06/03/2026
A friend of mine just said goodbye to her husband after a 10 year journey with cancer. She just posted this story of how Love showed up for her when she was least expecting it....
Most days we think Facebook is just this side of useless. Then a moment--a connection--comes along that knocks you off your feet.
Last September, I saw a post on Women of Williamson County (which is a local group page for women to share advice about things like the best restaurants with a meeting room, or where to get furniture recovered), when I saw an unusual post. Someone had two burial plots at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens that they wanted to donate to a non-profit, but they were finding it harder than they'd thought to give them away.
Harpeth Hills is on a lovely, quiet stretch of Hwy. 100, between Bellevue and Fairview. Bill and I had said that's where we'd want to get plots--and I always joked that it was much better than being at Williamson Memorial, eternally across the street from Chick-Fil-A and Target but never able to actually go. We had it on a to-do list as we were making plans--call Harpeth Hills--but we hadn't done it yet. And frankly when your husband who has cancer is having a good day, the last thing you want to do is visit the cemetery.
I reached out to the woman who'd posted about giving away the plots and asked if she was interested in selling them instead. Turns out they were her parents' plots, but they'd made other arrangements along the way. She and her sister had decided that even though the plots had monetary value, they just wanted to donate them to a non-profit.
As we talked, we found a dozen other connections--she went to Franklin High and graduated somewhere between me and my sister. They grew up in the Grassland area of Franklin, like us. And just a year earlier she'd faced a crisis of her own with her husband--he had a serious heart condition, and at one point she was navigating hospitals and doctors, with the possibility she might lose him.
She talked with her sister and came back to me with a proposition--we'd like to give these burial plots to you and your husband. This was a complete stranger--someone I "met" on the internet--but they wanted to do this for us! To say I cried would be an understatement. I'm not the kind of person that accepts help easily, but I simply said, "Thank you." Then I cried more. Waited until Bill got home and told him and we cried together.
Two days later I was at Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, meeting my new bestie for the first time. The transfer process--which included two plots and a bronze marker--took all of about 15 minutes. When I realized it included a marker, too, I looked at her across the table, and said, "What?" She said, "Melissa. What are we gonna do with it?" And we laughed.
After we finished the paperwork, we walked outside and talked for ages. We found so many places where our journeys intersect. We laughed. We cried. I promised to always take her to the airport when she needs a ride. It felt like a gift I could never be able to repay. I was overwhelmed by the blessing she and her sister had given us. She was overwhelmed by the joy of being able to give that blessing away.
They want to remain anonymous as I tell this story, but want you all to know this:
"God gets the praise. We shared with you and Bill because it was so obvious that it was the right thing to do. We believe strongly that God gives community to walk with us through life, not only to help carry the load, but to see His love in action in our lives. He's always working, even when you can't see Him or feel Him. He is faithful."
Here's the thing--these last 10 years have been a rollercoaster. Bill and I have tried to keep life completely boring and normal for our kids as they grew up. So many times it was really hard, but neither of us chose to permanently curl up in the fetal position in the corner and cry (Though it sounded really good. Many times.).
But at other times it was also--unexpectedly, shockingly--really, really good. As I catch a breath and reflect--on the blessings, the connections, the friendships, the strangers who are no longer strangers--I am overwhelmed. By kindness and connection. By how God works. And even by how good Facebook can still be.
I have so many of these stories. I am so grateful amidst the sadness. God is faithful. With each step I see it over and over.
