Tribute to a Dear Friend

Tomorrow, I say goodbye to a very dear friend—someone who has been part of my life since I was just 18 years old. Her name is Judy Wamsher, and we have shared so much over the decades.

I watched her two girls grow up—stayed with them, played with them, and saw them blossom into fine, responsible women. Judy and I laughed until we fell out of our chairs and cried through some of life’s hardest seasons. She battled severe diabetes for most of her life, and about fifteen years ago, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I’ve watched her slowly decline over the years, making many trips to visit her in Bentonville.

Judy was a lifetime Master Gardener and a true birder. She loved birds and had several feeders outside her window. She often gave talks about birds in schools and other places. But it wasn’t just birds—Judy loved all things nature. She adored animals and had many beloved pets over the years. In recent years, her two dogs and her cat were never far from her—either curled up beside her in bed or resting on the floor next to her. They were precious to her, and she cherished their companionship.

But above all, I believe Judy’s greatest accomplishment—beyond her beautiful daughters and grandchildren—was her unwavering walk with her Lord and Savior. There was never any doubt: Judy loved the Lord with all her heart.

These past months, especially the last few weeks, have been heartbreaking. Watching her struggle has been deeply painful. And yet, even in that sorrow, I kept thinking of a butterfly—how it struggles to emerge from a worn and withered cocoon. But when it finally breaks free, it soars into the sky, beginning a beautiful, new and exciting journey.

That image brings me peace. Judy is more alive now than she ever was on this earth. She has been released from her suffering, and I know she has begun, like  the butterfly, a new, wonderful, and exciting journey.

I will miss her more than words can say. But I find comfort knowing she is now in the very presence of the Lord she loved so deeply. And I know, most assuredly, that one day, I’ll see her again.