She Gave a Meaning to This Empty World of Mine

Funeral sermon for a married woman in her 40’s who had no children. Member of a leading family in the church. Involved in many ministries of the church. Killed in a tragic motorcycle accident. A close, personal friend.

Psalm 45:13

The words from the theme song of LOVE STORY are where I find my mind taking me today. “Where do I begin?” “To tell the story of how great a love can be the sweet love story that is older than the sea, the simple truth about the love she brings to me, where do I start?”

With her first hello She gave a meaning to this empty world of mine, There’d never be another love, another time She came into my life and made the living fine She fills my heart—

(Deceased) life was a love story for everyone who knew her. She connected, contributed, cared.

She belonged to us all. To her: Family – She was very proud of her lineage. Her heart ran deep in that gene pool. She painted love across her family canvas which included uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other family members. She painted a personal portrait of affection for each member of her family.

Husband – Their names were a hyphenated phrase They were a together team They were a living, lasting, love

She belonged to this: Community – Buying bricks to help pave the Depot Project Painting trash cans to give Main Street a more decorative air Her roots ran deep in the soil and soul of this community

Church – Every time we go to the nursery, or put out our larger than life hand painted Nativity scene, we will see the brushstroke of her care and concern for her “House of Worship” and “Family of Faith” She was active in Teen Bible Quiz, on the local, state, and national levels.

Company – Fellow workers and fellow friends She belonged. IT is amazing how strong the ties are. My own family - I did personally love her and will miss her, especially at Wednesday night Bible study. She was so faithful, a threat to my job security if all were like her.

But most important of all: She belonged to God - She was the definition and demonstration of a Christian. If you looked up the word in the dictionary, you would find her name there. My wife said, “She’s the kind of person I want to be.” She was a Christian not just in the:

Abstract, but in the applied Belief, but in the behavior Ethereal, but in the everyday Talk, but in the walk

She was: Ever elegant, but never excessive Ever excellent, but never extravagant Ever straight, but never snobbish Ever principled, but never pedantic Ever exquisite, but never elaborate Ever erudite, but never egg-headed Ever pure, but never prudish Ever holy, but never holier-than-thou

She was a rare combination of: A crocheted cover and a cotton comforter Blue denim and lace

A-Z  Adroit and accomplished artist; authentic; altruistic; attentive aunt; Assembly of God; altogether lovely.  Born again believer; bonafide Biblicist; bouquet of blessing; beautiful being; blithe bird watcher  Creative; consistent; committed Christian; Century Tel employee; caring cousin  Dependable; down-to-earth; doer of deeds; devoted daughter  Excellent; exemplary; exact; easy-going  Faithful; fruitful; friend; frugal; forgiven  Genuine; gracious; Godly; good; gentle; gourmet cook  Honest; helpful; hardworking; hospitable; Heritage Hall curator  Informed; involved; imaginative; inspiring; influential  Joyful; just; jewel; joiner  Knowledgeable; keen; kindhearted; kitten lover  Loyal; learner; lady; loved  Meticulous; merciful; mannerly; motherly (even though no biological mother  Neighborly; noble; neat; nice niece  Original; organized; ornate; others oriented  Private person; productive; practical; prim and proper; professional; purpose driven; prepared (are you?)  Quality; qualified; quiet; quick-witted; quintessential Christian  Refined; relational; real deal; rock solid  Straight-laced in style; straight-forward in speech; sincere in service; structured yet sweet; Steel Magnolia; sensitive sister  Trustworthy; true-blue; traditional; tither; TBQ coordinator  Upright; unique; unpretentious; utilitarian; understanding  Versatile; veracious; visual; vigilant; voted; valued  Willing worker; wonderful witness; winsome woman; worthy wife  X-sinner; X-sufferer; x-mortal  Yearning for learning; yielded to God; yes to His call; yonder “being at a distance, but as within sight”  Zest for antiques; zone for animals; zeal for God; now at the zenith – “her highest point, peak.”

I want to borrow some lines from a sermon I preached in 1991 for (name of deceased’s) 88 year old grandmother (name of grandmother)…

“She made life not just good or better – but the best.” One small two-lettered word: NO: 1. No longer do we have (deceased) with us a. She is as real, relevant, radiant as ever and as never before b. Moved from Virtual Reality to Ultimate Reality 2. No we don’t understand. Last Thursday night and Friday morning the tectonic plates of our lives shifted and our world was shaken. Everyone prayed as hard as they could and no one prayed harder than you (husband’s name) a. An involuntary, reflexive response – why? Why her? Where? How? Now? b. Learned to not try to: i. Explain the unexplainable ii. Control the uncontrollable iii. Change the unchangeable But I can trust, love and worship God who can and does.

When Adam and Even forfeited their right to have dominion and responsibility to dress planet earth, Satan injected sin. It was chance in the cosmos – choose – a randomness – Paul – mystery of iniquity

Although God does not now control all our choices and chances, He does control how they:  Work together  Work out

While we do not control all the chance and change that comes our way, we can and must control our response.

So today we worship God who is good and will make even this work together for good.

Well, you say, “she didn’t get to live out her life.” 1. True, today’s expected life span is 22,500 days. She came up 4,349 short. 2. But she did live long enough to: a. Sow seeds b. Pay prayers c. Give gifts d. Teach truths e. Make memories f. Leave a legacy – everlasting epilogue 3. But what a waste! My sentiments exactly – I vocalized to God – “there are people not worth the lead it takes to blow their brain out.” You may or may not believe God speaks to us today, but God spoke to me: a. “Not your assignment to assess the worth of those I’ve created.” b. What a waste! – “be careful what you call a waste that was the attitude of those who criticized the woman who broke the alabaster box.”

This LOVE STORY is not over. The last No from (name of grandmother)’s service: NO victory has death over the child of God! (deceased’s) grandfather’s famous quote, “Life’s just trouble and satisfaction!” She had the 1. Shadow, now the sunshine 2. Hurts, now the healing 3. Storm, now the stars

This child of the dust now lives beyond the stars, and ever will!

The song says: She fills my heart with very special things With angel’s songs, with wild imaginings She fills my soul with so much love That anywhere I go I’m never lonely With her along who could be lonely? I reach for her hand – it’s always there---

How long will it last? Can love be measured by the hours in a day? I have no answer now but this much I can say I know I’ll need her till the stars all burn away And she’ll be there She’ll be there

O God I pray that we may leave here today having learned to 1. Appreciate more fully 2. Focus more clearly 3. Value more dearly 4. Prepare more surely

May the God of all 1. Comfort – help you – bear you up on eagle’s wings 2. Peace – calm you 3. Power –strengthen you – keep you 4. Knowledge – guide you 5. Hope – assure you