I’m remembering your face
That last night we spoke
Your ready smile
Kind blue eyes and stark white hair
Your ever present welcome
To one and all
Mostly all…
I’m remembering you at peace in that old recliner
Surrounded by those you loved
Photos spilled from your walls
Many now faded
Of weddings, reunions, gatherings
The more the merrier
A family ever expanding
Your greatest joy
And sometimes sorrow
Those same faces now filled the room
Knowing your time was soon
And every moment seemed to count
Now more than ever
You kissed me when I left
And I know now it was your goodbye
Your bags were packed
But we had time at the station to farewell you
To linger and listen to you one last time
I’m remembering your deep love for ‘the north west’
For mangoes and paw paw
The piercing Pilbara heat
Or the withering Kimberley sun
Was like a welcome mat for you
‘We saw that we were running a Bible college up there’
You’d say again and again (and again)
And you recalled with great fondness
Those people and places where you felt ‘privileged to serve’
And to spend the best years of your life
Those same years
Now remembered by many
As the best years of their lives
I’m remembering your warm words
Snug like a woollen blanket
Many a young pastor felt encouraged
By your genuine and frequent affirmations
Your curiosity at contentious ideas
Your willingness to learn, think, question, change
And sometimes challenge and rebuke
But by then we knew you loved us
You were not out to fix us
Because you were older and knew better
There is One who fixes
And you were happy to trust Him
I’m remembering your love for all
But especially the underdog
With you around the disabled were never an inconvenience
The asylum seeker was never an ‘illegal’
They weren’t friends even…
They were family (and they knew it)
Your love was fierce
Your call for justice, constant
You saw the lost and lonely
You invited them into your life
Without fear or qualification
I’m remembering you ever wondering if ‘that was the Lord?’
You carried a deep awareness of God holding everything together
Somehow dovetailing both local and cosmic events
To create sense of this world
And if we couldn’t make sense
Then He could
And that was all you needed
I couldn’t share your supreme confidence
My ever skeptical mind had way too many questions
But when Jesus spoke of childlike faith
I wonder if it was you he had in mind?
I’m remembering your advice to a young pastor
Seeking to live as a missionary
Wanting to change the world
With innovation, creativity and endless reserves of energy
I asked what you would do
If you were me…
Entering a new community…
Seeking to be the presence of Jesus?…
You pondered briefly then
Gave a bewildering response
‘I’d just live my ordinary life’
I was underwhelmed and bemused
A little sad that you had so little insight
But twenty years later
Those words have become rich with meaning
Pregnant with wisdom
A light to the path of anyone who will listen
If an ‘ordinary life’ firmly earthed in Jesus isn’t enough
Then something is wrong
I’m remembering your prayers for us
We basked in this knowledge
At least one person was always with us
Speaking on our behalf
Early every morning remembering us by name to the Father
Although we disappointed you
At times made fun of you
And complained to one another about you
You loved us
And you prayed for us
You prayed and prayed and prayed
We will never know the outcome of those prayers
Or what is now missed because you are gone
But we will be forever grateful for those prayers
I’m remembering those many weeks in hospital
The constant wondering
Waiting
Hoping
Sensing
Then slowly realising
You aren’t coming out…
Except to sit in your garden one last time
With frangipani and wren
The waft of the sea breeze coming up from the river
And the warmth of the summer sun
As Peter brought you a cup of tea
I’m remembering the way you taught us how to die
Utterly fearless
Curiously inspiring
We watched as you showed us
Faith with substance
Sadness mixed with joy
‘Ive had a good life’
Understated and peaceful
Yet electric with anticipation
Of being face to face
With the One you loved
To know fully
Even as you are fully known
Resurrection awaits
But first there must be death
Our shared hope triumphs over the tears
And we remember you
Beautiful Andrew.
What an amazing lady and what a wonderful tribute to your mother in law. It prompts me to speak encouragement into the lives of people we travel life’s journey with while they are still with us. Thank you Hamo for the love and sincerity of your memories. Be blessed mate