Missed Opportunity

I'm sad today. I've just heard that a beautiful lady that I admired died not today, but actually several weeks ago and I'm just hearing about it now.

We have been attending the same church for the last three years. People tend to sit in the same "pew" week after week and so it happened with us. We found ourselves sitting behind Juanita and Ralph. I know their names are Jaunita and Ralph because we talk to them every week and used to tease that when they weren't at church that we never knew where to sit.

Juanita has been battling ovarian cancer for as long as I have known her. I've seen her with fancy scarves on her head when she lost all her hair to chemo and I sat behind her and commented on how pretty her hair looked when it grew back in.

My own sister went through this same battle so we had common interest and as I nurse I always asked how she was doing. Miss Juanita gave me the honor of really telling me how she was really feeling and how I could pray for her. The last few months I've seen Miss Juanita looking paler, her feet so swollen that she could barely put on shoes and I knew we were losing her. I would give her a gentle hug, rub her shoulders and tease Ralph that he should be taking better care of "our girl".

Three weeks ago, I saw Miss Juanita's name in the bulletin asking for prayer and urging people to send cards. I made a mental note that I really needed to do that before we left town but unfortunately I let it slip by. So today I'm regretting the missed opportunities the Lord gave me to tell her how much I admired her courage and contagious spirit. I'm regretting the missed opportunity to sit by her bedside and let her know the impact she had on my life through our brief exchanges before and after church.

It's hard to see her husband sitting alone now. He looks much older, sadder, and definitely alone. It makes me hug Mr. Wonderful a little tighter and a little longer and take every opportunity to tell him how much I love him.