May Her Ripple Never Still

         As I write this, a beautiful soul is completing a journey marked profoundly by love. Love so freely given to anyone whom God placed in her life. “Love one another as I have loved you”, is a command to all of us from Jesus, but to Debbie, it was a reflex that came as naturally as breathing. I know, because I am one of many who were blessed to be loved by her.

To explain who Debbie was to me is difficult, because it was not a relationship many people would have continued (through the latter part of high school and into early college, I dated her son), yet the fact that she did allow me to continue to be a special person to her, and her to me, is a perfect example of the kind of love she gave.  For her and I to stay connected for so long *is* extraordinary, because*Debbie* was extraordinary.

As a young high school girl, Debbie helped me in ways neither she nor anyone else will ever fully understand. God knows. He knows because He allowed my life path to intersect with hers, at a time He knew I would need her the most.

  As the years passed by, I just became Audrey to her, and she became ‘My Debbie’. I couldn’t call her ‘My Mom’, although I loved her like one. It didn’t seem enough to call her ‘My Friend’, although she always was a friend to me. So, in my heart, she became ‘My Debbie’ and to me, it encompassed all that she meant to me: my friend, my role model, my supporter, my blessing, and it will now forever mean a part of ‘my heart’.

The most amazing thing I can say about Debbie is that anyone reading this, who was privileged to know her, is thinking, “No, she was *my* Debbie. She loved *me* that way." And the beautiful thing is, it’s true.

To touch a life is to send a ripple, whose effects are far -reaching and everlasting. While remaining in touch with Debbie was distant, with only occasional phone calls, cards, and a rare visit from time to time, the ripple effect of the way she touched my life more than 20 years ago, has added immeasurably to my life. Debbie touched *so* many lives that this world is forever marked by her love.

The best way I can think to honor her, is to learn to love like she did, so her ripple never stills. I pray God shows me how to be a ‘My Debbie’ to someone, someday, who needs what she gave to me.

Thank you, My Debbie, for allowing me to be one of the many people with whom you shared your heart. I hope you know how much you will *always* mean to me and how much I love you. 

If a person's life is measured by the love one shows to others, God is preparing to call Home a child who gives Him great joy. I hope as she looks into His loving eyes, she hears, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. You *have* loved one another as I have loved you. Take my hand, and I'll show you all you've done."

God speed, my friend, my role model, my supporter, my blessing, my part of my heart...My Debbie.