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Most of us know someone who has or had cancer. In a split second, we can think of those we lost too soon. It’s a mystery how this disease robs their lives and changes ours so quickly. One minute they’re here, and the next, they’re gone. Life seems so short. Surely not fair.
I’ve known lots of people who had cancer—most of them passed in a couple of years after their diagnosis. But not Emma.
I “met” Emma in January, but apparently, we’d already been talking for weeks. She was the one helping me reserve dance practice rooms at the library—week after week, behind the desk—faithful, kind, steady.
One random Thursday evening, however, she messaged me on IG. I didn’t realize it was Emma from the library. Quickly, in a half a dozen audio messages and texts, she shared her story, asked questions about faith and mental health, and started opening up. I’m still not sure how, but we instantly clicked. I felt like I’d known her my whole life, but I’d only truly known her for a few weeks.
Over the next few months, we swapped dozens of voice memos and texts. By May, we finally met up in person. Three hours later, sitting across from each other at a coffee shop, I knew I had a new friend.
When Friendship Finds You
Emma was different. Her life shone a light that you could only understand if you’d met her. She didn’t have all the answers about faith, but she loved Jesus deeply. You could tell by the way she lived. The way she listened. The way she showed up. The way she inquired. The way she thought and pursued knowledge and holiness.
She was funny in that dry, roll-your-eyes-and-giggle kind of way. It took a special kind of person to understand her humor, but once you did, you realized she was hilarious.
She was kind, always putting others first—through her job, her proofreading business, her words. Very few people displayed the work ethic that she did, and it was evident to all. Once you met her, you wanted to hire her for every position you had available.
She was light, the kind you could text for prayer on your darkest day. Of which I would do often. Updating her on my life, my publishing journey, and my health scares. She never failed to remind me of God’s goodness and plan. She reminded me that He would fulfill His purpose for me. She lived by example.
And then, it was my turn to be light for her.
