Sweet Girl

Dear Ruby,

You ran to Jesus today. My heart is broken, but I am so thankful you are whole again. Your journey on this Earth has not been easy, but you have changed the life of every person you met. I think Mrs. Carren said it best today -

"It didn't take long in her presence to know how amazing she is."

So true, sweet girl. 

I remember seeing your beautiful face walk in my door for the first time. I knew there was no way I could ever fuss at you, give you detention or take away your recess. We spent such a sweet year together in "Team Spobel." You had missed almost a full year of school getting treatment, but no one would ever know it. You grew so much as a reader and you amazed Ms. Robel with your math skills. You taught 32 children all about kindness, compassion and courage. 

I especially loved my "Ruby Days" - introducing you to the new hot dog place, playing Wii, eating ice cream and painting flower pots. You loooooved making your teachers sing karoake - especially when we didn't know the words!  You never ever wanted "stuff" - even though I would've gladly bought you the moon. You just wanted to spend time with the people you loved. I am so blessed and grateful to be counted among those people.

  
Ms. Robel (your other favorite teacher) was so right - "My sweet Ruby-Dooby-Doo, you made this world so much brighter and will continue to shine on us all from above with the Lord. Thank you for showing what it means to have an amazing heart and truly be a fighter. I love and cherish you always my sweet angel.

You fought just as fiercely as you loved. Those five years were not in vain. I know there is purpose in every day you were here.

  Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
      you formed me in my mother's womb.
   I thank you, High God—you're breathtaking!
      Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
      I worship in adoration—what a creation!
   You know me inside and out,
      you know every bone in my body;
   You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
      how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
   Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
      all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
   The days of my life all prepared
      before I'd even lived one day. ^{Psalm 139: 13-16} .

I find a lot of comfort in this passage (thank you, Jennie). Each day of your life was prepared. HE called you home at just the right time. 

As Ms. Hailey said, "A special young lady now has a special place in heaven. Her smile and spirit has touched many and she will continue to live in the hearts of those she has touched."

Did you know the impact you had on people? I am amazed at how many of my friends were touched by your life. (It is impossible to meet you and not love you instantly.) 

Mrs. Leavell's family picked out a scripture to remember you by and I think it fits you perfectly:

 ^6-7I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it's your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.
 ^8-9You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him—with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation.
1 Peter : 6-9

I have been constantly humbled by the faith you and your parents exude. I take great comfort in knowing you loved Jesus and trusted Him to carry you through your suffering. When I think of how hard you had to fight, this is a verse that gives me peace. 

You remind us to speak kindly to everyone, to invite people into our hearts and to live life with spice. You are our sweet and spicy girl!  

Mrs. Poncheri is right - "We will miss you sweet Ruby!"

I don't know if there is a right or wrong way to end this letter. As Ms. Fernandez said today, "Some moments in life have no words. Love leaves a memory no one can steal. As always I send you hugs and kisses."

Ruby-Dooby-Doo, I love you. To the moon and back.

And with your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live! 

-Come to Jesus, Chris Rice