A story of friendship

In 1976 my family moved to a small town in southeastern Oklahoma. It didn’t take long before my father found kindred spirits to sing barbershop with him.

Soon my sister was giving piano lessons to daughters of one of the men who had a love of singing like my father. I watched as they played, a little jealous that they played. Both of them had long hair but the younger one, whether it was because she was smaller or her hair was longer, had hair that hung below the piano bench.

I knew these girls as friends simply because our fathers were friends but didn’t have the opportunity to get to know them well until I transferred from my small rural school to the big school of Heavener. The oldest sister was a year older than me, the younger sister, a year younger.

The younger sister and I would ‘drag main’ listening to Prince. We laughed at the southern phrase “Bless her heart” that sounded like a commendation but really meant someone was saying something negative. We spent many nights laughing, dreaming and talking about whatever it is teen girls talk about.

As I began my college career I had the wonderful opportunity to get to know the older sister better. We carpooled to school, skipped golf class together, but mostly we were in the show choir together as the two altos.

The older sister married and keeping in touch became more difficult as she was no longer attending the same college. But by that time this happened the younger sister had joined me at college where we continued our friendship. Sustaining this friendship was easy, through university, weddings and even pregnancy; as our first babies’ were due one day apart.

It has been years since I’ve seen either sister yet their father continued to be a great friend to my father while they serenaded the small town with their beautiful voices.

About half a decade ago we mourned with this wonderful family a sweet woman who happened to have the same first name as my mother. These young ladies’ mother, Wanda Faye.

Three years ago they mourned with me as I lost both my parents within two months. Their father sang at my father’s funeral, which meant so much to my sister and me.

It is beyond rare to know people such as these. I am truly blessed to have called these people my friends for 40 years.

My heart is breaking for them now as we all mourn the loss of the youngest sister, Sabrina.

She is in no pain; she is with her mom and is completely cured of the horrible cancer that wrecked havoc on her brain. Thank goodness there is a hope that defies description as we know she lives with Him who will make all things right in the end.

Prayers for this great family, Sabrina’s husband and her two children. Words cannot describe the pain, nothing can adequately relay the loss, the loneliness, the every day weight of this burden. But I want this whole family to know they are well loved and covered in prayer.