Thank you for honoring the life of my Mom

I don’t know how people make it in life with Jesus or without a loving church community. I am so grateful for both. On Easter Sunday night, my mom went home to be with Jesus. What better day to go home than on Resurrection Day? She is now in Heaven. She has seen Jesus, her Savior, face-to-face, exchanged her earthly body that was wearing out with a new Resurrected body, and is reunited with my dad, her husband of 58 years. I will forever be grateful for my mom and the legacy she has passed on to us in Christ.

Thank you to everyone for all the prayers, cards, flowers, food, visits and support we have received in this time of my mom’s passing. I don’t know how people make it through the death of a loved one without Jesus. Without Jesus, where’s the hope? Death has the final say. You will never see your loved ones again. However, with Jesus, we know death is not the end. Death is swallowed up in sweet victory! Jesus conquered death on Easter and made a way for us to spend eternity with Him, and we will see our loved ones again. Praise God for His mercy, grace and love. I will see my mom again.

And, I don’t know how people make it through these times without church. We need one another. We were not meant to walk through life alone. I’m so grateful for all my brothers and sisters in Christ at church. Wow - what an incredible community we have here. We are blessed beyond measure. Thank you all for being there as we have walked this journey. It has been a challenge, because we will miss my mom, but we have not walked it alone. I love you all!

My mom lived her life fully for Jesus. She accepted Christ in her life at a young age and never looked back. She led so many to Christ, including my dad. She served at every church she ever attended. She led in every way she could, from teaching in Sunday School, mom’s groups, greeting, prayer team and just about every committee. She was faithful all the days of her life.

Mom loved our family. Mom and Dad had a great marriage. They worked together to raise my sister and me in the Lord. Now, both of us and our families are serving in our local churches. She was a faithful wife, mom and grandmom. With five wonderful grandchildren and one great-grandchild, Mom truly made a difference with her life in all our lives. Her legacy lives on in us.

My mom always believed in us. When Lisa and I felt called to plant Rolling Hills, my mom & dad were the first ones who gave money. They gave us $10,000, which was so much 22 years ago, and when we did not have any money at all. It was really our first year’s budget. Then, when we started Justice & Mercy International, my mom and dad signed up to be one of the first sponsors of an orphan child in Moldova. And, they helped each of their grandchildren go on a mission trip. They were always there and investing in the things of God and supporting us. 

We moved my mom and dad to Nashville 13 years ago, and I am so glad we did. They became embedded in the life of our family and in God’s Church here at Rolling Hills. So many of you loved them so well. When my dad went home to be with Jesus, 9 years ago, the church surrounded my mom and us. And, now, with my mom’s passing, the church is there for us again. Thank you all!

We don’t know how long we will have on this earth, so I pray my mom’s life will inspire us to live it all for the glory of God. To love Jesus with all our heart, our families, our friends and our church. To invest our lives in the things that matter and not get distracted by the things that are here today and gone tomorrow. I pray my mom’s life will encourage us to love deeply and to be active in our church. We don’t know when we will need community, but there will come a day. Time flies. People say it, but it is true. Invest your life in what matters. 

Thank you for honoring my mom and being there for us. I am so grateful for my mom and for everyone who is a part of Rolling Hills Community Church. May Christ be glorified in our lives today. Just know how much you are loved and appreciated. Thank You, Jesus, for my mom and for Your Church. You created family and church, and You know just what we need. Thank You!