T’was the night before Christmas, 1921. A young man with little insight looked into a crib and gazed upon two new faces God had created — one male, one female. If he could have only seen what one of them would grow into, he could not have helped “well up” with pride for the way she would better those she touched with her life. However, within a few years he was gone, never to be seen again. It’s sad when you think about how many others will make the same mistake and miss the most valuable experience of a lifetime.

It’s good to know the rest of us saw her character, contributions, convictions, and drive as she laid out a life path for us to see. The path often seemed too narrow, but somehow it always accomplished the task and helped us formulate our foundation for framing future tasks. I shudder to think of what it must be like to not have those points of reference and direction to face life’s challenges that we had with both parents. Perhaps that is why life seemed simple even though we were without many worldly goods.

It took me years to understand the abilities, potential, and drive the Lord had given my mom. She was patient while the three of us grew up. She served as my sister’s Girl Scout leader. She would attend our summer camps when asked by the church and serve as a camp counselor. She was always involved with some sort of ministry while we were in school and took part in any PTA events she could. But what dad always smiled about was the fact that she always had dinner on the table at 5:30 and greeted him at the door with a smile and a kiss. Wow, supermom or better even the Proverbs 31 woman.

But, when we were gone, God turned her loose. As valedictorian of her college class she made us proud. Then my classmates would call me and tell me of her angelic-like presence when assisting in the delivery of their children. She amazed us all when she left nursing for a while to start a Christian school that became the city’s largest and most respected. We were all astounded when she returned to nursing in the cancer ward, rather than relax into a comfortable position she had created. Then she blew us away as she became the founding nurse of Hospice and committed her life to ensuring people saw God before they left this world. I cannot count the times I have tried to comprehend the depth of love she had for others as she suffered through each of their deaths. I could hardly deal with her recounting of the events she faced, much less understand her gifting.

When I think about what her dad missed, it saddens me. Yet, perhaps it was the loss she experienced that made her loving to so many people in her lifetime. I knew when she entered hospice that there was no way to completely thank her or communicate my utter appreciation for the lesson of her life. She left life in the same way she lived it — not wanting to go, but greeting the angels when they arrived to take her. What I am grateful for is that she gave our whole family a picture of what agape love was all about. She gave us a pattern to follow. She showed me how to love at a depth I can only hope to achieve. I can only pray that you, my children will have enough memory of her for her to serve as the family’s matriarch and guidepost as you work out your own salvation. Servanthood and self-sacrifice for others is something that is rare — even more so, on a day-to-day basis. I wish you could have seen what God allowed me to see for over 55 years.

Love, Dad