A Life Well Lived: Leah Lacy Goes Home

by W. Lee Warren, MD

(Special to The Beacon)

Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past.

The 11th chapter of Hebrews is commonly referred to as the “Faith Hall of Fame.” It recounts stories of heroes of faith that read like short eulogies to the memory of these remarkable people. If it were possible to nominate someone to this Hall of Fame, I believe that Leah Lacy would become a first-ballot member.

Sometime around 5 in the morning on September 20th, 2007, Leah won the prize for which she had been racing during her too-short but accomplished life. She was an amazing person, showing us all what faith is supposed to look like. I am forever blessed by having known and loved her, and I feel that your life will be incomplete if you miss the chance to know a little bit about her.

Leah was an artist, and she painted pictures that moved hearts. My wife Lisa and I have many of her pieces in our home, but there is one in particular that illustrates her spirit. Leah called it “Prayers Lifted Up,” and in her mind’s eye, she could see beyond the clouds and into Heaven where the great love of her life dwells. Visitors to our home frequently comment on the calming effect of the painting; one feels that the clouds inevitably will part and reveal something wonderful. And that is precisely how Leah lived her life- in the full expectation that something wonderful was coming.

Leah was one of those people you know who seem destined for pain and suffering in this world. She suffered much; from the emotional pain of failed marriage to the physical pain of a stroke during a supposedly routine-but-botched surgery. Yet she possessed a secret- a secret she kept from no one who crossed her path. The aforementioned Faith Hall of Fame tells of the secret to perseverance in spite of trouble:

Moses continued strong as if he could see the God that no one can see.

Leah pressed on, kept smiling, and never gave up in the face of indescribable trouble because she knew the Lord. I do not say that lightly. Among people I have known in my life, few deserve mention in that roll call of heroes described by the Hebrew writer. But Leah knew the Lord like you know your spouse- she could see him, and when she prayed it sounded like a conversation with a dear old friend; there was no superficiality or pretense, just a real heart-to-heart discussion.

This is not an obituary; those ran in the newspaper and, like all obituaries, dutifully printed her birth date and listed her genealogy and named her survivors. So this writing is not intended to tell you about her relatives or her two amazing children, Bethany and Jake; they are wonderful people who know the Lord and they know full well that their lives were enriched beyond measure for having known and been loved by Leah Lacy. The memorial service they planned beautifully captured her spirit and their relationships. The goodbyes and memories shared were poignant and as perfect as possible when people are forced to sum up their feelings about such a remarkable person for the last time. No, this is not an obituary, so I will leave the details of her life for another writer (it would be a fascinating biography).

The only point of this writing is to share with you the amazing faith of my sister in Christ and dear friend, Leah Lacy. Hebrews 11 tells us that, “faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past.” Leah was a great person. Faithful mother, faithful friend, faithful sister, daughter, employee, teacher, acquaintance. Her faith defined her, explained her, held and carried her. And it was infectious. You could not have known her and not heard the name of Christ spoken lovingly, as if describing a beloved relative. She lived out her faith.

And so I have absolutely no doubt that at around 5 in the morning on September 20th, 2007, Leah Lacy looked deeply into the parting clouds she so imaginatively captured in Prayers Lifted Up and smiled the smile of one who could see the Lord so clearly that there would be no awkward silence when they finally met face to face. And in that moment, a person who smiled and believed in spite of physical pain or infelicitous circumstance was rewarded by falling into the arms of her Savior. Set free from her cancer-ridden body, she finally heard the words we all long to hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

While Leah is home now, her work here carries on. She wrote extensively, chronicling the journey of a person with breast cancer. She created tirelessly, leaving a body of work to enhance the beauty of the world’s art collection. And she loved effortlessly; giving every person she encountered a tangible example of the Lord’s touch. That work will be used to help others, as she requested. Her website, www.thecancergirl.com, is soon to be a place where her life story and her creations will provide opportunities for others to know that they are not alone in the fight. Funds from the sale of her books and art work will be used for her children and to establish a fund for other kids who lose a parent to cancer. Leah will take care of them like she took care of all who knew and loved her, until we get to see her again. If you have a special memory of Leah or wish to send a message to her children, please email letters@thecancergirl.com.

Thank you for stopping by Leah's Site

This is a quick note to thank everyone for viewing the site in remebrance of Leah Lacy. Your prayers are appreciated.