Dianne

Sadness is knocking on our door again.
My big sister Dianne is teetering on the edge of now. She's leaning toward the horizon, seeming to fall behind that sharp line that swallows the sun.

She will be where the sunshine is. She is a part of sunshine, I think. The happy part, the innocent part. At least she has always illuminated my life. She was always there for me, chasing away the bitter darkness of rejection, the inky blackness of ridicule, and the shadows of aloneness.

Funny naive Dianne. Fiercely protective, unashamedly loyal. She is an honorable soldier in the battle of life. She fought lions for me. She wrestled bears for me. She stood tall and strong in the way of my tormentors, and chased them away. She made me feel safe. She taught me to be strong.

We both grew up. I learned lots of things that I could share with her. I had fought some of my own battles. And I won. I introduced her to my best Friend Jesus. She defended Him, too, only he didn't need her defense. In fact, she realized that it was He that had given her strength all along. And everything else that was worthwhile. He made her who she was and I think she recognized His love by the love He let her have for her friends and family. It made His love more real for her.

We are both old ladies now. Not so old, but not young. My warrior sister is tired. I was tired, too, a year or so back, but I regained energy; I still have things to do. Maybe Dianne will teeter behind that line where the sun disappears.

It will be a brighter, sunnier day when she does.