Sara Frankl, gitzengirl, passed away Saturday night at 11:14 pm. Why do we always document the exact time we come into this world and then we pass away? I think because they are momentous events. Because when a person is born, the parents and family rejoice. A miracle has taken place. There is hope and expectation for the life that has come into existence. What will he or she be like, what will she do, who will she love, who will she touch and influence?
When she passes from this life, what kind of legacy did she leave? Who did she love, who did she touch and influence?
Sara influenced a lot of people, just by living her life and faith fiercely and authentically. I would read some of her blogs where she described some aspect of her life and her illness, and I would think in amazement how can she be so positive and humorous? Other times, I would read her blog and she would say something that would just pierce my heart, get in there and open it up a little more and worm out some of the pain or ugliness that still dwells in there.
Her motto was, 'Choose Joy.' Two very simple words, but oh, they carry so much weight. Choosing joy isn't just a decision we make, but a lifestyle we lead. We choose to let go of our own control and our plans and our expectations, and we put it in God's hands and let Him make the decisions. For those of us who have really tried this, it is way more easier said than done.
This is my first post on this web page, and I want to share my life and my heart with others. I think we all desire to be close to others, to share our heart, our loves, our pains, our desires, our passions. And that's what I desire now.
I'm going to get a tattoo on Friday that says, 'choose joy.' I want to remember what Sara Frankl meant to me. She left a legacy to those who read about her life and loved her. I want to fulfill that legacy.
In the next few blogs, I want to talk a little about what those words actually mean, to choose joy. It's not some cliche that we just say, and magically, everything is okay...It's a difficult, heartfelt, gut wrenching, decision, to make Jesus the Lord of our life. I'm going to explore what that means to me...and maybe some of you.
Thel
