Morning Has Broken

Yesterday was a hard day for me. It was also a very convicting day...a day when I took the time to look at my own life and evaluate myself as a sister, a wife, a mother, and grandmother. I looked at myself and saw so many areas where I could be better. My examination began when I attended the funeral for a woman I have grown to love and appreciate over the past 15 years during our time at Sunset. The "Morris Mob" came to Sunset when it was still Sunset School of Preaching in 1993. Very early on we made it a point to meet Elaine and Richard Walker because during our time as an Air Force family we met the Walker's oldest daughter, Sheryl, and her family in Germany. We worshiped with the Kaiserslautern Church of Christ from June 1985 to June 1988. At that time Tom and Sheryl were working with the Bitburg Church of Christ, where Tom was the preacher. Germany was a uniquely, different and wonderfully family oriented world for the Church. Church Family became "closer than a brother"  type family. Because most of the congregations were so small, sister congregations all over Germany did alot of things together for encouragement and fellowship. Our kids did youth rallies together, attended the one church camp every summer together, and the majority of us attended the European Retreat in Berchtesgaden, Germany, at the end of November every year together. The retreat was like a family reunion and the closest thing to heaven on this earth for us. The Black's two girls and three of our four girls all competed against each other every year at the annual Bible Bowl during this time. We became friends and have stayed in touch ever since. We have supported each other through all kinds of moves and prayed for each other in many life changing situations. Elaine and Richard became more than just casual friends to our family of 6. They knew when each of the girls married and had children and stayed in touch even after we had all left Sunset for other congregation. Elaine could probably have told you where each of our four girls live today even though they have at one time been scattered all over the world, and we sometimes have to stop and remember where each one lives. They were prayer partners who made the effort to know what was going on in each of our lives. Elaine reached out to everyone of our girls and not only remembered their names, she knew which one was which. She was a very special friend and mentor.

Yesterday family and friends celebrated the life of Elaine Walker. What a inspirational celebration. She was a godly woman who touched people all over the world. When I came back to work from the funeral, I was having a hard time concerntrating on doing anything that was even remotely job-related. I decided to read a few of the blogs that I keep up with at different times here in the Translation Center. I found the following words on-line:

"Yesterday I spoke at the funeral of one of our members, who died at the age of 92. He'd been there on D-Day, June 6. Omaha Beach. There are certain moments you experience only from the perspective the minister has. His wife of 72 years walked by the casket after everyone had left the sanctuary, patted him on the hand, and said, "I'll see you later, Sweetheart." His title for the blog was "Morning Has Broken."

That was exactly what I needed to see to bring a smile to my face and hope to my heart. That is what a Christian marriage is all about. That is what our Christian lives need to testify to. That is the kind of testimony that gives every Christian HOPE. That is the kind of testimony that assures us that "we do not grieve as the world grieves." That is why when a Christian dies there is a "peace that passes all understanding." Thank you, Father, for the example of men and women like Richard and Eliane Walker. She is HOME! And I know that he now will look forward to the day when he can join her. Thank you, Elaine, for touching my life. Thank for loving our Morris Mob. I will see you later!