Funerals are always sorrowful and deeply sobering. But when it’s the funeral of a 21-year-old girl who bravely battled cancer, radiating joy through every painful moment, it’s not just heart-wrenching, it’s also life-transforming.

Jenita is the daughter of my husband’s cousin, Rajiv. Or, more accurately, as Rajiv said at her funeral, he is “Jenita’s dad.” We lived in different cities and didn’t have the opportunity to spend enough time together. But there’s no one outside my immediate family that I have prayed for more than Jenita. And therefore, even though we didn’t spend much time together, I share a deep heart connection with this brave and beautiful girl.

Jen was first diagnosed with cancer when she was only 13 years old. What followed was test after test, surgery after surgery, long solitary stays in the ICU, and 90 days at the hospital. Eight years ago, we were alerted that she was hanging on by a thread because post-surgical septic shock had set in. God showed His miraculous healing power that day. Jenita spread her selfless joy for the next eight years.

Last Sunday, Jenita went home to be with Jesus.

Whole. Healed. Pain-free.

Leaving a powerful legacy for the rest of us.

Sometimes, Jen stood on stage to share her story, inspiring thousands to live with purpose. At other times, she lay in bed and shared her heart, bringing a smile to a child in the cancer ward who was battling this disease.

Her mom, Judith, recalls how, at every hospital visit, Jenita focused on others. She would urge her mom to buy the little kids at the hospital a few small toys. She wanted to buy food for the poorer folk who lived in tents near the hospital as they had traveled from villages outside the city. When the family hosted their church lifegroup, Jenita would cook her specialties for the group, even though her back hurt from the cancer treatment.

On her Instagram page, Jenita’s description line reads, “brb, grabbing life rn.” For the slightly “mature” among us, that translates to: “Be right back, grabbing life right now.”

And grab life she did. She lived each moment to the fullest. That didn’t mean mere productivity. It meant much more.

It meant living with joy because she was grateful for each moment God had given her.

It meant living with empathy because she had endured so much and was able to put herself in another’s shoes.

It meant living for God’s glory rather than her own because she had eternity in mind.

It meant living each day trusting God because she had learned to surrender control.

Jen and her family visited us and spent the night at our home a few months ago. We ordered Thai and we played Heads Up with the extended family. She didn’t preach, although her life could have produced many sermons and lectures. She just hung out and laughed with us. She sat on the floor and played Catan with my kids. She helped me in the kitchen without being asked.

Jen joyfully radiated Jesus by how she lived.

Last year Jen had the opportunity to share her story at a Christian conference in Chennai, India. In the panel discussion that followed, this spunky, fun 20-year-old spoke with an earnestness and wisdom that resonated with the audience.

Here are Jen’s words when asked why God allowed her to suffer through the cancer journey:

“I’ve learned that this earth is not our home, it’s not our address. Our address is eternity. Whether we live a good life or a purposeful life is not measured by the number of days…. God has sustained you so far, just make sure you are living out your purpose.”

Jenita lived out her purpose even through her pain. She grabbed life in all its fullness and beauty.

Jenita’s passing to glory both breaks me and builds me up. My eyes are veiled by tears, but my vision has become sharper.

I long to make my moments count like she did. I long to live for God’s glory like she did. I long to live with selfless joy like she did.

I had the privilege of collaborating with her dad, Rajiv, a few years ago on a book he wrote about Jenita’s cancer journey. You can find the book Fearless in Battle on Amazon India here and Amazon US (Kindle version) here.

Jenita’s speech from last year’s conference and her panel discussion links are below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RegbXKRG11s

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yGpbdoEzP3w

We will miss this dear warrior girl who fought the good fight.  She ran the race with grace and authenticity. She finished with joy because she knew exactly where and to Whom she was going. May her legacy live on through all who hear her story and learn to #grablife.

 

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