I knew it was a bad time to see the documentary. I knew I’d cry. And yet, I had to watch it.
Maybe, like me, you know the broad outlines of the story of Joey and Rory Feek, country music performers who, shortly after they had their beloved daughter, Indiana, discovered Joey had cervical cancer. Terminal.
Beautiful and happy Indiana was very much loved and to complicate the story, to make it all the more poignant, Indiana was born with Down Syndrome. I knew that the story would end with Joey having to say goodbye to her beautiful, much-loved daughter and her beloved husband, Rory.
Still, I had to watch To Joey, WithLove. Even if it WAS the day of my own Pap test.
Sometimes, you’ve just got to cry like a baby. Sometimes, you’ve got to engage the cleansing power of tears.
Joey was a beautiful soul and a beautiful woman. She was love epitomized. Her choice to not pursue additional treatment, to let go, be carried by her deep faith and let God make the choice, had to have been difficult, given all she would leave behind. All the same, or maybe because of what she was leaving behind, her story is inspirational.
Cancer is a bitch. Once you’ve seen what it leaves in its wake you never forget it.
I don’t like to read or watch things about people suffering, including suffering from cancer.
I don’t like stories that end sadly, as Joey’s story did.
I wonder how it is that some of us are lucky and some of us not.
And yet, with my tears and my sadness, I came away from the documentary with the kind of inspiration I file away in case I need it one day.
I see Rory’s face in my mind’s eye a lot. I access her courage, her bravery, just for a minute. I try to access her faith. And like her faith, I’m not so sure I could access the kind of beautiful love she had for the world, for others, for Rory, her family and for her daughter. I bow before an angel on earth.
If you don’t know the story of Joey and Rory, you’ll find it all over the internet. You’ll find Rory’s blog and a new memoir he wrote. You’ll find the couple’s CDs and Joey’s last recording of Hymns.
And if you can find the documentary on demand, do watch it. And come away with the understanding that life is meant to be lived right til the end. And we have control over that.
I have never heard of this documentary, but now I have to watch it. I know I’ll cry like a baby, too,but I think it’s important to honor the fighters, the ones struggling to live and survive. It could be us one day.
That sounds like an extremely sad documentary, I don’t know if I could bring myself to watch it. That was such a sad story, and they are such a lovely family. Just heartbreaking.
I always cry like a little girl whenever I see a sad movie, especially one where kids have to see their parents go away, or parents losing their kids. We’ve been trying to have a baby for a while now and I can’t even fathom how devastating that would be.
This documentary sounds really sad! Joey was from the town where my aunt lives, which is a couple hours from where I live. This will be a must watch around here.
I, like you, do not care to see people suffer. I know it is a part of life, I deal with sadness often but to intentionally set down to watch something sad is hard. You are however so correct about the cleansing power of crying!
First time I hear about this documentary but now I am intrigued. Cancer is a difficult thing my mom died of leukemia so I can understand pain and sorrow. She died al 49 too young for a mother to leave her kids.
I haven’t seen or heard of this documentary but I;m not sure if I can watch it. Her story is so sad and I still love seeing the updates on little Indiana.
I watched cancer ravage my 22 year old brother in law and he just fell apart and died all within a year. He was so vibrant and then he was gone. It was terribly sad and hard to watch for sure.
I haven’t seen it and here I am already in tears. Cancer is a bitch, indeed. It’s one that we can’t easily fight off and one that doesn’t end happily… most of the time. I’ve lost friends and family because of cancer and the pain never goes away. I hope I get the strength to watch this documentary.
This is the first time I’m hearing about this documentary. And I rarely watch one that doesn’t move me greatly, which is probably why I avoid them unless I have the time to cry and reflect. Thanks for sharing, I really might need a good cry too!
I haven’t seen this documentary yet. Cancer has touched our family and it is a scary thing. I can relate to the suffering part, while I personally don’t have cancer, I am one of those unlucky (or lucky if you see the flip side). In May of last year, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis.I have suffered chronic pain for many years so the diagnosis made more sense. I often times cry because being in pain is hard. I have tried to remain positive and help others but it is hard when the pain nags and pulls you down. Keep sharing the love. 🙂
I haven’t seen the documentary yet, but I know I will cry my eyes out when I do. I followed the story online while it was happening and my heart hurt for them
I’m going to see if I can find this documentary. It sounds interesting. I know I’m going to be a mess of tears when I see it but I know I will come away having learned something.
I never heard of this documentary. I am intrigued to watch it all. Its something most people will have in common we all have went through some kind of grief or suffering so I would like to know if the documentary will shed light on the trust effects of dealing with a family with cancer. I probably definitely would cry.
Even though I’m not a country music fan, I was very aware of and following the Joey and Rory story as it was playing out in real time. The love story of all three of them was beautiful to behold.
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Sometimes, you’ve just got to cry like a baby. Sometimes, you’ve got to engage the cleansing power of tears.
I have never heard of this documentary, but now I have to watch it. I know I’ll cry like a baby, too,but I think it’s important to honor the fighters, the ones struggling to live and survive. It could be us one day.
That sounds like an extremely sad documentary, I don’t know if I could bring myself to watch it. That was such a sad story, and they are such a lovely family. Just heartbreaking.
I always cry like a little girl whenever I see a sad movie, especially one where kids have to see their parents go away, or parents losing their kids. We’ve been trying to have a baby for a while now and I can’t even fathom how devastating that would be.
This documentary sounds really sad! Joey was from the town where my aunt lives, which is a couple hours from where I live. This will be a must watch around here.
I haven’t seen this documentary yet, but I’ll definitely look for it now. Their story was a sad one, but also an inspiring one to so many people.
I haven’t seen this documentary, but it sounds good (in a sad way!) Every once in awhile we need a good cry! It gives life a new spin!
I agree that sometimes you just have to let yourself cry. I don’t always want to, but I know it’s a good thing!
I, like you, do not care to see people suffer. I know it is a part of life, I deal with sadness often but to intentionally set down to watch something sad is hard. You are however so correct about the cleansing power of crying!
Yes. I’ve seen it and it hurts. But I do believe in the purification of crying. Thank goodness I don’t find myself doing it a lot.
This was too hard for me to read right now. My dad is in hospice with terminal cancer. My life will never be the same. Cancer is a bitch.
First time I hear about this documentary but now I am intrigued. Cancer is a difficult thing my mom died of leukemia so I can understand pain and sorrow. She died al 49 too young for a mother to leave her kids.
I haven’t seen or heard of this documentary but I;m not sure if I can watch it. Her story is so sad and I still love seeing the updates on little Indiana.
I remember that night Rory passed. She was such a beautiful person and it was sad she taken from the world so soon.
I watched cancer ravage my 22 year old brother in law and he just fell apart and died all within a year. He was so vibrant and then he was gone. It was terribly sad and hard to watch for sure.
I haven’t seen it and here I am already in tears. Cancer is a bitch, indeed. It’s one that we can’t easily fight off and one that doesn’t end happily… most of the time. I’ve lost friends and family because of cancer and the pain never goes away. I hope I get the strength to watch this documentary.
Awww! Your cat picture is adorable. What great big blue eyes!
i havent seen this documentary. but i will definitely search for it..
I could not watch this documentary, i would not make it through the whole thing. I cry even during commercials!
Hey Carol,
This is the first time I’m hearing about this documentary. And I rarely watch one that doesn’t move me greatly, which is probably why I avoid them unless I have the time to cry and reflect. Thanks for sharing, I really might need a good cry too!
I haven’t seen this documentary yet. Cancer has touched our family and it is a scary thing. I can relate to the suffering part, while I personally don’t have cancer, I am one of those unlucky (or lucky if you see the flip side). In May of last year, I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis.I have suffered chronic pain for many years so the diagnosis made more sense. I often times cry because being in pain is hard. I have tried to remain positive and help others but it is hard when the pain nags and pulls you down. Keep sharing the love. 🙂
I haven’t seen the documentary yet, but I know I will cry my eyes out when I do. I followed the story online while it was happening and my heart hurt for them
I haven’t seen this documentary, but it sounds like a really sad one. Not sure if I could watch it.
I am not very good with these kind of stories as i am a cry baby and cant handle a sad story.
So sad. I did hear about thia family on the news. My heart breaks every time I hear about their story.
I’m going to see if I can find this documentary. It sounds interesting. I know I’m going to be a mess of tears when I see it but I know I will come away having learned something.
I never heard of this documentary. I am intrigued to watch it all. Its something most people will have in common we all have went through some kind of grief or suffering so I would like to know if the documentary will shed light on the trust effects of dealing with a family with cancer. I probably definitely would cry.
I have never heard of this but wow, now I will def be looking it up. But yes your right sometime it is better to just cry. <3
Even though I’m not a country music fan, I was very aware of and following the Joey and Rory story as it was playing out in real time. The love story of all three of them was beautiful to behold.