Farewell, Sweet Lesa

I recently found out that a beautiful friend of mine, Lesa Sherwood, died. This post is my act of commemoration.

Sweet Lesa,

I’m sorry we haven’t talked in a couple of years. I regret that now, and I wish it were different. I thought of you several times per year but I didn’t reach out because when I asked God about you, God said you were well. I guess it gave me comfort knowing that such a beautiful person like you still existed in our world; knowing you were alive and well seemed enough for me. Suddenly, it feels like that was the wrong decision, somehow.

I remember when we met. You came to interview for a position at my company, Calm Castle Home Staging. You said you devoured our website and it called to you: placing God’s pleasure first, and people’s welfare a close second, period. You loved the opportunity to comfort people through the anxiety of moving. You especially loved our elderly clients, who wanted to tell stories of what they had experienced in their house over the past 30 years as they walked you through it. You took extra time with them, even though I couldn’t pay you more. You held their hands when they told you they were afraid to go into assisted living. You prayed for them when they wanted prayer. Unfortunately, I couldn’t figure out how to get enough business to keep you. You had to get another job and I understood. We parted as friends, as people should.

You invited me over to your house, one day. It was beautiful, just like you. I sat at your piano and played a worship song. The Holy Spirit fell upon us so quickly that I was surprised (it usually took a lot longer). “Do you feel that?” I asked. You nodded quietly, as you basked in God’s presence. You obviously did this often in your home. All of a sudden, I understood that.

We met for lunch, once, at Nando’s. You were wearing a beautiful outfit. You said your daughter got it for you because you didn’t really care about clothes. I thought you pulled it off so well! I hoped that I could grow up to be like you one day: beautiful inside and out. We spent half of our meeting talking about God. We shared testimonies of God’s faithfulness. We prayed together. And I think we squeezed in some work, but I don’t remember that part.

Once, you went to an appointment at a client’s house who was incredibly offended by there being a scripture on the trifold you handed her: “As Unto the Lord”. The client made a formal complaint to her realtor that you were unprofessional. Both her realtor and I knew it was a false accusation. I saw what happened when you carried the spirit of God into a house where it was not welcome; you riled up the enemy as a result. In my eyes, that only raised your value. The realtor happily kept you on her projects.

I invited you to join a prayer group for me, to pray for my difficult pregnancy. You messaged me one day:

Tenay,
Congratulations!!!! I hope you don’t mind that I am sending this message separate from the prayer group but I just felt you were getting so many of people’s stories of their own experiences and just wanted to let you know I am praying for you with a pure heart of love for you and your family and felt God urging me to tell you something so here goes;  do not listen to anyone or any stories - this is your story!  God will take care of you and your little one as He wills.  Even the doctors do not know what God can and will do!  Be strong, have faith… Rest whenever possible, eat healthy foods and drink lots of water.  Read the word aloud and be full of joy!  That’s it, love you and I’m thanking God for that and you and looking forward to seeing what He does!!!!!

It was such an encouragement to stand strong against everyone else’s negative words. (It’s surprising how many people decide to tell their horrible stories to a newly pregnant person in the name of empathy!) Also, your prophecy was right. My pregnancy was a medical miracle in many ways, and the doctors did not know what to do.

We last texted about the childhood friend of one of your kids. You were concerned for his welfare and asked me to pray with him. I did, and God touched him. He didn’t kill himself, as he said he would. I hope his life can be a redemption for the early loss of yours.

I wish you had met my husband and baby, or rather, that they would have met you. I regret we did not make this happen before you died. I guess we will have to wait until eternity to make our introductions, at last. Or, perhaps, you already know them from eternity. I hope so.

We don’t get to be here long, but you were taken from us much sooner than you were supposed to leave. For that, I asked God to give me three people who would have died from what killed you be miraculously healed, in Yeshua’s name. I want redemption and vengeance for how the enemy took you too early. I hope that brings you joy.

I love you, Tenay

P. S. Your tribute video from your celebration-of-life service was beautiful.