A Tribute to Two Godly Women and How Their Lives Touched Mine.

Two lovely, godly women passed away this week.

First, Edith Schaeffer. She is truly one of the most inspiring women of my lifetime. Although imperfect, I loved her creative, others-focused life. I love that she created beauty for her children, sewed beautiful clothing, embraced art and music and read aloud to her children daily. Her hospitality and stranger love was jaw-dropping. She was intellectually an equal to her husband, Francis,  and not just some simple Christian woman. She found things out for herself and defended the faith during an era where women were just content to be told what to do and think. Her love for beauty in art, music, and decorating was contagious. Her wonderful writings are a gift to those of us younger women. Her love for all things “home-y” and beautiful make her a kindred spirit.

Her wayward son Frank wrote this loving tribute here. Just goes to prove that a mother’s influence continues after her death.

The second is Julie Herbster. Although I’d met her, Peter and I knew her husband Matt better than her from our many trips to the Wilds of NC over the years.

Julie’s memorial service is a wonderful tribute to a godly mother who served her five children, home schooled them, helped them with their music lessons, did gardening and other family projects together with them and just plain thrived living out her God-given role. Peter and I watched her memorial service last night. Although she was a couple of years younger than I am, I learned that Julie and I had many similarities: we both shared a love for godly Christian books and thrived on discussing them, love one-on-one conversations with friends, laughing until we cry, and desiring to be behind the scenes instead of “up front” in ministry. I also appreciated hearing that Julie never sought the spotlight, found herself in a very public ministry, but she would have faithfully served in obscurity if that is where God had placed her. THAT is my kind of woman! Faithful, submissive, meek.

What can you learn from the death of a saint?

1. Life is a vapor.
2. Spending time and energy on things that don’t matter is foolish. Only what’s done for Christ will last. All else is hay, wood, stubble.
3. Today may be the last day we have to do good. Nothing is guaranteed.
4. Eternity is forever. Be prepared now for where you’ll spend your forever. God is not going to force himself on you. If you choose to live w/o God in life, he’ll honor your wishes in death as well.

When you live for Jesus Christ and faithfully serve Him, your life is never in vain. It’s lived for something “higher.” It has a multi-generational outlook, one that says, “See, my life pointed to someone more glorious than myself. Follow Him!”

Whatever you are doing today, make sure you are doing life God’s way and according to His will. (Matthew 7: 21) Live life for his glory and for the love of those you are called to serve. Do not withhold love from those around you. Don’t waste time. Time is shorter than we think.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.” Psalm 116:15

“I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies”  John 11:25