To the best Mom in the whole wide world … I love YOU!!!

Today is the day. Six years ago on December 21, 2006. It was a Thursday. And my mother died that day.  Her physical body may have died. But the HOPE that she was given years before her death … that HOPE that is only found in our Lord and Savior, JESUS CHRIST, that HOPE had taken her spirit to be with HIM into eternity. An eternity with our LORD, with our KING, with our SAVIOR, with HIS LOVE that can NEVER EVER be described by human words. She found her REST, she found her PEACE, she found HIM there waiting with open arms … extended and then wrapped tightly around her. Forever holding onto her like she could have never known here on this planet Earth.

On the Sunday after her death was Christmas Eve. My mother’s funeral service was in the early afternoon and so, there, at Canby Lutheran Church, I spoke these words that our Lord had given to me that morning:

THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN

Proverbs 31: 10 – 31 tells us of a virtuous wife. In verse 10, the Bible states that who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. I believe that when we look at the life of my mother, Winifred Grace Beck, we can see a virtuous wife.

In verse 11, it states that the heart of her husband safely trusts her, so he will have no lack of gain. My father trusted my mother with his household.

In verses 13-15, they read… These verses show that this woman is a hard worker and skillful. This virtuous woman does things she enjoys, finding her joy and fulfillment in varied tasks. This woman gives of herself to care for her family and friends.
Mama was a hard worker and skillful in many areas of her life. She showed me that being a housewife truly plays an important role in the lives of your husband and family. While many women around her were seeking fulfillment in full-time jobs away from their families, she was showing me that to be at home for your family is thee most important fulfillment that a wife and mother can know. She enjoyed keeping her home clean for her husband and family. She enjoyed cooking meals and baking wonderful pies, cakes, and cookies for her family. She enjoyed gardening and harvesting the fruits of her hard work and putting them away for her to use through the winter months. She enjoyed her flower beds and working in them so that they would produce beautiful flowers. She sewed and mended clothing with her own two hands so that we would always have nice clothes to wear. She enjoyed knitting and crocheting sweaters and afghans for her children and grandchildren. And the Christmas before her stroke – over 7 ½ years ago, my mother made an afghan for each one of her grandchildren. Let’s see – that is 11 afghans – each one receiving a gift of love from their Grammy Beck. She also crocheted doilies and tablecloths for a special touch in her home. She enjoyed preparing the Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s meals for our family. Colossians 3:23 tells us: ‘And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men’. And because my mama worked hard and joyfully, she passed on that heritage to her family.

Looking in verses 16-19, they read…These verses show a virtuous woman who buys and sells and builds her own resources. My Mama was a Stanley Home Products dealer for 42 years. She was her own best customer. She used these products in her home to keep our home clean and tidy. She also demonstrated these products in the homes of her friends and family. She enjoyed telling others about these wonderful products. Over the 42 years of service to this job, she was acclaimed as one of the top sales persons many, many, many times. She knew that the Stanley Home Products were profitable for her to use as well as sell to others. Once again, as Colossians 3:23 speaks to us: ‘And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men’. And because she worked hard and joyfully, she passed on that heritage to her family.

Looking in verses 20-22, they read… Since this virtuous woman has provided for her family she is then able to extend the precious gifts that our Lord has given her to others around her. Our Lord gave Mother wonderful musical gifts. Mother enjoyed using these gifts by playing the piano and organ for years and years at both Lightstreet Lutheran Church and Canby Lutheran Church during Sunday School and at times during Church. She enjoyed singing praises to our King Jesus as she was a member of the choir in both congregations. She also enjoyed sharing her special musical gifts with others when Mom and Dad were camping at the Camping Club chapel services or at the campground’s chapel services. Mama also used her gifts of organization to help me begin a Muscular Dystrophy carnival held in Lightstreet. We held a yearly carnival for at least 6 years and my mother continued this ministry even after I left to go to college. Mama also helped every year at the Lightstreet Lutheran church fairstand. She was faithfully there to help setup, waitress, and clean up every day that the stand was open. She would help with meals that the church provided for people that have passed on before her. Mama also helped me to organize a clothing give-away right here in this church. She enjoyed always being there to lend me a helping hand. She had a heart for others and she used the gifts that our Lord gave her to bring Him honor and glory. Again, as Colossians 3:23 speaks to our hearts: ‘And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men’. And because she worked hard and joyfully, she passed that heritage on to her family.

Looking in verse 25, it reads… Mama’s strength came from the Lord. Mama’s honor came from the Lord and she dressed herself in this strength and honor. She made sure that each and every week that she attended church to worship and adore our Lord. She was obedient to the Lord because He states in Exodus 20: 8-9 that we are to ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.’ She ensured that her children also attended church so that we too could fellowship with other believers and worship and praise our Lord. She made sure that we went to Sunday School where we were taught the truths of God’s Holy Word. She took us to Vacation Bible School to be taught as well. Even, during the summer months when we were camping nearly every weekend, she made sure that we attended church. It was important that she herself and her children would know that Jesus is our Savior. She also wanted us to gird ourselves with His strength and honor. She enjoyed worshipping our Lord and wanted that same enjoyment for us, her children. As stated in Proverbs 22:6, ‘ Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.’ And again, as Colossians 3:23 speaks to our hearts: ‘And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men’. And because she worshipped her Lord joyfully, she passed that heritage on to her family.

In verse 27 we read… Mama watched over all of us. She not only took care of her home by working hard, she also took care of her home by showing us how to have fun with each other. She showed us that work is not all there is in this life, that we needed to spend time together as a family and enjoying one another’s company. Nearly every weekend, we would get together in the evening with family or friends. We talked, played games, and enjoyed being together. Mama laughed and took in the sweet aroma of family. Once again, as Colossians 3:23 speaks in our hearts: ‘And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men’. And because she found joy in her family, she passed that heritage on to her loved ones.

In verses 28 –31 we read… I know that I rise up and I call my Mama blessed for all that she has given me. A heritage of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and a heritage of family that can be passed down through generations to come until the return of our Lord and blessed Savior, Jesus Christ.

And, I know that my Mama is with our Lord, Jesus, because she believed that Jesus was the Son of God and she asked Him to be her Savior from her sins. As in John 3:16, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’
I know that my Mama would want to make sure that each and every one of her family and friends were invited to join her in heaven with Jesus and His saints. So, if you have never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and asked Him to be your eternal Savior, I would ask that you do that today. Seek Him and make your reservation in Heaven by asking Him to be your Savior and to forgive you of all your sins. My mother wants to see all of you here one day in heaven with her and to join with her in the reunion of the Saints.

I love you Mama! And, I’ll see you later! With all my love, your daughter, Lori Ann