My aunt and uncle called me a few months ago. I was surprised because she is very ill, and her husband (my uncle - my mom's older brother) was on the other end of the phone. After a few minutes, he handed the phone over to her.

They called because I had written a letter to her a few weeks before; a letter encouraging her to stay strong to her faith in God, and that her faith gave her assurance in a peaceful Heaven she would pass to. She has survived cancer twice, and is severely weakened by chemo.

It touched her deeply, to be loved and reminded of God's love. And then she told me the doctors gave her six months to live.

Just a few weeks ago, her and her husband renewed their vows on their 50th wedding anniversary. It was a wonderful occasion that my parents flew across the country to be a part of. Though my aunt was severely weak, she was still her plucky self, though the evening ended with her extremely tired.

At their ceremony (at the Catholic church they attend), I was asked to read a passage from 1 Corinthians, a passage I knew because it was spoken at my wedding two years ago. Most of you prolly know it: "love is patient, love is kind..." It speaks of all the wonderful things that unconditional love is, and when you speak it to celebrate a marriage of 50 years, you know you are witnessing something special, and you know those words in the Bible were lived out by this wonderful couple.

It still pains me a bit to think I may be up there in that lectern not too long from now, in the same church, speaking very different words, over my aunt's casket. Whenever she passes, she'll have been the closest person to me that I've lost. It is a difficult transition.

But I do know that what I'll speak at her funeral will be none other than the letter I sent her months ago. It is a beautiful thing to be able to speak encouragement to everyone that will be present, using the same words that blessed her to live in peace.

I am praying and hoping for healing for her, so that she can live to see everything she still wants to witness - the graduation and marriages of her granddaughters. It could very well be years from now that I'll read that letter.

Somehow though, the time may be growing short. I hope I face it with the grace that my aunt has her whole life. :)