Chris as a Navy nurse on a hospital ship in Vietnam.
My faith community
lost a dear sister this week.
It was the earthly journey's end
to a valiant fight with pancreatic cancer.
We step back and sing muted
Alleluias in this Lenten season,
and celebrate her eternity dance in heaven.
Somehow, I had missed the communication
that she had moved into hospice
at the beginning of 2021.
When I found out, there was a strong
Spirit nudge to touch base with the Hohenstein family.
I set up a visit bringing husband, John, with me.
I had created a prayer card
for Chris, husband, Hoppy, and son Ray.
When we arrived they were all there
and her mother, Bobbi, also.
I struggled with choosing a verse.
Then, I remembered my dad
saying that in the end the only thing
is knowing that Jesus Loves Me.
Chris and Hoppy
When I served as the Director of Women's Ministry at our home church- Prince of Peace,
I began a Soul-Tending book group that became
Faith Shapers.
When I left that position,
Chris took on the leadership (with others).
In our visit last week she mentioned
that a meeting was coming up on Monday
and she hadn't read the book yet.
And... someone else would have to lead.
She always shared with me the importance
of that life-changing pivot of what she read.
There was a deeper richness
in her spiritual journey and it brought her joy.
Here is the list of many
of the books Chris read since 2006.
and shared that she was afraid of her last days ahead.
John read a part of Psalm 139.
Chris said she couldn't remember all of that...
John told her the story of when
he was young and afraid of the dark.
His parents would come in and give him
the image of Jesus holding a lamb and he was that lamb.
Chris said she could cling to that image.
We prayed, did our best masked smile,
and wished we could hug.
Chris and her dear granddaughter.
Chris joined in the events
at my home called Creative Haven.
We experimented with story-telling,
keep the faith projects.
Documenting the God Moments
of our lives and His Faithfulness.
When Chris faced this latest health challenge,
she had a strong desire to finish
telling her story of Walking with the Lord.
In brief conversations I know that this
became a real struggle.
Her days were soon filled with
just the things that needed to be,
with little energy left for anything else.
When we last spoke of taking the time
to write our faith story Chris said-
"tell others to do it NOW."
I don't know how far she got in her quest,
but I share the document she was using.
(It is great if you just fill out the form
in this project and put this in your Bible.)
Chris was so dearly loved by all those
in her circle of family and friends.
My treasured remembrance
is a sister in faith with a teachable spirit,
ready to help and encourage always.
The favorite stories we shared
in these later months were the ones
of the absolute delight of grandparenting,
and covering them all with prayer.
When I got home from that visit
I needed some time in His Word.
The image of Living Transformed
so reminded me of Chris's journey.
For we WALK BY FAITH.
Chris remembered a conversation we had
after my mother died in 2004.
My mom had shared that the greatest gift
a parent gives their children is to:
Be Faithful, Live Well and Die Well.
Yes, dear friend Chris ran the race with endurance-
with a faith that could not be shaken.
May we be blessed to do likewise.
Praise be to our Heavenly Father.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom
that cannot be shaken,
and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship,
with reverence and awe.
Hebrews 12:28
