All that remains

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until this violent storm is past.
I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!
May your glory shine over all the earth.
My heart is confident in you, O God;
no wonder I can sing your praises!
(verses from Psalm 57)

Today we celebrated an incredible life and Ashli's mortal remains were laid to rest. If you have time, read all of Psalm 57 . . . Ashli's favorite passage of scripture. I know that it was a comfort to her during a difficult time. She wrote in her blog last year: April 13, 2006
"Now, here is the message I want all of you to really hear: I listen to kids' problems all day long. I tell them over and over again that so much of who we are is not what we go through, but how we react to it. Yeah, your life might totally and completely suck. Your dad can get locked up or walk out of your life, but you are the one to decide if all your problems -- past and present -- take your future. I absolutely refuse to sit and mope and cry about this. I have cancer. It is now a fact of my life." She was asked once (my paraphrase) if you had a choice, would you choose to be well and live away from God, or have cancer and walk with God. Ashli answered that she would choose cancer because it has brought her into a closer walk with God.
Ashli was not perfect - she had her flaws because she was human- and when someone has passed away we tend to only remember the amazing, wonderful things about them, but I know that she trusted God no matter what. If I could learn one thing from her it would be that - to trust God more fully.