My mom's legacy

But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.

-Philippians 2:17 (NLT)

My mom passed away on Monday, January 20th at 2:17 in the afternoon.

The most important thing that my mom did in her life was to lead us to Christ.  She was a "come and see" person, like Philip in the Gospel of John:

The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

-John 1:43-46

When my dad proposed marriage to my mom, one condition of her "yes" was that he would take her to church and when their children came, they would also be raised in the church.  Because of that, my dad became a believer and so did my brother and I.  "Come and see," my mom said to us.

For many years in the 1980's, 1990's and 2000's, at Eastertime, my mom would invite friends to The Pageant of Our Lord at her church, that presented the gospel through art and drama.  "Come and see," my mom said to all her friends.

My mom had a second marriage with Jack Reider.  During their courtship, my mom took him to church each weekend and Jack heard the gospel and became a believer.  "Come and see," my mom said to Jack, and he did and got saved.

My mom was an inviter and includer.  She had many friends and belonged to many organizations, but her most important accomplishment was leading her family and friends to Christ.

(The photo above is mom's last time at church in December 2023)