Sometime after Brady was diagnosed with bone cancer, he told me he wanted to buy a gold cross necklace.
I thought it was a good idea, so I helped him look for some different ones. We went to the mall once, and there was a kiosk that was selling some gold cross necklaces! I saw one that had footprints printed on the front, and on the back it read, “It was then that I carried you.”
This was obviously referencing the famous “Footprints in the Sand” poem that Brady grew to love. The poem is about someone who looks back on their life and finds that God was walking beside them throughout their life, but when times became difficult, God carried them.
I told Brady that he should buy this necklace, the ones with the footprints. I told him it would be a great way to share his testimony! If someone asked Brady about the footprints, he could tell them about how God has carried him through this journey with disease. He told me, “Nah, I’m not feeling that one.” So, we left the mall, without a necklace that day. About a week later, he came back from the mall with that same necklace around his neck. Even before we were married, I was often right!
Brady ended up wearing that necklace almost every day. And, he was able to share his testimony often when people commented on that piece of jewelry.
Later, as Brady became sicker, we talked about what he wanted done with his things if he ended up dying. Before we talked about his computer, guitar, and even his beloved Skyline, Brady told me he wanted me to wear his necklace.
He wanted me to share his story, now our story, just like he did while he wore this gold beauty. I promised him I would wear it as often as he did, and I promised that I would always share about God’s faithfulness when I had the opportunity.
So far, darling, I have kept my promise.
Photo: Anna Laero Photography