Mark's Blog

Yesterday, my wife’s sister Linda died at home at the end of a very long journey with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease.  She was just short of her 63rd birthday. Married for over forty years, grandmother of four, Aunt Linda to many nephews and nieces, best friend to many, and servant to everyone whose need she saw, we will miss her.

I only met Linda after Sherrylee and I started dating, so  I can’t speak to her early life firsthand. I do know that as the oldest child in a preacher family, she not only was the typical challenge to her parents, but the sparkle and glitter of their family’s life together. 

Linda and I were both in the freshman class of 1965 at Harding University. I didn’t know her because she had already met Don and was hanging out with the football player crowd. She was always a little embarrassed when Don told how they were both put on probation at Harding for leaving campus to go swimming with a bunch of friends–did I say “mixed swimming!!!”  She left Harding to marry Don the next year, so we never met until I met Sherry.

She and Don had two beautiful daughters, and she and Don were the backbone of the churches where they attended. Linda always had a heart for the underdog, a trait that perhaps frightened the parents of a teenage girl, but one which grew into a real servant’s heart.  She was extraordinarily sensitive to those in need. Twice in our life, Sherrylee and I have fled to their home for rescue–once living with them for six weeks. I know of many others who also received their love and generosity.

God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Linda’s illness and death were not our plan for her. While she did grieve, she did not blame, she did not whine, she continued to submit and to trust God. 

On Tuesday, I will lead the prayer at Linda’s funeral::

Holy Father, our Beginning and End, our Comforter, our Savior, only in You do we find Rest and Peace. Your Glory fills our lives from Beginning to End, everything Good we enjoy comes from your Hand. We offer to you our worship and praise.

Beyond our tears of human grief, Father, see our joy and happiness that Linda has been relieved of her ill body and is restored to wholeness. We are grateful that she rests from her struggles.  You are above all Good, Father, and this we will proclaim.

Our prayer, Father, is for comfort and peace for Linda’s family, for the blessing, not just of memories, but of the recognition of the very real parts of our lives that are the result of living with and learning from Linda throughout her life.  May her children and grandchildren, may all of us  live such lives that we may join her around the banquet table of the Lamb, to laugh and recall, but more so, to praise your Name forever.

Through the Name of Jesus who crossed the threshold before us to prepare the Way, Amen.