"For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord." -- 2 Corinthians 5:7-8

My precious friend, neighbor, and sister in the Lord, Rita Stevens, stepped into glory last Wednesday evening. I wrote earlier about her in "The Bravest Woman I Know". I won't elaborate on that here.

Rita was faithful to the end, claiming God was great above all, able to heal or to take home. As I left her hospital room for the last time, I knew it was likely I would not see her in this world again. But I share the hope, as she did, that we will meet again, in the place He has prepared for His children.

Today, family and friends will remember her in a service at her Church; she will then be taken, as she requested, to Arlington National Cemetery and interred in her husband's gravesite.

There is a scripture in Proverbs about a virtuous woman. Verse 31:18 says, "...her light does not go out by night." Rita's loving, radiant light will never go out. It lives on in her family and friends, in everyone she ever met. Today she shines like the sun, safe and whole with her Lord. There is our peace and comfort as we honor her life.

We love you, Rita. No goodbyes; we'll meet again.