by Grace Kusta-Nasralla

Created on: September 22, 2008

A TRIBUTE TO MY FRIEND AMAL SEBALI

God's plans are different than ours and I am confident that Amal is in a happier place now. Amal and I have known each other since school days. Amal was well known for her love for books then. She talked about the books she read with so much enthusiasm that made us want to go and read them. I met Amal again during the civil war in Lebanon. We attended the same Church and I got to know her and Dani better. I knew Amal as a woman of great faith and strong knowledge in the Word of God. She was our Bible reference during bible games at church and we always wanted to be on her team.

Amal loved her family and worked hard to ensure they get the best. Nesreen, Amal's little sister, was very dear to her heart. I remember how hard she worked to get Nesreen enrolled in one of Germany's best schools in order to ensure she gets a better future and escape the war in Lebanon. And as time passed and Nesreen was ready to get married Amal managed in the middle of her treatments and pain to go all the way to Lebanon and attend the wedding ceremony and then dance with great pleasure at the wedding reception.

When Amal came to Canada after she and Dani got married, they became like family to us and we got the opportunity to spend more time with them. I observed Amal as a Mom and a Wife and witnessed to her deep love for her family. It was always great joy for her to spend time and do things with Jessica and when she talked about Jessica her face lit up. When Jonathan was around her she always got herself consumed in his world and made the best of the time she spent with him. Amal's loss for Jonathan was great, but throughout I never heard her blame God, instead she accepted his will as sovereign. Amal's love for her husband was immense and she was always appreciative for his love and friendship.

Amal and Dani's house was always open for us. Amal (and of course Dani) were ever welcoming and we would spend hours of fun at their house. We would play table games and share stories and jokes. We would sing songs and hymns and tell about our life experiences. We would enjoy good food and visit with friends together.

Amal's friendship has contributed a lot to my life. I learned from her how to persevere in loving God and how to trust in Him in all circumstances. When she was diagnosed with cancer her words to me were God knows best, His will is sovereign. She persevered as she bore her cancer pains and her after treatment effects and I started calling her "my hero".

Amal, you will be greatly missed. I am not going to say goodbye my friend, but rather I will say see you in His perfect timing as we meet at Jesus feet in His heavenly kingdom. God's Word says:

They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint. - Isaiah 40:31

And, my friend, I can imagine you now mounting up with wings as an eagle in His heavenly glory.

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