My parents being gone still isn’t real. Part of my processing and accepting is in what I shared at their celebration.
Thank you for joining us in celebrating Mama & Daddy’s life, their love, & their home going.
Shortly after Mama died on August 2nd, I was speaking with Daddy. I assured him that we would not have a service to celebrate Mama until he could be with us . . . Join us.
Here we are. And Daddy is here too . . . . . ( 4 weeks ago) I never would have seen all this coming. I wasn’t picturing this as the way Daddy would be joining me/us. BUT . . . Mama & Daddy are together again. And I kept my promise of waiting to have a service for Mama when Daddy could be with us. Dad always told us to have a party for his homecoming and Mama didn’t want anyone looking over her. So we have met in the middle w their wishes.
They were reunited in their heavenly home just 23 days after Mama died. It was rare to see one without the other. My parents were pretty inseparable. I have such reassurance knowing they are together again . . . . Just like they’re supposed to be. They had a strong love, Godly marriage, and were an amazing team. Dad just recently referred to Mama as his rock. They supported and cared for one another so well.
Every time they came to our house, around 3:00, we would hear mama say “alright David you about ready?” Daddy always said ‘Nope”. It would progress a little and then Mama would jingle with her keys and say “alright Edwards let’s hit the road” Daddy would reluctantly head toward the door . . . . In Daddy’s last couple of days I reminded him of this. I told him that while I know he never wants to leave our house, that mama was getting anxious for him to come w/ her. This was a good time to say “Yes Shirley” as he most always did!
I called Mama every morning on my way to work. She often referred to me as “Miss Priss”. While I continue to talk to her daily, our conversations aren’t nearly the same. She was my best friend and I was a Daddy’s girl through and through.
Over the last few years I’ve learned how death can be a beautiful thing. This last month has been hard and challenging but I can also say it’s been beautiful thanks so so many of you. Thank YOU for helping Mama & Daddy’s LIFE & DEATH to be just that. You have each allowed this time to be a beautiful thing. Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus in so many season’s of our family’s life over the years.
As Paul writes in 2 Cor 4:12 “Death may be at work in us, but LIFE is in you. While dark clouds gather over our heads, the Lord is able to shine light that brings forth HOPE. None of our hurt is wasted. HE makes everything beautiful in His time. He will not waste this!
Mama’s love for Jesus was in her actions. I’ve learned from her to Live with Love. She sure loved to treat her neighbors, friends, & family with her brown sugar pies. I will always remember how she would bake them and Daddy would deliver them. Live your Life through actions of Love. Mama lead well and loved even better. I loved when Mama rocked babies right here in the church nursery. I would scurry from my own Sunday School class and HOPE that they would need my help too with the babies. She enjoyed serving here at Chestnut Hill.
She also loved her volunteer time with their Neighborhood association. Daily, she would make her drive around the neighborhood and check the pool. I’ve even taken her little purple car for a few rides around over the last few weeks. The neighbors have been so good to look out for Mama and Daddy over the years.
Mama was strong . . . . such an example of strength for me to follow.
I’ve described Daddy to the medical team numerous times over the last couple of weeks as the warmest, most gentle, kind hearted man ever. He was never quick to speak or judge, always listening and processing. To the point that when he would speak, I listened! Except for the 1 and only time he grounded me! ;) Those 10 days of no driving turned into maybe 2.
My first few years of elementary school, he drove me to school every morning and we would have car ride chats, study for spelling tests, recite my lines for the school play, and practice my multiplication tables. I always knew who made my lunch each day because Daddy cut my sandwich into triangles.
Our song was Bicycle Built for Two . . . . I really don’t know why, BUT I sure did attempt to sing it to him his last couple days at our house.
Daddy’s faith was also astounding. He exemplified God’s Will be Done in his actions, daily life, and LOVE. He didn’t just KNOW God’s Word, he lived it out so well. Nightly he would pray with me bedside. We would catch up on our day. It was my Dad that prayed with me specifically asking Jesus to be Lord over my life. I remember that night so well.
You may have heard about his experience just before going into his last surgery ~ Amidst his delirium, pain, shock, and heavy medication, he spoke God’s word to the pre-op team. Somehow the bracelet that he proudly wore from Ben’s graduation remained on his wrist. When 1 of the OR nurses asked Daddy about his bracelet, he strongly and clearly told the story found in Joshua. He proudly told them it was 1 of his grandson’s favorite verses.
“Be strong and courageous”
After his surgery, we went to Daddy’s room in neuro ICU, we found out the OR team relayed this story to the ICU team. Again, I know God is at work during our hardships. This has for sure been a challenging time for our family. But God’s word never returns null or void as Isaiah tells us in chapter 55.
Upon leaving him that night, I asked if I could pray with him bedside. Instead of answering me HE went on to pray such a beautiful prayer over all of us.
Oh how Daddy loved this church family . . . He enjoyed teaching the Dorcas Class of Ladies, “going visiting”, giving Nancy Hunt a ride to church, and singing in the choir. He often told me about his experiences with the Red Truck Ministry as well as the LEAP Ministry. And he always looked forward to Men’s Bible Study every other Tuesday morning.
Mama & Daddy loved being grandparents. They were both so very proud of their grandchildren. Jacob, Ben, & Emily. They loved coming to Ben’s games, watching Jacob’s latest created & directed videos, and enjoyed Emily’s crafting skills and chocolate chip cookies.
In closing, Ive asked Randy to sing Thank You . . . . . It’s an OLDIE but it’s also such a GOODIE as well. I can’t hear it and NOT think of my parents.
Thanks again for being so special to us. Thank you for being here today and loving our family.
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