In the Spring of 1989 a group of us including myself, Marilyn, Jeff Byrd and Doyle Craven got tickets to see Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith in concert in Chapel Hill, NC. Amy was featuring songs from her Lead Me On album, while MWS was touring in support of his i 2 (Eye) project. We were all so excited to go. Plus, Doyle had a brand new Ford Probe he was dying to show off...
Our excitement turned to sorrow very quickly when we received word on the day of the show that our dear friend Penny Thomas had passed away. Penny had worked at Quaker Lake and had been very active in the youth programs of NC Yearly Meeting of Friends. She had also worked with chronically ill children on the pediatrics ward at Duke Hospital. She had been very sick for a long time, and only a few days earlier we had been to Duke to see her. Her passing was not unexpected, but it still hit us all very hard. Doyle and Jeff had both been especially close to her. We debated whether or not we should attend the concert, eventually deciding that there was nothing we could do at that point, and that Penny would want us to go.
Even in our melancholy state of mind, the concert was excellent. We all knew their music so well, and we all shared one unspoken thought as the night went along. One of the songs on Michael's most recent CD was called I Hear Leesha. The song was about a young girl who had passed away, and it mourned her loss. It also spoke of the hope Christians share that there is more to life that what we have on this earth. The chorus says, "I hear Leesha singing in heaven tonight. And in-between the sadness, I hear Leesha, telling me that she's alright." I think secretly we all were praying that he would not sing it. He did. As we looked at each other with tears flowing, I knew it was one of those moments in which Jesus was working in each of us. I knew it was a feeling I would never forget.
A few days later I attended Penny's funeral. Jeff Byrd sang at the service, and I have always thought it was one of the bravest things I have ever seen anyone do. He was hurting, he was saddened, and he didn't really want to be doing it. But he knew he had to. Filled with the Holy Spirit, he sang beautifully and with passion, sharing both his love for Penny and his faith.
Being a follower of Christ is not all flowers and rainbows. There are struggles, tragedies and moments of doubt and fear. Every time I listen to I Hear Leesha I am reminded that in the midst of the darkest parts of life, Jesus is there to give us light and life. I hope you will remember that as well.
Because of Jesus,
I recently lost my little sister, Alicia who we called Leesha. She had been battling ovarian cancer for the past 4 years & she lost that battle the day after her 24th birthday. Michael W. Smith's song "I Hear Leesha," as you can imagine holds a very special meaning for me. I looked up the story behind the song & found out that it was written for a girl who lost her sister Leesha. Michael W. Smith visited this girl who was involved in the accident her sister died in the hospital & she shared with him how she could hear her sister Leesha telling her she was going to be alright & that she was perfect now that she was with God. I don't even know how to express the joy & comfort this story brought me because I too could hear Leesha telling me she was going to be alright & that she was with Jesus. I could feel her perfection. This song & this story was such a blessing from God & it made my faith in him so much stronger. It brings me great joy to hear that it had a similar effect on all of you. Like your Penny my Leesha's passing was not unexpected, but that doesn't reduce the shock or make it hurt any less. I am happy to hear the way in which the lord is working in your lives & it makes me proud to hear of your unwavering faith. We are not always meant to understand the ways he works but we must remember that he DOES work & that we can always count on him for what we really need. Thank you for your story & God bless you :)
ReplyDeleteWho was Leesha? Was Michael W. Smith related to her, or did he personally know this young girl?
ReplyDeleteI believe it was a young girl who was a fan of his music, but I am not certain.
DeleteLeesha was a student at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, TN. The way I heard it was that Smitty and Amy Grant helped lead some worship gatherings for students there in the mid 80s. Michael probably got to know some of the students pretty well, including Leesha and her sister. There is still a Leesha Heaston memorial garden on one end of the school in memory of her.
DeleteThank you for sharing your story, as it will help others cope with their loss & grief. I recently lost my father. Although I have comfort in knowing he is with the Lord and no longer sick and in pain, the human loss of a loved one can be quite overwhelming. Yesterday would have been my father's 84 birthday, and I am comforted with the feeling of him celebrating his birthday with Jesus! Thank you for sharing, and God bless you.
ReplyDeleteLeesha was my sister. Michael knew my father from leading bible studies at our school where he taught, and from the fact that we attended the same church. I didn't know him personally. He called when I was released from the hospital, which was a huge surprise, and said he felt led to visit me. I told him a story about how I'd felt she'd come to visit me while I was in the hospital, and had reassured me not to be too sad because "now I'm perfect!!" He wrote the song a few weeks later, and called me on my 18th birthday, very excited, to tell me he'd been unable to sleep and had written a song based on what I'd told him, and asked if he could put it on his next album. I calmly said, sure, then hung up the phone and screamed. He kept my family apprised of the progress, as he wanted us to approve the song. He asked me to write a short dedication, which appeared on the inside of the album's cover. He was incredibly sensitive to our grief and feelings, and the entire process was a huge blessing. I can't express how cool I think it is to stumble across things like this so many years later and hear how she continues to touch lives
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your story! The song means so much to so many, but I can tell it means the world to you. It's a honor to be a small part of her continuing legacy.
DeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to your sister - and thank you for the role you played in bringing this song to the world. It was played at my very good friend's memorial years ago. I just found it again and love listening to it.
DeleteWhat a great memorial to your sister. So sorry for your loss.
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