Jennie Sytsma's Memorial

Refuge

Jennie took refuge in the Lord. You could simply tell. Her face said it all. She always wore a smile. On a couple of visits, she was sleeping when I arrived, and yes, she smiled in her sleep! Even in sleep she knew the Lord held her.

She entrusted her life to the Lord. She accepted that Jesus willingly died on the cross in her place. He was her fortress, her rock. She committed her spirit to the Lord. He redeemed her, the God of truth redeemed her. She knew he would come for her one day. She wasn’t anxious, she trusted in God’s perfect timing. And God’s timing was perfect. He came for her on a Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent. What a day to meet her Lord!

Throughout her life, the Lord protected her. The Lord protected her and her family during WWII, when her parents harboured a Jewish couple as well as a young pregnant Jewish lady who barely escaped Amsterdam with her life. The Lord kept them all safe, hiding them from the intrigues and schemes of Nazi men.

Jennie’s parents trusted the Lord, doing what they believed was nothing more than their Christian duty. Jennie carried that Christian duty her whole life.

Jennie trusted the Lord and was content. She never complained. She always made the most of every situation. One of my fondest conversations with Jennie took place in the hospital after she broke her femur.

She was nothing like I expected. I expected a 99 year old lady to be tired, weak, incoherent. She was active, talkative and happy! I’m not sure how much the medication was affecting her, well perhaps she was a bit more ‘relaxed’ in her conversation with the male nurse than she would have been ordinarily. I tell you the truth, I’ve seen teenagers with less vim and vigour!

She was always kind. Always ready to handle every situation, always in control.

Her hardness of hearing wasn’t an issue at all. In fact, I think she used it quite well. One visit, I tried having a conversation with her. She told me to get the dry erase board.

So I did. I started writing a few words, and then, she promptly closed her eyes. I got the hint. I read scripture, prayed, and departed!

Jennie trusted the Lord and did good things. She lived in the land and enjoyed the fruit of her labour. She was content. She worked hard in the bakery. She was a trained and gifted seamstress. She crafted all the clothing for her children.

There was another kind of hospitality she possessed. She welcomed people into her life, and made them feel at home. She was a meaningful influence in the life of Alana Oosterhof. Jennie and Alana would hold hands in church. And when Jennie wasn’t strong enough to stand through all the verses of all the songs, Alana sat with her, right up until Jennie couldn’t attend church anymore. Jennie shared her passion for Christ, her trust in God, her assurance of God’s protection and love, with everyone, with Alana.

In this, the Lord made her righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of her cause like the noonday sun. She was a positive influence on everyone.

Through her children, the Lord continues to work!

From the Lord’s hand they received blessing. They came to Canada, dwelled in the land and received the Lord’s blessings. They worked hard.

The Lord truly was Jennie’s refuge and strength. He shaped her, guided her, led her, protected her, and provided for her.

And she gladly accepted it all. But she never kept it to herself. She always found a way to bless those around her.

She had a humorous side to her though. She enjoyed a good joke. It fit her happy countenance. And she had no trouble playing along. This was seen in her special relationship with Mitch, the Norwegian sweater knitter.

She let Pastor Tony “steal” her chair, and then told him he’d better preach on stealing on Sunday!

She welcomed, Margaret, Arie and I to celebrate communion, but the whole time let on as though she really only could communicate in Dutch. I’m sure she loved every minute of watching Arie and Margaret translate for me, letting us think that maybe she wasn’t quite all there anymore.

But she was, she had no trouble mouthing the words, “Take, eat, remember and believe the body of Christ was given for the complete forgiveness of all your sins.” And either she was an incredible lip-reader, or she heard a bit more than she let on.

99 years old. Many were rooting for Maranatha’s oldest member to reach 100. I don’t think she worried about it at all. She was content. She knew her king would come for her one day, he did.

So today we say good-bye. It’s more like, “See you again, soon.” What is true for Jennie is true for all of us. The Lord Jesus gave up his life to pay for everything any of us has ever done wrong. Like Jennie, all we need to do is accept it, with thanksgiving. Like Jennie, all we need to do is commit our spirit into the Lord’s hands.

And like Jennie, the Lord will be our refuge, our rock, our strength, our hope. And like Jennie, we’ll have the assurance that one day he’ll come to take us home, or he’ll come again to make all things new.

Jennie was ready, am I? Are you ready? Put your trust in Him today. Amen.