This past week I saw the call for prayers for Joey Feek circulating on social media. Up until that point, I was not familiar with this bluegrass/country duo.
Joey is dying. She has cancer and it is slowly destroying her body.
As I was reading Rory’s perspective, of a husband losing his wife to cancer, I was struck by the love with which he talks about his bride. He does not shy away from the raw emotions that he feels. He is open and honest about the struggles that have marked their journey together for the last few months. I was touched by this.
As a musical group, much of how they interact with life is through the music they make and sing. It seems that several years ago a friend wrote a song about her own loss. As they considered what tracks to include on their most recent project they picked their friends song, “When I’m Gone.”
As they discussed making a video for the song, they decided to record it from Joey’s point of view. Rory’s reaction to this decision resonated with me.
I didn’t like it.
I told them so. It hit too close to home.
But as they continued to talk and I listened… I realized that “yes, of course. We have to make it that way. It’s the story in the song”.
It wasn’t what I wanted… but it’s what the song wanted. And though it scared me for us to be that vulnerable, it was also what our whole lives and music career was about – being real… being honest.
And so the cameras rolled and both Joey and I let us ourselves imagine what it would be like if she had to leave this world and I was left behind without her… [Source]
I have to agree with Rory, no one wants to have to think about these things. No one should have to. However, life on this fallen planet does not give us that option. I have prayed for this family I do not know. I pray that God gives them peace and comfort in this time of preparation and mourning. We sometimes forget that mourning is a process that can begin long before a person is finally gone from this world.
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