Jennifer. Jenny. Jen. It didn’t matter how we chose to call her, she always answered… and always did so smiling cheerfully. Jennifer was a quiet, bright influence in our class in high school, a kind compassionate soul, who was not a complainer. I remember how she used to comb her hair in her two signature long plaits; and she later became the proud owner of a school bag that looked like a Doctor’s bag.
I also remember the time we attended a Billy Graham Crusade at the National Stadium in Jamaica. This was during our UWI years. We sat far away from the crowd, on the highest row of the bleachers, and Jennifer drank in every word that fell from the preacher’s mouth.
When we reconnected a few years ago, I came to learn that Jennifer had accepted Christ early in her life and she had been attending St Margaret’s Anglican Church at Liguanea. Jennifer had now developed a deep faith in her Lord, Jesus Christ. She recounted being at one time in such severe pain from a medical condition that she found herself crying out to the Lord to ask Him to please come and rescue her from the pain. He came and lovingly spoke to her heart - “Just trust Me”. Jennifer did not complain.
When she needed major surgery, she prayed and said - “Lord Jesus, this is me, Jennifer – trusting You”. Jennifer just continued to trust her Jesus. She was not daunted. She had also learned to give God thanks - in everything. She did not complain, despite the fact that her life’s dream to become a Medical Doctor had by now vanished.
I was able to witness that during the last few years of her life, Jennifer grew to love the Lord wholeheartedly, and she consecrated her life to Him unreservedly. In February of this year she said to me, with such great conviction coming from the centre of her soul -
“I know Jesus loves me. I have repented, and if I were to ‘drop dead’ today, I know that I will definitely go to be with Jesus. Praise be to God!”
Honestly, I did not want to believe that Jesus would be coming to collect her from us so soon. Moreover, we witnessed how Jenny pressed on, despite all the odds. I believe that she would encourage us all to continue to fight the good fight of Faith, for Jesus’ sake – and no matter what life might throw at us.
Jennifer is one of Jesus’ jewels. “And they [that fear the Lord] shall be Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels” (Malachi 3: 17).
Thank you, Dear Lord Jesus.
