Hi Everyone-
The only time I have addressed this group without “Happy Sunday Everyone” was when I lost my dad. Today is the second time on the sad news that we lost our team warrior, Tina, yesterday. I wrote about Tina just two months ago as the warrior among us all. She was, is, and will always be “our warrior”. If you care to re-read: https://www.sundaythoughts.com/a-warrior-among-us/
Tina was the ultimate team player. She wasn’t an employee, she was family. She represented everything you wanted in a team member. She cared so much. Her soul was so incredibly sound. She represented everything good. Her actions were so much louder than her words. Her cousin, and best friend, Lynn, posted these words after her passing yesterday and they are perfect.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the loss of Tina who passed away this morning, after a brave and hard-fought battle with cancer. She was so much more than her struggles, a fiercely dedicated single mom to Maya, a tireless worker, and a compassionate friend to everyone lucky enough to know her.
Tina faced life’s challenges with a strength and grace that inspired us all.
Whether she was providing for her family, supporting a friend in need, or simply sharing her warmth and a smile, she gave her all in everything she did.
Her love for Maya was her guiding light. Her great joy was being the kind of mom Maya could look up to and draw strength from.
As we grieve this immense loss, we also celebrate a life lived with purpose and love. Please keep Maya and the rest of Tina’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May her memory be a comfort to us all and a reminder of the strength we carry within us.”
Holy cow-retyping those words might have been the most therapeutic thing I could have done. I’m sitting here typing on a plane, tears of gratitude on my keyboard, and amazed with how true those words are of Tina. I wish you all could have known her. Our team is reading this knowing how absolutely precise the words are to the life Tina lived while here.
I consider our team to be Switzerland. We have different political views, we have different faith beliefs, we have different everything, and we all love each other and respect one another for what we bring to the whole table. Tina was my co-pilot on faith. We’d often joke (while being serious) with the other team members that we’d be praying for them. Part of my morning routine is reading a daily verse, yesterday’s was this; Matthew 5:8-“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”. Tina’s heart was as pure as any human I’ve ever known.
As I sit here thinking, two things I’m considering before hitting send-
- The words from Lynn describing Tina are an exact match to the life she lived. Its worth considering what words will be spoken of us when our time here is done.
- I was listening to Dave Matthews while taking off a bit ago and the words “the future is no place to place your better days” came through in a song. Special people in our lives who pass always create the moments of reflection. I ended my dad’s service with “we will honor your life through living ours”. I’m reminded of this same thought process to honor Tina’s life. Take nothing for granted.
Thank you for reading!