The Sunday after Violet passed, I had it on my heart to personally thank our church, I was able to attend worship then say a few words to the congregation.
Worship was amazing.
Colleen and I both had revelations at separate times from the same song - See a Victory by Elevation Worship. We hadn’t told each other, but during Violet’s final days we shared with each other, then our prayer group.
It became the anthem we shared with our prayer group.
I don’t know if the run sheet was changed but See a Victory was played. It was so good to praise our Lord in the arms of our pastors on the front row.
Everyone was welcomed to church and Violets passing announced. I caught Chris’ eye and asked if I could share a few words. I forget exactly what I said but there were two main things:
- Thank the Church. People look to Colleen and I and say we are strong, most know the strength is not ours, but Gods. That strength is both our direct connection with God, but also our Church and Christian community holding us up, praying and believing when we were weary. It was healing to directly express our deep gratitude to the church.
- God was victorious. It’s why when Violet passed we announced it by saying Violet had been victorious, not giving cancer any power. Our prayer group was called Victory4Violet, we didn’t know what victory would look like but we knew victory was hers. Over the years we had heard people say “I couldn’t believe in a God that would give my child cancer”. Hearing this was like fingers down a chalkboard. God is not the source of cancer, the enemy is. God takes what the enemy meant for evil and turns it for good. God used Violet to inspire and encourage many.
After I spoke, Church prayed for our family and we sung See a Victory again I then left to continue plan Violet’s funeral.