Joy
September 22, 1951 – June 30, 1996
"They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever."(Daniel 12:3)
(Given by Mark, Joy’s husband, at her funeral, Wednesday, July 3, 1996)
I’d like to start where it’s easiest to start – by thanking everyone for your dear support and friendship through all this. And to all the hospital staff – Doctors, Nurses, technicians, maids, everyone: I don’t know if you realize how much each little kindness meant to both Joy & I. Every kind word,each warm hug, each minute of a visit, every short note, each little plant for Christmas, was, as we’ve said, „Heaven’s healing balm for us.“ It was a dark moment in our lives that you all helped make lighter, and that’s not to mention all the prayers we’ve been on the receiving end of, from you and many loved ones, family and missionary co-workers around the world, nor to mention all the sacrificial care and dedication you gave us. We felt rich in blessings.
I wish Dr. J was here to hear this as well. I wrote him a note, thanking him for everything, & in it I mentioned how he made us feel like friends working together as a team, and I mention it here because actually, you all made us feel that way. I pray the Lord will continue to help you all be that same blessing to many others.
The Bible promises that, „The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us!“ – Well, that says a lot , especially considering how deeply she did suffer – so just think of what she’s enjoying now! – It doesn’t „even compare“ – Wow! It also says, "Eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them that love him. "And if anyone deserves that reward, it’s dear sweet Joy.
The verse in the funeral bulletin taken from Proverbs 31, describes her "to a tee": "A virtuous woman...her price is far above rubies. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hand out to the needy...in her tongue is the law of kindness...She looketh well to the ways of her household. Her children arise up and call her blessed; her husband also and he praiseth her. Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a women that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised."
Henry Stanley said of the famous missionary , David Livingstone , that watching the sample of Livingstone’s sympathy for others , his gentleness, his zeal , his earnestness and how he went about his business , was what changed Stanley - although Livingstone „ had not tried to“ – and Joy , like Livingstone with Stanley, won me , helped change me – not through preaching at me , or telling me where I was wrong – but just by the way she lived and by being her sweet self.
I introduced the children to you before, but I would like to point to them again – as living memorials to Joy and not only these here(6), but the five others who couldn’t be here, as well as her four, soon to be five, grandchildren.
(Mark asks Anim [age 7] if she still wants to come up to add something, but Anim is too shy.) Anim told me earlier today what she’d like to say to you all. She said, "I’m glad Mommy’s in Heaven, ‘cuz now she doesn’t have to suffer and also 'cuz all the people in Heaven are glad she’s there too.'"
(Mark asks Nicole [age 13] if she still wants to come up, she does ,but she can’t speak, so she whispers in daddy’s ear what she would like to say . ( Mark relays the following from Nicole) : "I’m glad she’s in Heaven, because she doesn’t have to go through pain, or suffer anymore. I feel privileged to have her for a mommy."
I’d like to close by sharing part of a prayer I prayed this morning while taking some quiet moments. In my prayer, I started speaking directly to Joy:
(Mark Prays) "I love you, Sweetheart. We’re so thankful to have been with you all these years. You’ve helped to change all of our lives. We know you’re still with us and for that we’re all so very grateful.
Looking at the beautiful pictures of your younger years thrills me to think of what you must look like in Heaven right now--beautiful, young and healthy, happy - happy like never before--and free!
"We made it, Honey! We made it up the mountain of this life and especially the mountain of this last year--not an easy one to climb--but we never gave up, the Lord pulled us through. Thank the Lord! I’m so thankful to have been able to fight by your side.
"I believe with all my heart that now that your on the other side, all the pain and suffering you endured will be the faintest memory in your mind. You’ll only remember how Jesus gave you the grace and the love to live for Him on the earth – and all you see is the good fruit of this time in your children and in the souls that you lead to Him and the many hearts and souls that you influenced with your sacrificial love and caring heart and warm, loving spirit.
"Knowing you as well as I do, I know you’re going to be quite busy on the other side helping us and others. I’m sure you’re in for lots of fun and lots of exciting times!
"Honey I and many others will love you forever."
