You probably don't hear that one very often!
Recently a dear friend passed away. She was 86, a pillar of the community, an art teacher, photographer, foster parent, and so much more. Above all else she loved Jesus! Her love of Christ sprang forth in the way she loved people! Not a lip service love mind you, but a get in the trenches and get dirty love! Fostered over 80 children in her home just for a start! The love of God shown through her! I don't have time to tell of all the good she did to and for addicts and down trodden.
She was a teacher when I was in school, but I never had her as a teacher. I was an aggie and no art student after all, and those artsy people are just weird! As fate would have it we became closely acquainted as part of the same group that met on Tuesday night. Later we became neighbors in town. I moved to the country 7 years ago, but as her health declined due to age and fights with cancer I began picking her up for our meetings. She was a prayer warrior for me, and I'm sure many more. She had been telling me, "I'm ready to go home, but don't tell my family, it freaks them out.",since she turned 82.
At the funeral we celebrated a sister called home! One who kept the faith, fought a good fight, ran the race! We sang at the top of our lungs! We laughed at family and church stories, we shed a few tears. We listened to words of encouragement. One story in particular that will stick with me, was the preacher telling about interviewing for his position with the whole congregation, when this elderly lady stood up and asked, how much do you love Jesus? How do you answer that, he said.
She showed that answer in a life lived in love!
You missed a good funeral!
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