I have put this stole on today for two reasons.
First, and foremost, it's a sign of respect for Mary Alice.
Second, it's because I want to remind you all that when I step behind a pulpit I am no longer merely your husband, your father, your brother-in-law, your uncle, or your friend. When I step behind a pulpit I assume the responsibility to do my very best to speak to you the word of God. To speak the words that my heart earnestly feels God has laid upon me. Today, I also wish to speak to you the words that I feel Mary Alice would like for you all to remember... and to... in your best efforts... live up to.
As I stand behind this pulpit I'm reminded that though I have spent many a Sunday morning here in these pews... always sitting right over there, with Gail and Mary Alice, and for so many years right behind Bud Darden and his wife Mary... and their son Scott... so many Sundays, but I don't believe I've ever delivered a message here in this Sanctuary. Here in this Sanctuary that meant so very much to Mary Alice. Mary was a member of this congregation for over 60 years, she joined the Church in 1959 and I do believe I'm correct in stating that she is Sunset Hills longest member, as I believe the Church was founded only a few months before Mary and Jack joined.
The first time Mary Alice walked through those doors and into this Sanctuary, she was a beautiful young woman, with a young son following behind her, a little toddler daughter beside her, and a baby girl in her arms. That baby girl, I am honored to call my wife today.
In this Sanctuary that Mary Alice loved so much, and which was so foundational to her faith in our Lord, in this Sanctuary, Mary Alice raised her children, through a multitude of Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible Schools, she watched her children be baptized in this Baptistery, she saw her son-in-law... chief among sinners re-baptized and re-dedicated to God, she saw her Grandson Creath, and her Granddaughter Maddie baptized as well. She smiled at the weddings of her two daughters Nancy and Gail... and she wept at the funeral of her Grandson Wyatt.
Here in this room, she was blessed to hear countless sermons given by the unparalleled preacher, Reverend Palmer Swenson. Perhaps in a far corner of this room if you listen quietly... you just might still hear the reverberations of Palmer's powerful voice, delivering what you absolutely assuredly believed... and knew, was the word of God.
These four walls... this building that meant so much to Mary Alice... At funerals, it is often stated how someone was a wonderful woman, a remarkable woman, or an exceptional woman... but I can honestly tell you today... that Mary Alice was an exceptionally, remarkable, wonderful woman... and each of us was smiled upon by God Himself to have been blessed to know her. To see her life and it's quiet witness to us all.
It's been mentioned that Mary Alice had such a wonderful and genuine smile. I hope that you all will always remember her smile and her joy-filled spirit. You know it's easy to smile with your mouth... it's easy to fake a smile with your mouth alone... it's nearly impossible to fake a smile that sparkles and dances in your eyes. Mary's eyes sparkled and danced when she smiled... I even saw it there the last time I saw her smile... after Gail kissed her on her forehead.
I am going to apologize and confess to most of you here today, that much of the rest of what I am going to say is directed somewhat to Mary Alice's children but most especially to her grandchildren. But... I pray that these words might bless the rest of you as well. I suspect they will... as you see that's what Mary Alice's life was to those lucky enough to know her... a blessing.
As I mentioned, Mary Alice's was a quiet witness... but a powerful witness if you stop and realize... and recognize...
Grandchildren... there is something that I know in my heart... that your beautiful Grandmother wants you to know... and to remember. It's something that her quiet, gentle, and humble soul may have left a bit too quiet... too gentle... too humble...
As we all know your grandmother had such a genuine, lovely, wonderful smile... but you need to know that your beautiful grandmother chose to smile... she chose to be happy, she chose to project joy into this world... but she could have very easily chosen an entirely different path. Your lovely grandmother... who you should always remember smiling... that big grin and those sparkling eyes... she had every earthly right to frown.
Her mother died when she was very young, and she was farmed out to relatives who mostly felt she was a burden... it was, after all, the great depression, and there wasn't enough for their own children much less another mouth to feed. Feeling unwanted and unloved especially at such an extremely young age... generally produces the most angry and resentful of human beings... but Mary Alice lit up God's world with her wonderful smile... and those sparkling eyes.
You might not know, or you might have forgotten that she always had trouble with her teeth, possibly from lack of proper dental care or poor nutrition as a small child, but mainly due to genetics. Mary Alice had to get dentures at a far too young of an age. Dental problems and dental pain can absolutely sully the most radiant of demeanor, and your grandmother had every earthly reason to be cranky and to hide her teeth... but she just kept lighting up God's world with that wonderful smile... and those sparkling eyes.
She also lost much of her hearing while she was still young... and I know that you all knew she was extremely hard of hearing... but I doubt you realize how long it had gone on... and possibly to what degree she struggled with hearing loss. She read lips and she was pretty good at guessing. The older I get the more I understand... how not being able to hear everything can make one irritable. But Mary Alice didn't let on... though she had every earthly reason to disengage and withdraw... she just kept lighting up God's world with that wonderful smile... and those sparkling eyes.
The love of Mary Alice's life... betrayed her, deserted her, and broke her heart... she had every earthly right to become the most bitter and angry woman of all time... but she kept on lighting up God's world with that wonderful smile... and those sparkling eyes.
I believe and I pray that all of you grandchildren remember how active, vibrant, and vital your Grandmother was prior to her first stroke. Though that stroke, that she suffered fifteen years ago... seriously inhibited her activity level, it couldn't diminish her vibrancy and vitality. I remember flying to Atlanta to pick Mary Alice up from the 'southern Englemans'. She was there in her wheelchair, nothing like she'd been when she left Omaha... for in an instant her whole life had changed... drastically... and even though it wasn't quite as big and as grand as usual... she looked at me, and she still lit up God's world with that wonderful smile... and those sparkling eyes.
On that flight back to Omaha she told me that I was her Knight in Shiny Armor, her hero... but I think we all know who the real hero was and is. It will always be Mary Alice and the way she witnessed to us all... lighting up God's world with that wonderful smile... and those sparkling eyes.
Through stroke after stroke... through time after time after time in the nursing homes and all the rounds of rehabilitation... she always bounced back, she always fought back, she always got home... and she always kept on lighting up God's world with that wonderful smile... and those sparkling eyes.
Though each bout slowly robbed more and more activity and slowly even drained away her vitality and vibrancy... it never, not even up to the very end... kept her from lighting up God's world with that wonderful smile... and those sparkling eyes.
May you all... remember always... how Mary kept smiling right up to the end of her earthly life. Realize and recognize her witness of how to confront and overcome all adversity... how to always smile... no matter what the world throws against you.
Mary Alice was able to smile so wonderfully... so genuinely... because she knew that in spite of earthly disappointments and discomforts... illness and tragedy... there was... is... and always will be... a God that loves her, a God that loves you, and who loves me.
Through difficulty, disappointment, disloyalty, and decline... Mary's faith kept that smile on her face... and that sparkle in her eyes. Though she wasn't one to vocally witness about her love for Christ, she lived her whole life... as a witness of the love of Christ.
Some of you have been disappointed by God, or even feel angry with God... but I assure you that those who've disappointed or angered you were human beings. Neither Paul, nor I, nor any other minister or believer can perfectly reflect God into this world. If you place your faith in humans you'll always be let down... but if you like Mary Alice... put your faith in Christ... you'll be able to find a reason to smile no matter what the world brings about and against you..
I firmly believe that Mary Alice would like each of you to honor her memory... to remember her love for you all... by embracing her love for God... a God that allowed her to have such a wonderful... beautiful... radiant smile in spite of and through it all.
God bless you Mary Alice and thank you for loving God and for loving each of us. I thank God for giving you to us to know and love on this earthly journey. And I thank God for the witness of your life.
My personal 'catchphrase' is “be a blessing to someone today”... Mary Alice was a blessing to everyone she encountered... every single day.
Today, I know without a doubt that Mary is lighting up the golden streets of Heaven with that beautiful smile that she used so wonderfully to light up our world. That smile that can and will still light up each of your memories of her. Our world is just a little bit darker now... but Heaven shines just a bit more brightly.
Praise be to God...
