Thursday, April 2, 2009

Lila Star.

My cousin Luke's wife, Lila Star, passed away after a very long struggle with cystic fibrosis. Today was the funeral. It was beautiful and of course very sad. They had only been married a few years and she was very young. She was a free spirit and her and Luke had the sweetest relationship. The family is happy that she is not struggling any more but our hearts go out to Luke. I just can't imagine going through what he is. Luke is a carpenter and spent the day after she passed building her casket from pine that he cut himself from the land that he owns up in Maine. How romantic and sad. Ben and I promised to learn from their story. Their love was so short lived but it was so pure. We have our whole lives ahead of us and are both in good health and there is nothing stopping us. I, like anyone I suppose, spend far too much time worrying and stressed about all of life's little trials. Lila was sick for her whole life and struggled to do many of the things that I am perfectly capable of, yet she was still such a genuine and beautiful person. I really have no excuses and it makes me a little embarrassed that I waste so much life and energy on trivial things. If nothing else, Lila has taught me that I should appreciate life a bit more, love a lot more and be sooo sooo overjoyed that I still have so much time.

4 comments:

Auntie Sue said...

The air on the hilltop was as clear and sweet. The sky was the bluest blue, and the puffy white clouds moved slowly past, watching. If breathing earthly air is that wonderful, what must Heaven's air be like?? God is dying to show us.
I am so blessed to have known Lila even briefly! Her joy sparkled like sunlight on water, and then she passed it on for us to scatter. You did that Thursday, Amber, when you stopped wherever it was you were headed to speak to us on the roadway full of parked cars. Thank you. Love to all! Sue C.

Auntie Sue said...

The air on the hilltop was as clear and sweet. The sky was the bluest blue, and the puffy white clouds moved slowly past, watching. If breathing earthly air is that wonderful, what must Heaven's air be like?? God is dying to show us.
I am so blessed to have known Lila even briefly! Her joy sparkled like sunlight on water, and then she passed it on for us to scatter. You did that Thursday, Amber, when you stopped wherever it was you were headed to speak to us on the roadway full of parked cars. Thank you. Love to all! Sue

Chris Cooper said...

I didn't know much of Lila. I met her briefly at the wedding, but no other time. However, I do know alot of Luke, or at least a fair amount, having spent an equally fair amount of time with him. People would say of someone like Luke, even before, "Does he keep everything inside?" Luke had nothing to keep inside is the answer. He surrounded himself with friends that didn't make him angry or upset. Friends that stood with him, and didn't waver. He rarely got irritated over anything, having an analytical mind, he just solved things whether fast or slow. He never really was interested in a relationship with any girl either. He never minded being alone; just like my father, he admired and cared for everything he was trusted with. He showed dedication in his work. Dedication that was strictly evident even under sever scrutiny. When he met Lila, his life and demeanor completely changed. Everything he was, he shared with her, and gave her his dedication until her dying day. A dedication with the best intention behind it; a dedication that was all he was, and he gave it freely through love. This is true love and truly love like this is rarely properly portrayed, even in movies and books that are nothing but an attempt to show it. RIP Lila, you are sorely missed, but at last you are in peace.

Jen said...

I am really sorry for you and your families lose. What a beautiful story of her husband making the coffin- I got choked up reading that.