Week 153
Positive post Sunday, January 19, 2020- Week 153.
Yesterday we celebrated the life of a dear friend, amazing human being and true woman of God, Susan Ann Palmer. Her life was cut short on January 1st by a tragic and preventable vehicle accident. Susan and her family have been lifelong family friends and we are deeply saddened by our loss.
You might be thinking, how is this a Positive Post? This untimely and sudden loss is certainly not positive for Susan’s family and friends, however yesterday we chose to celebrate the 61 years the good Lord blessed us with her here on earth. It was very clear from all the testimonials of family and friends that Susan had a very positive impact on the lives of so many, and most importantly she had a deep faith and loved the Lord. There is no doubt in my mind that she has joined the Lord and is looking down on us with great pride and comfort.
At the celebration of life, a longtime friend of Susan’s said, “lifetime relationships teach us lifetime lessons”. That caused me to reflect on the longtime relationship between our family and the Whitney family, DeDe and Dick, Susan and her husband Johnny Ace Palmer and Mike and Geri Whitney (and now all our kids and grandkids). I have learned so many life lessons from our relationship over the years, especially during our vacations to Campland in San Diego! Two lessons that have passed the test of time are the importance of placing family second only to God and being available to support each other during times of need. One of the beauties of a lifetime relationship like ours is that, although we don’t see each other very often since our families have grown and our lives have gotten very busy, we are always there for each other to celebrate the good times and support each other during the tough times. That’s what lifelong friends do.
Susan’s legacy will live on in the hearts of all of us whose lives she has touched with her kindness, thoughtfulness and love, especially her wonderful husband Johnny Ace Palmer and their two beautiful daughters Isabel and Whitney. Although I wish I could turn back time and bring Susan back, their pastor reminded us we should long to be with her someday not to bring her back, as it was God’s will that she returned to him at this time. And as Mike shared at the celebration of life, with Susan it was family and God. She knew exactly where she was going when God called, to be by His side in everlasting life.
My prayers, and the prayers of my family Michele, Dana and Ken Rendler, Karen Longpre, Rod Longpre tom Tom Rendler, are with our lifelong friends, the Palmer and Whitney families. May they be comforted in knowing that Susan is with our Lord and, God willing, someday we will all join her again in eternal life.
Who are your lifelong friends and how are you supporting them? How will your loved ones celebrate your life? What legacy of love and hope will you leave behind?