Melanie

I’ve been greatly tempted to just skip writing this week because of a tragedy of life that entered our home this past Tuesday. But then again, I feel that not writing because of personal sorrow, I would be betraying the whole purpose of this column to begin with. We’re all on the road to forever and it comes a time when even loved ones will depart from this world unexpectedly. Our daughter Melanie went to be with Jesus on the morning of October 1st . She was 43-years-old with the mental capacity of an innocent 6-year-old, always full of joy and at times finding it hard to deal with the world when things didn’t make much sense to her. She had a stubborn independence about her, but was always willing to share every ounce of her love through a great big smile, a heart-felt boisterous greeting and a hug. She was generally the center of attention and it was always fun for me to just step back and watch her take over a room with greetings to each individual present. Her queries to adults about children and newborns in their families were real and of much concern to her. You see, Melanie was given a talent of extraordinary memory and recall. When it came to names, addresses, birthdates, relationships, and wedding anniversaries, she always had the answer. Well, Melanie was born with an abnormal heart, which was her demise, stealing her life away. We’ll miss her greatly, but when you look at the big picture, we’re not far behind.
I tell you this, to share with you this. Melanie had been on a medically challenged roll-a-coaster ride for about the past three years raising the fear of her having to be locked away from the general public. She had been living away from home, in group homes for the mentally challenged, for many years, because she demanded needs we could no longer supply at home. She lived many miles away, but we had her home weekends and holidays as often as possible. Then even the group home couldn’t supply all her needs anymore. My wife Paula, her dedicated mother, worked tirelessly searching for alternatives and it seemed nothing was working. With prayer, much tears and the hope that the Lord would solve our dilemma, a new facility was found and Melanie was moved one more time, the fourth in two months. At this point in time, Melanie’s participation in any joy and happiness had dwindled to nothing. So sad to see.
[1 John 4: 7-12] We do not always see God’s love when it is shadowed in earthly fears. My wife has a sentimental streak and birthdays are at the top of her list. When the family has a clump of birthdays she gets us all together on a convenient weekend to celebrate, Melanie always included. It so happened three Sundays ago, so the family loaded up two vehicles and went to celebrate with Mel at her new residence. What we experienced, as we now can see clearly, was a gift from God. Melanie was in true form. A transformation had taken place and we were greeted with an all to familiar, and almost forgotten, booming voice as each of our names was announced followed by a hug and a smile from the heart. Our son-in-law even provoked a little jig from her, which we had never seen her do before. We told her we were there to celebrate birthdays and she commenced to tell who’s and their date born. What a wonderful visit and a great hope arose that once again her life would be filled with laughter. But alas, that is our selfish will and not God’s. I’m sure of one thing. She’s now perfect and announcing, JESUS!