“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks”- Matthew 5-33 and 34.
“From out of the Heart, the Mouth Speaks”-
DEVOTION
When I think of you in every way these thirty five years since I married into your family, it is this that best sums you up. DEVOTION. To Dad, to your whole family, to your teams, to the United States of America, to God and His Commandments- this is plain and simple- how you lived. But this is more than just “out of duty” - rather devotion must come out of the heart.
Your devotion was displayed in action- the constant work of your hands- from the dozens of personally created cross stitched masterpiece- even with carpal tunnel syndrome and eyes that failed- to the annual putting up of applesauce and blueberries, to the dependable baked beans at every lake gathering, the corn casseroles at countless family meals. You always showed up. When we were first married, each time we moved into yet another fixer upper, there you and Dad were, toolbox and paintbrush in hand, eager to approach what to me might be overwhelming-as a “project”. “Oh, isn’t this fun?” you would smile, as you systematically scraped six layers of paint off pathetically closed, old window frames, disregarding the August heat. But then, you would still somehow get to the (truly) thousands of basketball games, baseball games, football games that the boys would play in. Whether it was Little League or AAU or high school varsity, or college- you sat by my side on the bleachers not missing a play. You knew the players, their performance, their parents, and you remembered all of it! MANY know you as that devoted fan. And the boys knew you were there.Memories of how you stood beside me through all sorts of projects and meal fixings, and you sat beside me on a thousand bleachers, and the porch on the lake, and on our church pew, where your devoted heart would weekly flood, then brim with tears as music resonated deep in your beautiful soul. I will deeply miss sharing these Sunday mornings with you.
How blessed we all have been by your devotion, Mom. But, every single time I tried to thank you for the countless ways you showed this by your efforts, you would always say “The only way you can thank ME is to do just do this for your family”.
You stood by us and you sat by us these decades. Then, just two and a half long –but somehow very short weeks ago, we had the precious privilege of sitting and standing by your side as you slipped from this shore to Heaven’s, willing to exchange Dad’s devoted hand to the welcoming arms of our Christ.
Thank you, Mom. We will try to pass it forward. And will always remember to use the backboard!
Love, Leslie
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