Tribute to Lydia – R.I.P.

This blog post is in tribute to my friend Lydia. Lydia passed away shortly after New Years, having been diagnosed with bacterial meningitis on December 22. What an awful holiday season for her family. Lydia was a good friend of mine, one of my first friends at site. Before she even knew me at all, she went out of her way to invite me out of town to her home, hosting me in a very warm and gracious manner. She also impressed me with her love and care for both her family and for her community. I mentioned her in a past blog post. She is the one who had a friend who living with HIV; and who comes to her house sometimes and cooks maize meal for himself when he is in need and hungry. This is the type of person Lydia was – always looking out for others. She told me that at a school where she used to work, she brought sandwiches for the students that didn’t have any food to eat during break time. She struck me as someone who was always giving, and always thinking about other people, the epitome of compassion.

It is really hard to understand why God would take someone like Lydia. It is hard to accept that her small children and lovely husband will no longer have her physical presence and love, her warm and guiding hand in their home. This illness came suddenly and violently and took her life within a matter of weeks. The only positive message that might be taken away from Lydia’s death is a gentle reminder about how fragile and precious our lives are, of our own immortality and the need to be present and aware, conscious in our days and thankful for the time that we are given.

Here is to you, Lydia – thank you for being a drum major for justice on our planet. Thank you for your contribution to your family, to our community, and to your school where you showed your leadership as school secretary in our small village. We all love you very much and will pray for your children and husband.