IN MEMORIAM OF JUDY DURHAM by Laura Shulthies Gad

JUDY DURHAM WAS MY BEST FRIEND IN HIGH SCHOOL, UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST TOUCH AFTER GRADUATION.

BECAUSE HER HEART HAD BEEN BROKEN BY THE PARENTS WHO SHOULD HAVE NURTURED HER SHE WAS CAPABLE OF DEEP COMPASSION.

JUDY KNEW THAT LOVING MEANT ACCEPTING THE WHOLE PERSON AND

TRUE FRIENDSHIP WAS BEING HAPPY TO ENCOURAGE ANOTHER TO GROW INTO HER TRUE POTENTIAL.

WE SHARED PERSONAL SECRETS, HOPED EACH OTHER’S HOPES, DREAMED EACH OTHER’S DREAMS, AND CRIED EACH OTHER’S TEARS.

TRUST, LOVE, AND CARING WERE UNDERSTOOD.

LIFE HAD MADE JUDY WISE BEYOND HER YEARS.

SO FEW REALIZED ALL THE HEARTACHES JUDY HAD SURVIVED AND HOW TRULY COURAGEOUS SHE WAS TO MEET THE SUN EACH MORNING WITH A SMILE.

EVEN FEWER UNDERSTOOD THAT SHE GENEROUSLY GAVE THE KINDNESS SHE HAD BEEN DENIED, AND IN EVERY LOVING ACT SHE MOMENTARILY FOUND THE LOVE AND PEACE SHE LONGED FOR.