Love when you are poor is the best love...

12 years ago I was in college at BRCC. I was fresh out of highschool and still caught up in the highschool mentality. That there is a hierarchy in life - you are cool because of your appearance, what things you own, what car you drive, how you talk, and conduct yourself. I was in a class and one day this lady made a fool of herself, I don't remember exactly what happened, but I do remember my reaction. I made fun of her along with half the class. After class I went to the bathroom to find her crying. My heart dropped. I hadn't thought of her feelings while I was laughing. I asked her if she was ok and if there was anything I could do and she opened up. She told me about her life, she had a handicapped 6 year old daughter, a husband with disabilities, she played the piano for churches on the weekend, but was having trouble making ends meet, and she wanted to get her degree so she could provide for her family. After listening and apologizing over and over she told me she would love for me to meet CeCe.
I went over to her house sometime that week and God continued to open my eyes and strip away my highschool mentality. I was not prepared for the state they were living in. I was not prepared to fall in love with a 6 year old with cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and one leg. I was not prepared for the love their family would throw at me immediately.
CeCe and I became fast friends, as well as her parents Gail and Dave. I went over to their house some weeks every day. I loved helping out how I could, whether or not it was hanging out, giving CeCe a bath, or playing. I saw from that moment how much they loved each other and how simply it is to love each other when you have nothing material to distract you.
When Matt and I got married there was no other consideration for a flower girl than CeCe. She was pushed down the aisle in her wheelchair and was the prettiest flower girl anyone could have had.
We moved to Marion shortly after we got married and my visits with CeCe, Gail, and Dave grew further apart. After we had Noah motherhood consumed me and family life and we lost touch for a few years. Two years ago I ran into Gails daughter in law (she has an older son named Christopher). She told me Gail was not in good health and I went to see her right away. Things had changed, we all were in different places. But we stayed in touch and I tried to visit a few times a year, as well as keep up through phonecalls and the internet.
Two weeks ago Dave called me and told me they had called Hospice in and that Gail didn't have much time left to live. He told me at least four months or so. I promised to visit over Thanksgiving.
Last Thursday, I went over to their house for a visit. Gail was on oxygen and looked swollen (she was on lasiks) but she was her jovial self. When she walked into the room she gave Dave a big hug and had CeCe running errands for her. We talked about the old days and she told me that she was surprised Dave hadn't left her after all they had been through. But if anyone has seen how Dave looked at her that day or any day, there was no doubt where his loyalty was. We talked about how poor love is the best love. How when everything is all stripped away and you just have each other, you realize how good you have it. I left and promised to visit soon.
Friday morning when Gail got up something happened, we don't know exactly what, but she fell and slipped into a coma within a few hours. I got to go see her and visit with her up until an hour before her death. I remember telling her "Gail you know I don't kiss people, but I'm going to kiss your forehead." And she made a kiss face with her mouth as I pulled away. I left at 6:30 and at 8:15 Gail was in the presence of her Savior.
What did I learn from this crazy lady? So much. Appearances are not everything. Don't judge because you don't know what's happening on the inside. Love furiously like you are going to lose everything tomorrow. Family is most important. You pay on this earth for your mistakes even when you've asked for forgiveness from your heavenly father. People who pop out their false teeth freak me out (she used to "accidently" misplace them before I would come over and get such a kick out of my reaction). Laugh until your sides hurt... What a gift to have known her.
Where do they go now? Dave and CeCe must keep pushing forward. This is an incredibly hard time for both of them. I visited on Saturday and can't write about the amount of grief I saw. You can pray for them. As they cling to each other and the promise that they will see Gail in Heaven one day soon.
Don't take today for granted. I need to have that tattooed to my forehead.
Thanks for listening to my heart.