A gift. An absolute gift.

I first met Kathy when she was Mama Duck to Mason's Ugly in Honk, Jr in the Spring of 2012. By the end of the production, we were all in love with this charming, talented, hilarious woman and knew the friendship formed would be long-lived.

Recently, our dear friend, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. A tumor that though not cancerous, is  causing damage, pain and a myriad of other issues. Growther -- as the amazing Kathy Chick named it -- has to be removed. Surgery is scheduled for this coming Tuesday.

Kathy held a concert last night. Her "Farewell to Growther Tour" she called it. She sang, she played, she led the sanctuary full of people in the sweetest, most sincere worship time I have experienced in a long long time. And while she can sing like an angel; while she can play the piano amazingly; and is an inspiring song-writer; last night, Kathy did what she really does best of all, she took her distress, her challenge and used it to encourage us all. She ministered to our hearts. She comforted our hearts. And above all she pointed us to the ONE that can meet every need from brain tumor to spine surgery.

During one of her original songs, she had a flash mob-esque group of students join her -- teenagers from our Moezart theater family. The voices merging together were so beautiful, so comforting. Worship in a pure pure form. (And yes, my three oldest were part of the "mob".)

Later in the evening, she sang another song that pressed my heart. The song referenced Philippians 4: 8-9:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me -- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

And because she was LIVING that right in front of us -- she was living a dwelling on the lovely with her music, with her gift of worship. Because she was focused on the peace of God rather than the fear, the anger, the unknown of what is to come she reminded me. She reminded me of something my head knows and yet, my heart had forgotten. She reminded me to focus on the lovely, the commendable, the excellent NOT the ugly, scary and fear-filled.

And so, I will honor this beautiful woman by following her example, by focusing on the lovely...

The pure....

Whatever is commendable....

I will honor her by practicing daily how to focus on the these things -- not the ugly.

I will follow her beautiful example. I will work harder at laying aside the dark thoughts, the fear-based thinking that can consume and destroy. I will be intentional in my thanks-giving; in my praise-singing; in my God-honoring.

And will praise the ONE that promises that His peace will fill me as a result.

Thank you, Kathy. You are an absolute gift. So thankful that God placed you in our lives. We will be on our knees Tuesday, asking God for complete riddance of Growther and complete healing for you -- a gift that is pure, lovely, and worthy of praise!