Highlights of a Celebrated Life
We celebrated my Mom’s 84 years of life this past Monday. It was a beautiful funeral service. I want to share with you some things that people learned about my Mom.
My sister Brenda gave the eulogy. Here are a few highlights:
My sister wrote my mom’s obituary a few months ago when we knew that cancer was probably going to eventually take Mom’s life. Brenda asked Mom if she would like to read it. My mom smiled and said, “Yes – if you wouldn’t mind. I would like to know what these 84 years have added up to in your eyes.” After my Mom read it, she said, “Thank you. I hope and pray that Jesus sees me as you do.” Then Mom said, “Honey, when you talk about me, be sure you remember to brag on Jesus. Anything good about me is because of Him.”
Mom and Dad had a daily appointment at 8:00 in the morning when they met together with Jesus, to read the Bible, read a few encouraging words from a book or The Daily Bread, and sing hymns of praise.
Brenda shared about one day when she was alone with Mom for several hours. Brenda told Mom how great she had been and how she was going to miss her. Brenda said Mom replied with a smile as she gazed into the future without fear, ‘It’s going to be wonderful there. I want to say I’ll miss you, too – but I probably won’t. It is going to be wonderful and it will go by so fast for me until you are there. It’s gonna go faster for you than you think too. It just flies, honey.”
My father’s prayer moments before the funeral directors took her body away: “Father, my sweetheart is leaving our home for the last time. As she does, I want to thank you for the beautiful home she prepared for us. Over the years we have lived in many places, and she didn’t always have the best to work with, but in every place it was her priority to beautifully prepare a home for me and the children. I thank you so much for what she did and how she prepared this beautiful place for me. It gives me great comfort to know that she has left THIS home for a beautiful home You especially prepared for her. Thank you so much. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
One last one… My sister told of the time when she and my Mom watched a Louie Gigilo video. My mom heard Louie make a statement and she immediately told my sister to “write that down!” Here it is: “Worship is the option we choose when we want God to invade our circumstances. No matter how dark the trial, how difficult the situation, there are no circumstances in life that can rob us of the opportunity to worship the God of all creation and Christ who gave himself for us.” That is the way to live.
My sister closed with one last reminder that Mom wanted everyone to know-- that what you saw in her is available to you too through Jesus. My mom was known to sing this song as she did her work, hanging laundry on the clothes line. Brenda sang
The chimes of time ring out the news,
Another day is through.
Someone slipped and fell.
Was that someone you?
You may have longed for added strength,
Your courage to renew.
Do not be disheartened,
For I have news for you.
It is no secret what God can do.
What He's done for others, He'll do for you.
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.
It is no secret what God can do.
There is no night for in His light
You never walk alone.
Always feel at home,
Wherever you may go.
There is no power can conquer you
While God is on your side.
Take Him at His promise,
Don't run away and hide.
It is no secret what God can do.
What He's done for others, He'll do for you.
With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.
It is no secret what God can do.
