Peggy Williams (My Mom) – A Life Well Lived
Continuing with the different direction from last week as God continues to move us in a different direction.
My Mom entered hospice last Friday afternoon (9/3/21) and then the waiting game started for the arrival of my brother from LA and his son from Utah on Saturday for all of us to be together with her.
Once they arrived we gathered around her bed and sang some of her favorite hymns and she wanted a family picture. I write this with tears because God saw fit to bless me with the most incredible Mom (and Dad) and it is not easy to let her go.
Even more so I want all of you to know that she has been such a tremendous blessing to every family member and friend that came to see her! Why?
Because she is preparing to go be with her Savior and Lord and see her Heavenly Father and all her family and friends that have gone before her…she knows that with a deep abiding faith that is overriding every worry and fear!
She was and is an incredible blessing to us even in her final days and hours and beyond! The peace, joy and contentment in The Love of Her Lord displayed in her heart and on her face were amazing!
My brother, my sister and I rise up (as well as her grandchildren) and call her blessed and my Dad praises her (Proverbs 31:28-31). I (we) love her dearly.
Whatever I am today…my marriage, family, children and faith is because The Lord blessed me with her! My brother, sister and nephew are blessed. My children are blessed because of her and their children will be blessed as well to a thousand generations! (Deuteronomy 7:9)
“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
I read this poem when I officiated a friend’s funeral service recently and thought it was appropriate to help encourage all of us…
GOD KNOWS BEST
“And though beyond understanding,
May this set your heart at rest,
That somewhere in all His goodness,
Our Loving God knows best.”
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
If you do not know Christ as Savior and Lord, please consider submitting your life to Him as every other submission in this life is a HEAVY yoke but His teaching and authority is in Love making His yoke easy and His burden light (Matthew 11:28-30).
What burdens are you carrying today that you need to cast on Him? Humble yourself before Him recognizing who you are apart from Him and know you need Him…or who you are in Him and cast all on Him (1 Peter 5:6-7)!
He’s already done away with sin, death and hell for all who believe in Him and He wants to do the same for you.
My precious Mother went Home to be with her Savior and Lord on Tuesday morning (9/7/21). I have to reiterate this because while she was a world-class worrier especially in the last few years with all her illness and pain, by the grace of God, the last few days she laid down all fear, anxiety and worry and let her deep abiding faith and hope in Christ see her through.
It was and incredible blessed to see her continuing to share her faith with her grandchildren and everyone she spoke with through tears and laughter.
This is the faith that I always knew she had, that we talked about constantly, and that she wanted everyone to know.
You can’t have that kind of faith and joy when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4) unless you truly know Christ as Savior and Lord.
I want to share two stories about my Mom…one in her life and the other in her death…
I speak, teach and preach at numerous churches. After speaking at one church I had a couple approach me and asked if my Mom was Peggy Williams. I replied that she was and they said, “We thought so.”
They shared their names and I remembered them as a couple of young kids that wreaked havoc on my Mom’s bus (she and my Dad drove a school bus in Harrison County, KY, for over 20 and 28 years, respectively) and gave her problems almost every day. However, just as she did with her children, she stood firm in loving discipline and punishment because she knew it was what was needed to help children grow up. She saw that as far more important than just driving a school bus.
With tears in their eyes, they looked at me and said, “Please tell your Mom thank you. If it wasn’t for her neither of us would know Jesus. Now we both do and your Mom is the main reason.”
God uses anyone who is willing and my faith has been strengthened many times by testimonies from others as to the eternal impact of my Mom (and Dad) in their lives and for their Eternity in Christ! (John 3:16)
That was my Mom and that’s exactly what she, and I, want for every one. I pray that you know Jesus as your Savior and Lord and will join her and all those who will gather someday in the presence of our faithful and loving God.
The second story I share was in her death…she likely knew this before we did because she can now see what we can only imagine…her best friend in Indiana, Kaye Cutshall, entered into Eternity with Jesus less than 24 hours after she did. Kaye’s son, John R. Cutshall (Johnny Bob as we affectionately called him) messaged me on Wednesday morning (9/8/21), “My mom left this world and entered into her eternal home this morning. I can’t imagine the celebration our moms are having. I’d love to have a view of that.” All I can say is, “AMEN!” Wouldn’t we all?
I’ve been simply resting in My Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, as I reflect on her death. Throughout her life my Mom taught me how to love sacrificially with a huge heart for her Lord, her family and for others. (John 13:34; 14:15)
In her final days, by God’s grace and her deep abiding faith, she chose to look up and point everyone to Jesus. Her fears and worries were all laid down (1 Peter 5:7) Friday morning and she spent 3 days blessing every one who saw her.
Thanks for your prayers and I pray that you know Jesus as Savior and Lord so you can experience the same joy, hope, peace and love that our family, and the Cutshalls, are enjoying even as we grieve through tears. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
Thank you, Mother, for a life well lived and an incredible legacy of faith in Jesus!
Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Repeating from last week’s newsletter…I pray this encourages each and every reader that no matter what you are facing, there is a Hope and that Hope is Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)
Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) –
- Read the Scriptures in this article and ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
- What are you facing now that you need the Hope of Jesus?
- Find someone you can encourage and comfort in the Hope of Jesus?