Let there be peace

Sister Pansy was a dear sister in the church we attend who passed away in 2007. She was just barely old enough to have been my mother or my husband's mother and treated us as such after ours passed away. We loved her so dearly.

She loved coming by our house and chatting with us, always in a hurry to get some place else, yet always distracted by the sharing of love between us through our memories or her memories. We always felt better after having been with her. She would give advice if needed but so lovingly. She never found fault with people who were doing the best they could and was always ready to forgive and move on. She was one of the most generous people with her time, her provisions and her ability to make one feel better about themselves whenever she sensed the need. I will never forget her as long as I stay in my right mind. She was one of the smartest and greatest people I have known. She had wisdom and charity like none other. She had a tenderness that anyone could see. She possessed the willingness to help no matter the circumstance, and she had a sense of humor that could tickle anyone's funnybone.

She would come to my house and because she knew I loved to write, she would recite things to me that she had written down in her mind and her heart although not on paper and so many times I would encourage her to write them down. I gave her a journal once and told her to write anything she wanted to keep in it, I hope she did get to write a few things down. She could remember the songs and poetry verbatim at a moment's notice and loved it when she was asked to recite them.

She loved little children and would often play with them for a few minutes when in their presence. She loved flowers, ginsenging, canning vegetables and berries. Pansy loved God and her church most of all and was devoted to the building up of God's kingdom. She was so special to me and a most precious servant of Jesus Christ to any of His children. Whether she was getting something for someone in church like water or cough drop or a fan she did it out of love. Whether she was putting out her famous and most delicious pickles at our church or uncovering Jake's steaks, the cube steaks she was so proud to make for church along with her husband she did it with a smile and a chuckle as she would tell some little story so often as she worked. We miss her so bad and the love she brought to our church. It is hard to live without her in our lives, but she needed rest and and God provided her need out of His Mercy and His Goodness.

In the past few days she has been on my mind so much because I know how hurt she would have been to see her "somewhat adopted son and daughter" go through the trials they have gone through lately. You could always feel when she shared in someone's pain. I can see her so plainly as if she was sitting at my kitchen table talking with me or reciting one of her songs. Shortly before she died I put together a little songbook and asked her if I could use a couple of her songs in it. I can't tell you how excited she was to give them to me over the phone once more as I wrote them down. She lived long enough to see the songbook and was so very happy to think someone had actually put her songs where someone else could use them. Looking back I think maybe through me God granted this to take place for her and often think that was the sole purpose of the little book although very few knows that. I am so fortunate to have those songs and the past few days one of them has gone over in my head over and over just as I remember her singing it in church with the vision of her in my mind and the blessings that would engulf her as she sang with all her heart these words:

Chorus:
Let there be peace in the camps of Old Israel. Let there be joy for the children of God.
Father please give us more laborers in the vineyard to walk in the path your children have trod.

As I travel along this earthly life's journey and I feel the love God's people can share.
When the Lord takes me to the top of the mountain then I feel assured that he'll answer my prayer.

Chorus:Let there be peace in the camps of Old Israel. Let there be joy for the children of God.Father please give us more laborers in the vineyard to walk in the path your children have trod.

When I see mourners strive to enter thy Kingdom, I feel they are asking forgiveness of thee,
Father please lead them and grant their petition, and I believe you will hear them praying with me.

Chorus:Let there be peace in the camps of Old Israel. Let there be joy for the children of God.Father please give us more laborers in the vineyard to walk in the path your children have trod.

As sweet Pansy one of the many flowers in the Master's Bouquet rests atop a high, high mountain, awaiting the day of renewal in His Kingdom, I too want to ask for peace in the camps of our people and in their hearts as we begin this new year. Not only do I pray for the peace in these camps but also in the physical camps of Old Israel as that country is much turmoil right right. Father let there be peace if possible with all your children the whole world over.