Titus 2 Tuesday: Amazing Amy

Today is Titus 2 Tuesday, and since we had Relay for Life last Friday night here in Macon, I want to highlight my sweet friend, Amy.

Amazing Amy at our wedding

Amy and I originally met in high school; I think it was probably 1995, and we both worked in a cute little gift / card shop in town, Jayne’s Hallmark. Amy was the most timid, quietiest person I think I’ve ever met. I swear she was scared of her shadow. Mesh that with me – loud, outgoing, talkative – and I’m sure she was terrified of me! We worked together for a couple of years until I left for college. Amy stayed in town and worked at the card store while attending college. It’s important to note that our boss at the store was Jayne, and she was very possibly one of the most demanding bosses you can imagine. But fair. She expected nothing less than our very best, for us to always be on our toes, always giving the best service, and always happy and upbeat. Jayne taught me the foundations of customer service and how to deliver the BEST of whatever it is I might sell or do. Jayne taught Amy that as well. More than that, though, I think Jayne taught Amy how to love herself and be happy with who she was.

Fast forward a few years and I was working here at the bank while Amy had finished school and was still at the store. I talked to her one day while I was in there shopping and encouraged her to let me know if she was ever interested in banking. I knew she was smart as a whip, and her years at Jayne’s had helped her become an incredibly happy, friendly woman. Amy did end up moving to the bank, and she started her banking career. It was only a matter of time before Amy took a promotion into the loan administration area of our bank, and she helped to develop our loan operations department during her career.

In 2005, Amy experienced a period of time where she had a nagging cough. It just wouldn’t let up. After rounds of antibiotics, her doctor finally did a chest x ray. There was a tumor found, but they were not sure what it was. I remember Amy travelling to Emory, where she visited a specialist. I remember us all expecting this doctor to confirm that this was some sort of strange – but benign – tumor. An invisible twin or something. We honestly weren’t worried.
And then Amy’s Daddy called me. Cancer. Ewings Sarcoma cancer. We were told it was a pediatric cancer, so it was strange for a 25 year old to be diagnosed with it. It was in her lung cavity but was not in her bone – a good thing.

“No pity parties” her Daddy told me. Amy wants no pity parties. “We’re going to beat this. And that’s all there is to it.” Mr. Randall was so calm and clear with me. He calmed me with his words from that very moment.

Amy fought like the bravest, most beautiful person you can imagine. I called her "Amazing Amy" because she was just amazing. She worked through her treatments, wearing a port and a bag of drugs she carried around with her. And she joked around, laughing and cutting up the entire time. Here she is with another coworker sporting a wig!

And just call her a Diva here, if you please. . . . Can't you just see her attitude? Love it!!!

Amy was declaired cancer free one year to the date of her intial diagnosis. And we celebrated! We were all praising God that He had healed her! But, at Amy's first follow up, 3 months later, she was told that her cancer was back. In fact, it might not have ever really left as they'd thought. And this time, it was bigger, worse, growing faster.

Again Amy bravely faced chemo and radiation treatments. She made fast friends with all the folks in her doctor's office. how could you not love Amy? She'd spend her time sitting in that room, receiving treatments by making jewelry. Tons and tons of jewelry she made. Stones and beads galore. She turned them into necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and watches. She could do anything you asked her to! Get a new outfit? Amy can make you jewelry to match!

Amy read scripture (quoted below) in our wedding in December of 2007. Who would've ever known that just 45 days later, she'd be fighting for her life. January 30, 2008, Amy was in the hospital, and we'd learned that this was it. She'd fought as bravely as she possibly could, and the time was coming for her Heavenly Father to scoop her up and bring her into Heaven. I will forever be grateful - so very grateful - to Amy's parents for letting me have just a few minutes with Amy just before she died.

Again, it was her Daddy who met me in the hall of the hospital. He held my shoulders, looked me square in the eye, and very calmly warned me, "this might be hard for you, Bethany." God love his heart. There he was, watching his only child, his precious little girl, leave this earth, and he was worried about me. Again, it was his words who comforted me.

I walked into that room, grabbed Amy's hand, grabbed her mother's hand, and I'll never forget those precious moments. I was able to thank Amy for being so Amazing. I thanked her for teaching me so much about God's plan being bigger than ours. I thanked Amy for being so precious to me for so many years, for being my friend. And I promised her we would love on her parents and take care of them for her. I admitted to Amy I was a little jealous of where she was heading. But I assured her that I'll see her again one sweet day. And I will.

So, last Friday night, we had Relay for Life here in Macon. Amy's parents were the Accounting Chairs this year, so we helped them count money, and count money, and count money. It's safe to say I hate cancer. Hate it. I might not have the skill sets to study cancer, to research for a cure, but I can participate in Relay. And I can raise money for a cure. That's why we do it; our bank again won the award for raising the most money by a bank. For Amy's memory, we're Amy's Angels, and we will not stop fighting and praying for a cure.

Colossians 3:12 - 17 ~ "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

That's how Amy lived her life. Her short 28 years were packed full of the peace of Christ, love in her heart, doing everything she did with thanksgiving, all in the name of her Father in Heaven. Oh how I hope to be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, just as Amy was.