HOPE- A Tribute to Bobbi

I don't know if any of you felt it yesterday, but the world lost some of its glow.  Our friend, Bobbi, went home to Jesus.

I only met Bobbi because she had cancer and I was an oncology nurse.  That's how our paths crossed.  She was sick and I, among many, tried to help her.  Well, as happens often enough, she probably helped us a lot more than we helped her.

Bobbi was one of those people who shared her smiles freely.  There was a warmth about her, and a zest for life.  Bobbi loved her family and friends and she knew that she was well-loved in return.  Bobbi had much to live for.

Bobbi had a theme word, HOPE.  One day we were talking about my love for giraffes.  Another patient had told me that in Africa, giraffes were the symbol for hope.  Bobbi said, "Oh, that's my word!"  After that, we always mentioned the word, "hope" to each other.   One day she brought in 4 red letters to spell "hope" and gave it to me.  I have had them on my bathroom mirror ever since.  I wanted it where I would see it first thing each morning.

The last time I went into our chemo clinic was rather a hard day for me.  My recurring illness had become annoying enough that I was no longer able to continue doing the job I loved so much.  I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.  My plan was to come in, clean out my desk, and leave as quickly as I could so that I wouldn't cry in front of people.   It just so happened that Bobbi was there that day.  She called me over to her treatment chair.  She gave me a hug and spoke words of encouragement to me.  My situation was not as grim as her's, but she was speaking words of assurance to me.  She was ministering to me.  I was so very grateful.

So as we are mourning our loss,  I am trying to focus on HOPE.  Mike helped me find a bible verse that comforted me.  Romans 5:3-5  "...we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our  hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

Bobbi suffered and endured.  She had great character, and she had HOPE.  Bobbi knew her life would not end when cancer claimed her body.  She knew she was wrapped in God's love and she knew that she would go to be with her Lord. 

See you later, Bobbi.