A Life Well Lived

The funeral director stopped counting after 1100 people passed through the visitation line at her visitation. Her oldest son said, we are losing another of our role models. When she went home to be with her Lord, she left a big hole in her husband’s, her four children’s, her seven grandchildren’s and four great grandchildren’s and hundreds of friend’s hearts.

She was a first grade and kindergarten teacher who taught dozens of children to read, hold their pencils correctly, and line up and behave. Another said, she raised the bar, on what it means to live a successful life, giving to others. Always with a gift for loving and comforting others, it was fitting that her funeral was on Mothers’ Day, 2010.

She reminded me of what’s important in life, the legacy one really wants to leave, of lives touched and love extended. We honored and celebrated her life. So for those special, godly women you know, I encourage you to provide for, protect, lift up and honor them while they are with us.

One of the two pastors who spoke about her and her love of her Savior quoted Proverbs 31:

An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.

She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight.

She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.

She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong.

She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night.

She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle.

She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.

She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

“Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.”

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.