Partners In Crime
May 15, 2021
by Laura Dulin
On the evening of October 13,2020, Letha contacted me through Facebook messenger. She wanted to talk about what had been discovered that day and she wanted to talk to someone that could possibly relate. She had seen my posts on Facebook regarding having recent brain surgery for a cerebral brain leak and tumor. My heart sank when she told me that she had been found to have two to three brain masses. Letha and I had met in Jr High. We shared a few classes together, but what I recall is all the joy and laughter we shared! I instantly was drawn to her sweet spirit and that precious laugh! We began to have daily talks on messenger. During our surgeries and both having middle of the night insomnia, we began chatting around 2:30-4am. Oh how I cherish each conversation we had about our surgeries, and this journey we found ourselves on. Many conversations were about our precious Lord and what he had brought us through. Letha’s love for God and others was so very evident in each and every conversation. After she was diagnosed with terminal cancer, during one of our wee hour conversations, I asked her what she was really feeling, how was she really coping? I expected a pause, but in true Letha fashion, she spoke right up. She said as a believer her situation was a win win. She was going to see Jesus a lot sooner than most of us and she was so excited by the reality of that. She then asked me what God had taught me through this journey. I told her that I was clinging to Jesus, but one night I vividly saw him at the foot of my hospital bed. He was patting my right foot and smiling. I audibly heard him state “ it’s ok to cling to me, but at times you need to let go and let me hold YOU “. We decided then that we would both let Jesus hold us and we dubbed ourselves “partners in crime” on this journey we found ourselves on. Letha was one of the most devoted followers of Christ I’ve ever had the privilege to call friend. I’m so blessed by the life she breathed into mine over the past 7 months. This time was much shorter than I prayed for, yet she filled every second she was given with life lived to the fullest. A life that shared Jesus, love for worship filled songs(Way Maker), and love for others. I miss our “wee hour” conversations, but I know I will walk the streets of gold with my precious friend someday soon. My journey will have a different outcome. Her prayers for me were answered as my tumor is benign. It is my prayer that Ben, Lydia, Leslie, her parents and grandchildren all allow Jesus to hold them just now, and that those whom don’t know Christ will have come to know him because of Letha’s life of example. I will miss you my partner in crime. Save me a place in the Alto section, I’ll be singing with you soon.