Kate Marczewski, sister of the late “America’s Got Talent” (AGT) competitor Nightbirde (Jane Marczewski), honored her sister’s memory in a touching tribute—a song. Kate chose to release the song on Dec. 29, Jane’s birthday.
“We can’t wait for the bad times / to all go away / before we decide to let joy in again,” the lyrics include.
Nightbirde’s Sister Honors Her Memory in ‘Life Is a Gift’
Sisters Jane and Kate grew up in in Zanesville, Ohio. Both began singing at an early age, and both have now had the chance to share their music with the world.
America was swept up in Jane’s story as she auditioned for “AGT.” She led with her genuine smile and infectious joy. Before she performed an original song, “It’s Okay,” she shared with the judges and audience that she was battling cancer.
“After Jane passed away, I was at a loss for words but overflowing with emotion. How does one put words to the deepest grief?” Kate told CBN News.
Kate continued, “My family asked me if I wanted to speak at Jane’s memorial service, to which I replied, ‘I’m going to ask God to give me a song to sing instead,’ and the next day, he did.”
“I woke up the next morning and sat down at the piano. Every lyric, line, and melody fell perfectly into place. It was the easiest song I’ve ever written. This song is God’s gift to me to help me process through my grief,” Kate added. She wrote the song, “Life Is a Gift,” and sang it at her sister’s memorial.
The raw, authentic, and hopeful lyrics speak to the dark, hard times of life while pointing others to Christ:
In the good and the bad times
God is the one who stays
Close to our hearts
And near to the pain
We can’t wait for the bad times
To all go away
Before we decide to let joy in again
Life is a gift that we’re thankful for
We’ll take miracles as they come
Stand in the darkness with hope and joy
In the morning that comes
Some day our tears will all pass away
Pain will be something that’s lost
The strength that we find to walk through each day
Is found at the foot of the cross
Kate is a registered nurse who also leads worship at her local church in Ohio. “We could say that this song is about me, or about Jane, or the Marczewski family. We could even say that it’s about loss or grief. But it’s not about any of those things,” Kate said. “This song is all about Jesus, and about how he walks with us every step of the way.”
On Kate’s Spotify profile, she says, “If you wait for the timing to be perfect, you may miss out on some wildly amazing things.”
Kate wants people to be encouraged by the words of “Life Is a Gift.” “My hope for this song is that it helps people the same way it helped me,” Kate shared.
“Since its release, people have reached out to me,” Kate told CBN News. “They tell of how this song has touched them in their pain, in their grief, and in their struggles through the holiday season.”
The artist reminded us all about the reality of pain in this world—and how prevalent it is, saying, “The people we come in contact with on a daily basis are often internally battling against something that they don’t talk about. We all need reminders of the grace that God gives in the midst of pain. He so graciously offers us hope.”
Kate posted a link to the song on Facebook and included thanks and accolades to a number of people who contributed to its release. “Last of all, I want to thank my sister, Jane,” Kate wrote. “Jane, I love + miss you forever. The legacy you left is nothing short of a miracle. Your life was a gift to every person who encountered it, and we are still receiving from it today. I’m grateful for every minute I had with you. Happy birthday, Janie.”
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