Ken and I attended a most unusual funeral the other day. It was one funeral, but for two people. My husband and I have known Diane and Connie for years. The two of them met in a nursing home over 30 years ago – Diane had multiple sclerosis and she went into a nursing home after her husband left her. She was a vibrant, beautiful Christian, and that caught the attention of one of the nurse’s aids, her name was Connie, and she also happened to be a believer. The two of them became fast friends in that nursing home, until one day Connie asked if Diane would be interested in leaving that little nursing home to try to live on her own again. Diane thought that was a great idea, especially when Connie offered to live with her in order to help her to be more independent.
Within a few months, the two of them were able to move into a government-subsidized housing unit not far from Ken and I lived. Connie and Diane faithfully attended Grace Community Church and they prayed for our ministry at Joni and Friends for years – in fact, I think I’ve talked about Diane several times on this program. I used to tell Diane (especially when she became bedridden) that although her physical body may have been confined to those four walls of her apartment, her prayers were reaching people with disabilities around the world.
Not long ago Connie began suffering with lung and heart problems and, for the first time in 30 years, the two had to be separated when Connie had to go into a hospital. It meant that for that time Diane had to go back into a nursing home – the very same home where she met her dear friend. A couple of weeks went by, Connie wasn’t getting better, and Diane contracted pneumonia in that home. She was sent to a different hospital and things were touch-and-go there for them both for quite some time.
Then one morning, unexpectedly, we got the news that Connie passed away. A Bible study friend went over to the other hospital to break the news to Diane. When she learned that her long-time friend had departed for heaven, she smiled. The Bible study friend asked, “Diane, do you want to go to heaven now, too, like Connie?” Because her MS had encroached so far that Diane could hardly speak, she smiled and shook her head enthusiastically yes. Little did any of us know that five hours later she would join Connie, her friend, at the feet of Jesus.
And so, the other day there were two caskets at that funeral. How glorious it will be when I will see my friends Diane and Connie again… our bodies free of disabilities or heart problems or quadriplegia or multiple sclerosis. Oh, and one more thing, the Bible verse they read was from Ruth chapter 1, “Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried...” Two friends who lived together, died together, were buried together, and one day I will actually see them together again.
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JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
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Agoura Hills, CA 93176