Because He lives, she lives

         "...I am the resurrection and the life.  Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.  Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26)
         Yes, Lord we believe. 
         We believe that our dear friend--our remarkable, joyful, indefatigable, faithful, constantly giving, relentlessly loving, endlessly serving Jo Anna--is more alive this moment than she has ever been before.  We still reside here in the shadowlands...but she lives.  She laughs.  She sees.  She loves.  She worships.  She dances.  She rejoices.  She shimmers with Your glory.  And knowing Jo Anna, she surely also organizes, serves, and celebrates with gusto. 
         Oh my how hard, how impossible it is to imagine this old earth without her.  Such an unimaginably huge hole is left here.  Words can't begin to express how desperately we will all miss her, so I'll not even try.  But heaven grows even sweeter and dearer knowing that Jo Anna has arrived Home. 
           Thank You, thank You, thank You, Father, for Jesus.  Thank You that because He lives, she lives.  Because He came and died and rose again, Jo Anna is vibrantly, joyously, fully alive. 
          The great preacher Charles Spurgeon went home to heaven in 1892 at the same age as Jo Anna.  Both entered heaven at 57.  Hard to believe how two people could pack so much good, so much life, so much eternally wonderful work into just 57 years.  But they did--they both did. 
         When I read the words for Spurgeon's service, I couldn't help but immediately think of Jo Anna, for these words apply just as surely to her.  Here is some of what Pastor Archibald Brown, one of Spurgeon's close friends, shared that day in 1892--
         "Beloved president, faithful pastor, prince of preachers, beloved, dear Spurgeon--we bid thee not 'Farewell' but only for a little while 'Good night.'
          Thou shalt rise soon at the first dawn of the resurrection day of the redeemed.  Yet is the good night not ours to bid, but thine; it is we who linger in the darkness; thou art in God's holy light.  Our night shall soon be passed, and with it all our weeping. Then, with thine, our songs shall greet the morning of a day that knows no cloud nor close; for there is night there.
          Hard worker in the field, thy toil is ended.  Straight has been the furrow thou hast plowed.  No looking back has marred thy course.  Harvests have followed thy patient sowing, and Heaven is already rich with thine ingathered sheaves and shall still be enriched through the years yet lying in eternity.
          Champion of God, thy battle, long and nobly fought, is over; thy sword, which clave to thy hand, has dropped at last; a palm branch takes it place.  No longer does the helmet press thy brow, oft weary with its surging thoughts of battle; a victor's wreath from the great Commander's hand has already proved thy full reward."
            Yes, that's Jo Anna.  Only heaven knows how many countless folks she loved, encouraged, taught, strengthened, lifted up, served, and impacted for eternity.  How she makes me want to be a far better woman, wife, mama, sister, daughter, and friend.  Because let me tell you, she was simply the best in every one of those roles.     
           Thank You, Father, for the priceless gift of this amazing woman.  Thank You that we will see her again...and oh mercy, then we'll do us some serious sharing, laughing, and celebrating.  And she'll make sure everyone around us feels included, valued, and loved, because that's who she always was and is and will be. 
          Thank You for Jesus.  Thank You for Jo Anna.  Thank You for the promise of heaven.  And thank You that in the words of John Donne, "No man ever saw God and lived.  And yet, I shall not live till I see God; and when I have seen Him, I shall never die." 
          Thank You that Jo Anna now sees You...and lives.
          To God be the glory.