Woman of Peace/Donna Wuerch

Greetings friends,

There's a couple whose witness of faith and love has forever changed our lives. My husband and I had the special privilege and honor of walking a profound faith journey with them. Donna amazed everyone who knows her by the peace she exemplified during the greatest challenge of their life. I asked Donna to share what "woman of peace" means to her. Here's what she said:

"Donna Wuerch = A Woman of Peace. Are you kidding? That just does not describe someone who was given the title of "Martha" by my husband, children, other women and my pastor so many times. I've been the worker, the doer and the fixer so much of my life. Just "being", or in the case of Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus - basking in Him - the Prince of Peace, did not fit in with my busy schedule. "After all... .someone had to prepare the meals, clean up afterwards and plan the next event!" At least that's what I thought.

In April, 2010, we received the doctor's call that said, "Ron (my husband) has Stage 4 Kidney Cancer". Yes, it was a shock to our entire family and friends. But, instead of being in that place of insurmountable despair, worry and concern, I found myself covered by a sweet "blanket of peace". For almost eight months, through six surgeries, treatments, doctors' appointments, tests, then hospice, to ultimately, my Sweetheart's graduation to heaven, I have known the "peace that passes all understanding". How is it explained?

For many, many years, even though I was so busy attending to the many things that life requires, I still planted God's Word deeply within my heart. In our faith tradition, we sign ourselves with the cross on our foreheads, our mouths and our hearts at the time of the Gospel reading. In so doing, we are saying, "I receive the Word in my mind, in my mouth and in my heart." That is exactly what I did.

I read God's Word, believed it was true, spoke it and meditated on it. I was planting words like Isaiah 26:3 "Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon me."; John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."; Philippians 4:6,7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." And, after the planting, I received a bumper crop harvest of peace, and that peace continues to guard, sustain and keep my heart and my mind, even to this day - three months after my husband's passing.

Yes, I am a Woman of Peace. Perhaps, I am still a little more "Martha", than "Mary" - but, daily, as I purpose to break away to embrace Him, my Prince of Peace, and sit in His presence...just a little longer, then I will start to bear a striking resemblance to Him. Maybe, then, I'll become known as His 'Princess of Peace'."


Peace be with you,
Sheila