One Woman's Last Kiss

It was her last day.  The last time she looked at her baby’s face.  It was her last time holding her husband’s hand.  I had to share her story because so many of us complain about the little things.  They become the little foxes that spoil the vine and steal our joy through life. But it doesn’t have to be that way.  It is up to you.

Sometimes you read something and it touches you deeply.  It changes you.  I had that experience this morning.  A new friend sent me a link to a blog post.  I ignored it yesterday because we were busy but this morning, I clicked on it.  In this generation of things being one click away, generally that click, that one little click can change everything!  Most times, even then we are too lazy to click.  We scroll past when the photo or title just doesn’t grab us enough for us to use our finger to click on it.

There are times that a click could send you somewhere you do not want to go, so it is wise to use discernment.  I clicked.  I transported myself into someone else’s pain, into someone else’s world for just a moment.  It was a name I had recognized, a name of a woman named Joey.  She and her husband sang together.  About 2 years ago, a young lady introduced me to them by playing me their DVD of a live concert they did.  As this young lady and I sat by our sewing machines we would sing along to their songs which were so beautiful.  There were gospel hymns and fun blue grass country songs.  Some of you may have heard of them, Joey and Rory.

Years passed and I never thought about them again.  Until this morning.  Until I saw a photo of her with the date of her birth and the date of her recent death.  I did not know what happened to her, but followed another link to her husband’s blog where I found a post about their last kiss.  A photo of her in a hospital bed kissing the face of her baby girl for the last time.  Her body was thin and weak.  As I read the words that were written by a man who was tired, grieving, and full of love for his dying wife, I just wept.  I saw the life of a woman who was thankful for the little things.  She wasn’t afraid of the death that was staring her in the eye, nor did she complain about her lot in life.  She gave her life all she had, filled others with hope and poured love and kindness into each life she touched.  No one wanted her life more than she did.

That is true joy:  Wanting what you already have

And joy is one of the hardest choices in life.  Seems simple.  Seems like we can all choose joy, but we don’t.  And Joy is the only thing that can change your entire life.  It is all in your perspective.  You mindset.

Right now there are people out there that hate their life, and they complain about everything.  They blame others for their unhappiness and today it seems so ugly to me now. Maybe that is you.  You are not happy.  Something happened to you and it stole your joy.  Maybe for years.  I was guilty of waisting a lot of my precious days fretting over something, complaining about something else, or just moping around because someone HURT me.  Then there was JOEY, a woman who when she had life, she appreciated it all, never complained, yet she doesn’t get to live here any longer.  We get to.  We get to have another day to make a difference and another day to choose joy.

We can make a decision today to walk in joy and in gratefulness.  I just read in 1 Peter chapter one…

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see [him] not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1 Peter 1:6-8

We can let our circumstances make or break us.  Sometimes those things that the devil meant for our destruction are the very things that teach us and mold us into a more joyful person.  Joey did that.  She did not let the cancer ruin her testimony even though of all people, she had something to be mad about.  Her life was ending and she will never get to attend her daughter’s wedding or hold her grandchildren, sing another concert, or grow old with her husband that she loved so entirely, like some of us will.  Yet, she chose joy!  She let the trial of her suffering be a sweet aroma of love, gratitude, and joy to her family and to those who surrounded in prayer.

I want to look to her each time I am ever tempted to look around and complain.  I want to remember her story each time someone trips me up with some negativity that I never owned.  I want to grab a hold of her testimony and let her light shine over me as a woman who loves Jesus and LIFE.  And when I even think about complaining, I want to remember what I have that she did not get to have.  Joey knew she was done fighting.  She was ready to take her first breath on the other side of glory, going on before you and I as a pioneer of faith.  Let her story change you today and give you perspective!

Please, I beg you click on this link, read her husband’s words, spend a moment in his world and evaluate yours in the process!  There is so much to praise God for, make this a day you rejoice and be glad!

Here is the link…
​http://thislifeilive.com/one-last-kiss/

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12 thoughts on “One Woman's Last Kiss”

  1. marlene lisowski

    I HAVE TRULY BECAME A FAMILY MEMBER THAT JUST LINGERS ON FOR MORE -I THANK YOU FOR SHARING AND TRUSTING ME WITH THE SPIRIT AND JOY AND LOSS TO THIS LIFE PASSING ON AWESOME STORY’S PIC AND YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS -HOW DO YOU DO IT ?THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD YES -MANY DAYS I SAY I AM GOING CRAZY THEN I LOOK AT YOU AND THE WAY YOU HANDEL ALL THIS GOOD AND BAD TIMES WE ALL I TRY TO DO IS RESPECT OTHERS CHOICES AND FEELINGS BUT YET AGAIN GO BACK TO MY WORLD -I COME TO THIS CORNER OF MINE SITTING NEXT TO MY HUSBAND LISTENING TO RFD TV JUST WAITING FOR THE END FOR THE JOEY AND RORY’S SHOW !!! FOR REAL I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED COUNTRY MUSIC AND GOSPEL SONGS THEY HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY I WOULD TRAVEL WITH — SO MANY SACRIFICES — THAT PEOPLE TRADE ALL THEIR TOMORROWS FOR WHAT I CAN HAVE TO DAY <3
    LORETTA LYNN WAS AND IS ONE OF MY FAVOR ITS -GEORGE GONES –CONWAY TWIT-TIE ELVIS FOR REAL WAS MY SECRETE LOVE -I HAVE HAD A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS IN MY TIME BUT YUP CHURCH WILL ALWAYS BRING ME BACK TO THE REAL WORLD AND REMIND ME I AM HERE FOR A PURPOSE-AND WHEN I AM GONE WILL BE HIS CHOICE -AND I SURE WISH I WILL MEET JOEY IN THE QUIRE AND GET SOME OF HER COMFORT –LIFE JUST KEEPS MOVING ON I HAVE LOST MANY FAMILY MEMBERS -I LOST MY DEAR SISTER 2 WEEKS BEFORE JOEY ALMOST A YEAR– AND I HAVE A HAD TIME WITH THIS I CAN NOT EXPLAIN WHY BUT I GUESS IT WAS THE LOVE WE HAD TOGETHER SO WHEN I SEE JOYES PIC I WISH I COULD DO THAT FOR HER GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS FROM MINE AND OURS THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME MY THE PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UP ON JOEY !!!

  2. There will never be another Joey! I truly feel God only let us borrow her for a short time cause as I see it, she was sent as an angel to us on earth to learn what real faith and beauty is. I have always believed in God, but Joey made me so much more aware of what real faith is and I will never forget her or the inspiration she put into my heart. Thank you Joey ! Thank you to all who are keeping her memory alive.

  3. That so loving what you wrote that lady was one a kind with a amazing heart and Rory is a special man we all love and the girls. I listen to them everyday God bless

  4. As a Retired Bull rider I can still her them announce Joey Martin as she enters into the ring of life and she performs with her horses one last time. I miss so many wonderful things about this amazing women who touched everyone wherever she went. I know heaven is a much better place now knowing she is their. For the few of us who had the pleasure in meet her she was an angel from above… She is very much loved and missed, may God bless her family, Rory, and little Indiana. Amen

  5. Beautifully written. Joey truly has inspired my life for many years. I hold my husband a little closer because they modeled the essence of closeness between a husband and wife. I cannot listen to them sing I’ll Fly Away knowing that God called her and she did fly away from us. By the way, she died at home and not in a hospital bed. Rory and their family and friends took care of her.

  6. I had been following their blog through Lori`s post as well. So touching and inspiring! Her courage brought me to tears many times. I love to think of what she is experiencing now although we grieve with her loved ones still here.

  7. Thanks for sharing link to Joey’s story. Reminds us life is truly short and we need to seize what we’ve been given.

  8. Thank you for sharing. I followed the link, shed a few tears and prayed for those in need. It certainly put my physical pain into perspective. God Bless, Diane x

  9. I followed their blog for a while now. Got it through Lori’s blog. It is so sad, but it is so full of pearls of love and deep caring.
    May we rejoice in the Lord always.
    She was even preparing seedlings to plant this coming spring in her hospital bed. She LIVED up to the very end.

    1. The lady was JOEY MARTIN FEEK who went home to JESUS March 4 2016.Her husband is Rory Feek their story has touched so many people around the world.Follow his blog you will be blessed as he shares his little girl Indianas milestones.She was born with Down’s syndrome drs said she would not walk or talk.Yet she is talking and was walking without a walker right before her 3rd birthday a few weeks ago.Indy has a infectious smile that lights up the world.

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