WRITEON FOR DEC 5
sister alies.
Talk for Lynn's funeral 4jan 19
Paul tells us in Ep2:10 that we are God's works of art. God's workmanship, God's masterpiece, and our salvation lies in God's creative work within us and so we must never treat ourselves or others with disrespect or as inferior work.
When I think over my friend Lynn's life as I knew it, the analogy of cross stitching, an art form she loved, seemed worth exploring. The simple equipment needed for a cross stitcher includes fabric and thread, scissors and magnifiers, lamps and charts. By the time the stitcher has moved from beginner to a more mature style s/he will have chosen the best design many times over. The equipment of a life in God is no different...we are to some extent the blank fabric spread out before God and our world and these tools become our way of enabling God to create a most beautiful work of art.
Most of our lives are incomplete...and they are never complete until God is at the center. It is from the middle that the stitcher begins so as to insure that the design will be centered. One finds the middle by following the arrows or counting the stitches...lft to rt, top to bottom. You would know for sure that our Lynn needed almost no directions when an invitation came to: “wanna go?” Even if someone else was following those arrows she was more than happy to accompany...just ask Janet or Beth who traveled up and down in joy with Lynn. Just as the stitcher has to decide which direction to count/diagonally,vertically, or horizontally across the pattern /serious mistakes can be made just by staring at too much blank fabric. Because Lynn lived in the 'now', because she rendered the next activity of the day, be it cards (and she won frequently),dominoes,trips, church/choir,GIRLFRIENDS, or her sweet pursuit of the fishes of the deep(her record 3lb Choctaw Lake catch)...her direction was forward...let's gittum! Now if you were a blackbird or crow you needn't look for a friend in Lynn. Her BB gun out, you might fall...or in her latter months...a pop, pop, pop of a finger pistol reminded you of her dislike.
Across the pattern the stitch, indeed our God, is woven brilliant metallic threads for just that bling or using floss, perl or silk threads to express some portion of the piece. Perhaps those threads are not unlike a sense of humor, a sense of belonging, or a sense of being cherished, showed off the radiance in sparkling eyes and a gentle smile. God shone through and put that bling on everyone she met, including doctors and nurses who supported her difficult journey. Some bling was certainly experienced when in the Rio Grande Valley with Nita and Jack she was in the front row at a Will Yancy performance of 'love me tender'. He saw that sparkle and came over and on bended knee sang to her. When he finished she arose, turned to face the audience, took off her heavy coat and loudly proclaimed: 'boy, it got hot in here!'
It is important that the gold plated needles are blunt so as to part threads of fabric rather than piercing the material. One wants to avoid splitting the fibers being stitched. Blunt for Lynn was being herself. One was never absolutely sure what she'd say or do, but it usually was pleasant and appealing. Unless you were at Leigh Mall that Christmas when she approached the pianist and requested “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”. Blunt.
Lynn, not unlike most pieces of cross stitch, was stretched, framed and is now finished. The needle has been brought up from the wrong side and no matter which of the five basic stitches she used, a work of beauty emerged. Jack and Doug were sure they were the wrong side guys, born just to irritate her. Usually, however, whatever they did or said, ended up in laughter and hugging and loving ever more deeply. Gwen her twin and she both were insistent upon their names...I am Lynn (not Cynthia), I am Gwen not Sylvia!
According to cross stitch lingo she is no longer a WIP (work in progress) nor will she have to FROG (remove mistaken stitches...rip it, rip it...) any longer. Her hoops are laid to rest with any UFOs (unfinished objects) and ORT (old ratty threads) can be passed on. The border has been added, the underneath threads tied off with simple knots, and the threads have been cut. The back is as beautiful as the front. The piece has been washed with soap and water and air dried...and today we present her to our God with gratitude.
For Dan and Brenda in particular the darkness will bear the Spirit of God who broods over the waters of death yet has the power to work resurrection. Our dispositions have been formed by pain and love and you have been great lovers. Each person is unique because God is infinitely varied. You taught her that the Christian project is simply to learn to love as that is the reason we were created. In giving to us, God made her and you able to receive. You will hear her calling in the night and like always you will gladly respond. But soon you will begin to remember that she has passed into the fullness of God's beauty, and one day you will rejoice. She has born her cross and she rejoices in you. A correct counting affects the size of the cross-stitched piece and our little sister has gone to God with a very large heart full of love. When Jesus leaned over and whispered, “hey, Lynn, wanna go?” on New Years Day morn, Lynn didn’t think twice. TY Lynn for loving us and making us a part of God’s beautiful masterpiece of you! We'll miss you deeply.
[sister alies, jan 4,2019]
A Thought For Today
Stand fast therefore in the liberty where with Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (Gal. 5:1)
To be in bondage or stony to any one is greivious. Since Jesus Christ has made us free don't go back into the things you were delivered from. Such as old habits, things we used to say, places we used to go, those things will tire you down again.
Jesus Christ wants us to be free to serve Him. John 8:32 says ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.
Miss Ernestine Kennedy
