A BRIGHT SHINING LIGHT

Milton, here for Kristy:

Kristy's light always outshined the darkness. No matter how dark the place would be, her reflection of a Greater Light illuminated the environment. At gas stations, and with store clerks, and large speaking assignments, and through her writings, and with untold acts of kindness she let God's light shine through her. She never covered the light or was ashamed of the light.

One of the most wonderful witnesses of Christ through Kristy and through our family was to the CNA, Donna Jo, who cared for Kristy during her 3 months of illness at home before her passing. Christ's love touched Donna Jo over and over and Donna Jo renewed her commitment to Christ one Sunday while I was at church preaching. Kristy's friend, Sandra, led Donna Jo in a prayer of consecration and surrender to Christ. This Sunday Donna Jo was in church sitting on the fourth row.

I had Donna Jo stand so our people could see her and they applauded her for lovingly caring for Kristy. She wiped tears. We all wiped tears knowing what Kristy's love had meant to Donna Jo and how Christ had worked in Donna Jo's life and all of our lives.

When Kristy was so ill, we prayed, read Scripture, sang, told jokes, held her hands, comforted her, played soothing music and loved her every way we could think. Norma had a great idea and that was to read Kristy a novel so she went into Kristy's office and looked through all her books. She found an autographed copy of Robin Lee Hatcher's book, Loving Libby, and Donna Jo read it to Kristy over a period of a couple of weeks before Kristy passed. Norma randomly selected this book not knowing that Robin was one of Kristy's many writing friends. That's neat to me.

I bought another copy of this book and wrote a thank you to Donna Jo in it, and all of our family wrote similar thank you notes. I hugged Donna Jo Sunday morning in church and gave her this book along with other gifts.

Kristy enjoyed this story and smiled over and over at the hero. Norma said she was sure that Kristy thought the hero, Remington, looked like me. Kristy was warmed and comforted hearing a beautiful romance story as she was slipping from this life.

Thank you, Donna Jo, for your loving faithful care of my beloved Kristy. I look forward to your being in church soon when I preach so you can hear more about the love of God from our family.