, I can say with certainty that He does have a plan and His plan is always perfect – despite what we want to believe or the confusion we often feel as we live in this world.
I pray that everyone who has been affected by Jackie’s story uses it as a reason to live a life of significance and purpose. Very few people leave the type of legacy that Jackie has left behind but I believe we are all capable of leaving that type of legacy. God knows what He is doing. He is waiting for us leave the type of impact that Jackie did. He is waiting for His people to draw near to Him and pray like their lives depended on it. To fight for their place in Heaven by living while they are alive and being an example of Jesus’ presence in the world. That is what I know my grandma did and that is what I know Jackie did. While the grains in their hourglass were completely different, their legacy was very similar and they are both being rewarded in Heaven today for who they were when they were alive. They are celebrating today with all the angels in Heaven who did not waste their hourglass.
What a gift we have to know that Jesus Christ has saved us for all of Eternity. We don’t have to fear death. We don’t have to worry about the last grain of sand in our earthly hourglass. We can leave that in His hands. Our hourglass in Eternity with Jesus is never ending and that is the hourglass we should be striving for in this life.
Hugs and prayers to everyone who is mourning the earthly loss of Jackie Lewis, Ann Mardoian and any other angels who left this earth to be with Jesus. God gave us the strength to overcome these earthly losses and use them for His glory!
“This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” Psalm 119:50
In Christ,
Kristen
Beautifully written Kristen. You can see the love you have for your grandma and Jackie. Isn’t it amazing how 2 people whose lives were not only different in what they did but in how long they had to do it, were able to have a similar influence on people’s lives. As the saying goes ‘ it’s not the years in your life, it’s the life in your year’s.’ Prayers to you and your family in this time of mourn and prayers to your health. God bless.
Thanks Tom, Amen to everything you said! God Bless
Beautifully said, Kristen.
I am in the process of watching my Christ-following mother die (at 77) of pancreatic cancer. I already lost all my grandparents (the last one over 10 years ago), my husband’s parents and most recently my father to cancer 7 years ago.
I can totally relate to everything you said about hourglasses. I am also learning about being where I am when I am there (“in the moment,” as Chris Brady says), and also to tell people I love that I love them whenever I get an opportunity.
May God bless you, and all who mourn Jackie, as we mourn our losses together.
Cathy, it’s hard to think that as we age we will watch more and more people leave this earth. That is why I started the article saying that God gave human beings such incredible strength when He created us. It is never easy losing someone you love but thank God for faith in Jesus because we will see them all again someday. My prayers to you and your mother as you cope with these challenges. Stay strong my friend!
And mine to you with losing your beloved grandmother. (I’m working on a post on how we respond when it feels like life just stinks.)
Kristen, you are one amazing lady! You exemplify, class and grace, much in the way Jackie Lewis did. You are always in Erika and my prayers!
That means a lot, thanks Gary! You and Erica also display these same qualities! Keep leading my friend.
You write beautifully Kristen. I was shocked and so saddened when I saw what Jackie was going through, even though I only met her once personally, it feels like I know her through listening to her CD’s. It is amazing to think about the impact that she had, even in her final moments of life. I still cannot believe she is gone… most of all, my heart aches for Bill and their kids. I cannot fathom the heart break and confusion they are going through. Even as Christians, we mourn for her passing (and for all the angels that have left us) but we can be comforted knowing she is in heaven having “a party” with Jesus 🙂 Watching her testimony again was wonderful too… what a blessing her life was..
AMEN Andrea! My heart breaks for Bill and those kiddos but knowing Bill and Jackie’s faith and the support they have around them, they are in good hands. All we can do is continue to pray for their strength and courage as they move forward and remember the amazing mother and wife they had. Thanks for your comments!
To live or to die for the Glory of God. That was Jackie’s legacy.
AMEN!!!!
Lovely said my friend. Praying for continued comfort and strength.
Ditto – thanks Imelda!
Thanks Kristen,
Jackie’s story will be told until Jesus comes, as LIFE Leadership has a HUGE mission to do in the meantime. We never know, do we, so I believe God expects us to live each day as if it were our last. I continue to pray for Bill and the Lewis family and all those touched by Jackie in her short, but now completed life on Earth.
en JOY … Live…
Keith C. Lauver
LIFE Rhino Team, PA
You are exactly right Keith! Thanks for your comments.
Know this my young friend we do not loose our loved ones . By faith they are not lost because we know where they are (ie) in the arms of the Loving God and Savior.Do I hear an AMEN my sisters and brothers. “Because HE lives we can face tomorrow.” Praise to god who gave us life in Jesus.
YES – AMEN Bill!! Thank you
I know I can agree that I was definitely moved by the whole experience, and I’m sure other people would agree that this event helped them reevaluate their lives. Samantha and I have talked about this before, about a founder passing. What would happen? We were almost naive enough to think that could never happen. But God has a better plan. His plan is perfect. And we will never be able to comprehend what His plan is. But, one day we will be with him again, and then we will understand. We were deeply saddened by the whole experience, but then this also helped me remember what Jill Guzzardo said a while back… “we live as though we have a thousand years. We don’t. You don’t have a thousand years.” Jackie just showed us that. Are we living for tomorrow or are we making use of our today?
You got it Jeremy. If people are not inspired into action or deeply moved by Jackie’s loss and legacy I would be worried for them and would pray that God would use her story to change them because that is what she would have wanted. We certainly don’t have a thousand years and Jackie’s loss has been a staunch reminder of that. Thanks for your comments and I appreciate watching you and Samantha grow on your leadership journey!
Reblogged this on Jeremy Pethke's Leadership Blog and commented:
Kristen’s words here are wise beyond her years. I have had the pleasure to know Kristen for a few years now, and she is one the youngest, most insightful, women I know. She has had many obstacles hit her life, and has more ahead of her. But she takes them in stride because she has a faith that many people never achieve. Kristen is influencing many lives already and I believe she is already creating a legacy, like a Jackie Lewis, whether she believes it or not.
God bless and enjoy!
Jeremy
Thanks for saying that Jeremy. Working with Kristen personally, I can say that your words are truth! She is a wonderful example of walking the Christian walk. Thanks again and God bless you and Samantha.
Thanks for this amazing blog Kristen. I can still hardly find the words to express the deep losses we have experienced lately. Jackie’s passing reminds us of that hourglass and how fast or slow it may be moving. Your Grandma’s passing reminds us of how we should be spending those grains of sand. Thanks again and God bless you and everyone as we all continue to heal.
Thanks Joanne, I agree all of this really forces us to re-evaluate how we spend our time here on earth. What a tough but needed reminder! I keep going back to Jill’s words – WE DON’T HAVE A THOUSAND YEARS TO DO THIS! Love ya
Wow Kristen. What a beautiful post. This really put peace in my heart, and I can’t wait to share it with others! Thanks for wearing your heart on your sleeve.
God Bless,
Bobbie
I am glad it brought you some comfort Bobbie! Sometimes all we need is a little bit of clarity – and that clarity often comes in seeking the truth. Check out 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18…those verses have helped me a lot in dealing with everything this past week!