Anna Bay Funeral

To the family and friends that are gathered today to mourn the loss of Anna Bay, I just want to express my deepest condolences to you during this time. It is in the midst of these times that we face our last enemy, death. Death is not a friend to humanity, but is an enemy that threatens us with the inevitable end of all men and women. Yet, Christians know better. Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ know that death does not have the final say! We stand in the hope of the Lord Jesus Christ and the eternal life He gives when someone leans all their hope on Him.

I thank the Lord that Anna had a saving relationship with Christ Jesus. I thank the Lord for her godly legacy that she left with her children, Angela, Anna, Valerie, Laurie, and my dear friend Tom. I am thankful for the good wife she was to Tom and later to Jack.

As I have learned about Anna over the years and the many Sunday visits that Tom took to see his mom and the conversations that I’ve had with the family over the last few days it becomes very clear to me that Anna is a tremendous reflection of another godly woman in the Bible named Abigail.

Abigail was a woman full of compassion, courage, and tremendous wisdom. As the family said about Anna Bay, she was full of gumption! And like Abigail, Anna’s legacy speaks volumes even after her departure into her Lord’s arms.

1. Abigail’s Godly Character

1 Samuel 25:3 ESV

3 Now the name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. The woman was discerning and beautiful…

Abigail was these things outwardly and inwardly. She was creative, tenacious, and loved the Lord. You all know how big a role music played in the home of Anna. It’s seen today through the Men of Note and her daughters sharing their talents. Yet, the most beautiful part is not the music itself, it’s her love for the Lord!

Tom told me that he distinctly remembers at 8 years old, his mom leading him to trust in Christ. That’s a godly mom! She invested in the things that truly mattered and it shows in the legacy of her children.

It’s proven in her ability to keep an orderly home filled with joy and peace.

Proverbs 31:26 ESV

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Now, Nabal, Abigail’s foolish husband, rejected David’s request to provide some food after David protected Nabal’s flock and shepherds. David was going to destroy Nabal and his entire household when Abigail caught wind of the situation.

1 Samuel 25:18–20 ESV

18 Then Abigail made haste and took two hundred loaves and two skins of wine and five sheep already prepared and five seahs of parched grain and a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. 19 And she said to her young men, “Go on before me; behold, I come after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. 20 And as she rode on the donkey and came down under cover of the mountain, behold, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them.

2. Abigail’s Loving Service

Abigail set to prepare food, hurried to meet David, and served as quickly as she could. She was the embodiment of selfless service. She could have run and left Nabal and the servants, but instead she chose the path of risk and service.

Tom and Anna didn’t have much money and sometimes Tom would buy things they really didn’t need. I heard that he was a woodworker and would sometimes buy a lathe that was “better” than the one he already had. Well he would come in and sit down and take a nap and while he was napping, Anna would get the receipt and any new tools and take them back to the store.

Why? Because she was responsible and loving! She was a tremendous example of running a home well.

I heard another story of her financial prowess where she would go down to Fort Leonard Wood to the grocery store there because the groceries were so much more affordable than at the supermarket. So she once again showed her wisdom and love.

1 Samuel 25:23–31 ESV

23 When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. 24 She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. 25 Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 26 Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, because the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal. 27 And now let this present that your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord. 28 Please forgive the trespass of your servant. For the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the battles of the Lord, and evil shall not be found in you so long as you live. 29 If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your life, the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living in the care of the Lord your God. And the lives of your enemies he shall sling out as from the hollow of a sling. 30 And when the Lord has done to my lord according to all the good that he has spoken concerning you and has appointed you prince over Israel, 31 my lord shall have no cause of grief or pangs of conscience for having shed blood without cause or for my lord working salvation himself. And when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your servant.”

3. Abigail’s Courageous Faith (1 Samuel 25:23–31)

We look here and see that Abigail bowed before David, the anointed king of Israel, took responsibility, and trusted in God’s Plan.

She demonstrated courage by being rooted, firmly in her faith in God and believed that God would bring good through David’s kingship. She demonstrated her faith in a calculated risk.

Anna was just like that. I heard a story about Anna from back in the 1950’s followed her first husband, Tom to England. He received orders to serve there and he wasn’t a high enough rank to have his wife and two young children go with him. So Anna chose to sell a lot of their possessions and try her best to get to England to be with her husband.

Mind you, this is the 1950’s. And she went from Chicago to New York but didn’t have a passport. She had a trunk and two children in tow and had to go to Queens with a cab driver to obtain a passport in order to continue traveling to England to be with her husband.

Can you imagine the tenacity and resourcefulness or a young woman doing that in the 50’s? She made it to England safely with her two little girls.

More than that Anna was faithful to her Savior her whole life. She continued walking faithfully before the Lord and she never forgot Him despite her mind failing in recent years.

But you know, Anna also exemplifies the legacy of a godly mother. It continues on through her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and in all the lives that she touched.

Proverbs 31:28 ESV

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

You see, when it comes to leaving a legacy it’s not about the money, because Anna didn’t have that. It’s not about the position, because it’s not like Anna was a career woman. It’s about loving the Lord and following Him and reaching people for Christ.

Anna is now with her Lord. Money isn’t an issue. Her mind is completely there. Her body is restored and there is no suffering. She is with God in heaven and I think if Anna were here she would want you to know that her life isn’t about her, her life points us to Jesus.

You see it is because of Jesus that we know that there is hope and eternal life. Jesus said

John 11:25 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Anna’s life points us to Jesus. The same Savior who carried her through life and now welcomes her into glory is offered to you. Will you put all your trust in Him? To believe in Christ means that we lean all our hopes on Jesus, not just mentally agree. It is just like the old hymn says “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is shifting sand, all other ground is shifting sand.”

My prayer is that you would remember Anna. Remember her legacy. And call upon the Lord if you do not know him.