As
I descended from the mighty Mingus Mountain, which peaks at 7,800 ft high, I
traveled down the winding highway and entered the first small town in the Verde
Valley of Arizona. The little house on
Lisa Street caught my eye. It was cute
and yellow with lots of flowers trimming the small yard. The first time I saw it, thirty years ago, I
felt drawn to it like a magnet.
I
became friends with the couple who lived there.
Bob and Louise, in their mid-60’s, turned out to be big names in the
Christian community. Bob, a retired cop,
interviewed me when I volunteered to serve on the community’s Women’s Aglow
board. His wife, Louise, a lover of people
and a humble servant of Jesus cheered me on with her winning smile and generous
heart. I especially loved the times we
Aglow ladies met in her home to plan ways to reach out to the broken and hurting women who came to our monthly meetings. Louise’s love poured out in every room especially the kitchen where she
drummed up all kinds of eatable goodies for us to devour with coffee or iced
tea.
My
favorite thing about Louise surfaced early in our long-term relationship. I learned she loved Jesus deeply and believed
wholeheartedly in prayer. Every day and
I mean every single day, she lovingly raised those prayer cards we collected
from the ladies in our meetings and she called out their names and prayed
faithfully over their requests. The
woman loved to pray and each prayer time contained immeasurable love.
Fifteen
years ago, I ended up in the same church she attended and, once again, noticed
her love for people and willingness to serve God by praying for them. When my daughter encountered a serious
complication in her first pregnancy, I told her not to panic. I instructed her to think on the positive
promises from the Bible and I would visit Louise. My daughter and I agreed to speak to no one
about this and give it no power. I
shared only with Louise who I knew would privately pick up the battle with us. By the next doctor’s visit, all my
daughter’s symptoms vanished and she received a clean medical report, no surgery needed.
Last
week, Louise passed on to enter her eternal home at the age of 95. Her memorial service, one of the best I’ve
attended, drew many of us to the sanctuary to remember her and share stories of
her loving ways and faithfulness to God. I learned it wasn’t just me who received a
card on my birthday every single year without fail!
I
will miss Louise’s presence but will always cherish the presents of her mighty
prayer support, her encouragement to keep loving others and, of course, her
delicious cooking.
This may be the best obituary I've ever read! Maybe not your traditional obit, but sweeter for the love. Thank you for sharing Louise's spirit with us today. {{HUGS}}
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks. I'm grateful for her example.
Delete95!
ReplyDeleteWow...what a blessed way to be remembered:
"Every day and I mean every single day, she lovingly raised those prayer cards we collected from the ladies in our meetings and she called out their names and prayed faithfully over their requests. The woman loved to pray and each prayer time contained immeasurable love."
❤️
Yes, she left an amazing legacy of powerful prayer!
DeleteWhat a sweet godly woman she must have been. You were blessed to have met her. Women's Aglow! I was trying to remember that a couple of days ago. Back in the 90s when hubby and I loved in Paso Robles,CA I would go to the Aglow luncheons. Anyway, I had forgotten the name of the ministry until you mentioned. And it's still around! I hope you have a good week!
ReplyDeleteI loved Aglow for this very reason of bringing all types of Christians together and it still does!
DeleteSuch a beautiful tribute to Louise and her beautiful spirit and love of the LORD and amazing heart for prayer and all the love that shines through from her life and lovingkindness. Blessings to you and nice to see you again!!♡
ReplyDeleteLove my connection with you, too!
DeleteWhat a precious, gentle soul Louise was, and I can only imagine the huge welcome home she got in Heaven! Thank you for sharing about her life with us here.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you found it uplifting!
DeleteSo happy to see you blogging again sister Mary! My heart leapt with joy because your stories always encourage me and every story you tell reminds me to always focus on Jesus. What a blessing she is and an awesome lady who lived her faith! When you said that you found out you were not the only one to receive bday greetings each year, I could picture her doing so many Jesus ways in secret. Isn't that how it's supposed to be done. To have the left hand not know what the right hand is doing. I don't know her but it's like I could picture the Lord telling her "My faithful servant"...May I be reminded to always have a humble and servant heart. Thank you for this sister Mary. She is an inspiration but so are you too!!! Love and prayers always :) God bless and strengthen you.
ReplyDeleteLove and prayers for you, friend, as well as we navigate through this faith journey!
DeleteWell this just made me cheer out loud and shed a tear. WOW! What a lovely, prayer warrior and servant of God. Hugs and blessings, Cindy
ReplyDelete