Rita Roberts Funeral
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She Loved Well
She Loved Well
Good afternoon, everyone. I was able to know Rita for the past 9 months. It was toward the end of her life, and toward the end of her battle with dementia. But you know, the thing about Rita is that I was never able to define her by this disease. Her attitude, love, and genuine care were pieces of her personality that shone through and just never went away.
At her funeral, we shared and heard stories of how this woman of God chose to use her time caring for others. Whether it was taking a dessert to the church staff, or adopting a nephew-in-law straight into the family, Rita was characterized by the love of Christ that resided within her heart. She had a beautiful soul. She loved well.
Because of Ms. Rita’s life, I am reminded of this scripture from Proverbs 31:
An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Rita was a woman who made her fear of the Lord known. She trusted Christ, and in this trust, she sought to live a life of faithfulness. Because of this, her reward in Heaven must be great.
I suspect that Rita is already waiting for us, anticipating the moment when her believing friends and family arrive into God’s presence. She lacks nothing, but I’m sure she’ll want to welcome us with some form of dessert when we enter into God’s presence.
Here her body lays, but with Christ, her soul gives praise.
I do know that as a believer, and in the very presence of God, Rita would want all who are present to know about the goodness of her God Whom she is worshiping, and the salvation He offers.
Loved ones, today, Rita would want you to know that the only way you will be able to escape the consequence of sin, which is eternal death, is to believe on the Christ she worshiped in life, and now worships for eternity.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
This Christ is the Son of God, Who gave His life, that all people may have the opportunity to repent of sin and trust in Christ for salvation. In doing this, we receive the free gift of salvation, never again having to be held accountable for sin. Instead, God gives us a new heart and a new life. We are changed at the moment of salvation. Rita was changed from the moment she placed her faith in Jesus Christ.
She became the loving servant of Christ you knew her to be.
You know, often in death, it’s found that people will begin to take on some of the characteristics of the deceased as they continue on through life. It’s a part of the grieving process for some folks. I’d encourage you, if you are to take anything from the life of Rita Roberts… Take the example of her love for Christ, His church, and for others.
Though her sickness may have clouded much. It could not cloud her love for Christ. It could not cloud her love for others. It could not take away her beautiful soul, and it could not take the Holy Spirit from her.
Be at rest, O Servant of the Lord. Take heart, you who are left behind. Look forward to the Day when Christ returns, and you shall be reunited, granted that your trust is in Christ for salvation.
I’d like to close by reading Psalm 23, but if you have questions about following the Lord, I’m available afterward.
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.