Funeral of Marianne Christian

Proverbs 31:25-31

Date: The Lord knows.

“Call Her Blessed”

Introduction: Gerhard, Paul, Richard, Neil, Lois, Diane and Elaine, grandchildren and great grand children, family and friends of Marianne, grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

Our thoughts and our prayers are with you this day especially as we remember and celebrate the life and faith of your beloved wife, your beloved mother Marianne.

The text that I have chosen for this day are words of wisdom from our Lord written in the book of Proverbs where our Lord describes the excellent estate or position of the Godly wife and mother, “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 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: "Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. This is the word of the Lord.

As I was preparing this sermon I almost wanted to stop with these words. They seem to fit Marianne so well. What more could I say? To stop would be to leave the whole story untold.

As we watched and waited with Marianne, waiting for the Lord to take her home, I remember talking to Elaine and trying to find words that described her mother. The Words did not come to me then. But I have them now. “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” Marianne had a gentle strength and a quiet dignity about her. Love and grace permeated through her to the people around her. These are the things that I saw in her when we first met, when she warmly invited my wife and me into her home as neighbors. She welcomed us into her house with that smile that lights up a room. And even though she was a humble farm wife, even as she served us, she was dignified and elegant. That day she served us fresh bowls of German cherry soup. It was excellent, just like her.

Right now we are all caught up in the memories of Marianne’s life. For all of us they are different. These memories have been given to us by our loving God and Father as he has blessed us by sharing in the life of Marianne. Truly we have all been blessed by knowing her. We will share these memories with each other until we share them together again with Marianne in the Kingdom of God, that is in heaven. Even though, for a while, the Lord allowed Marianne to loose some of those memories, that time has past. All those memories, those that were good and special, that we have shared with her, have been given back to her.

Today, even as we prepare to celebrate our Lord’s birth and life this Christmas our joyful songs will be mixed with sorrow, pain and loss. But we, as Christians, (And by that I mean the family with the last name of Christian, and also all of as Christians in Christ’s church), can and will know that there is much joy to be had. For the Lord that blessed Marianne throughout her life has blessed her even in death. On this day we remember that she is not dead, she is with the Lord. We, who believe in Jesus Christ as our Savior will see her again. This is God’s promise. This promise of God was fulfilled when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to be born of a virgin, true God and true man. Through Jesus Christ God’s promise to Marianne was fulfilled, to take her to Him-self, to the place that He has prepared for her from the foundation of the world.

While Marianne was with us, she was an example of a Godly, wife, mother and friend. She lived to serve the people that God had placed into her life. Why was this? It was because, she knew that one greater than herself had lived and died to serve her. She understood what love was because she was loved by God. As God, through His Son Jesus loved and served her, she too lived to follow His example.

Everything she did flowed from her life and faith in her Savior. This life began as she was baptized into the name of the Triune God on May 18th , 1924. She was confirmed in her faith in Jesus Christ by Pastor Laabs. From that time on she followed her Savior, hearing God’s Word as she regularly, let me underline that word, and regularly came to church. Faithfully she received her Lord’s body and blood at this alter for the forgiveness of her sins. Yes, she knew that she was a sinner lost and condemned without any hope of saving herself. Yet, all the more, she understood God’s undeserved grace and favor. She knew that God loved her and chose her from the foundation of the world to be the object of His love. This love was reflected in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These things defined her life. Jesus Christ was the center of her life. As a result goodness and love and service flowed from her.

Certainly she was a faithful wife, serving Gerhard all these years, being his companion through all things, good and bad. She loved her children, provided for them in every way that matters. She shared her faith with you. She prayed for you. Her greatest desire was that her children and grandchildren know and believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Just as she had a living faith and a personal relationship with Jesus, she wanted this for you. This desire is reflected in the verse from scripture that she wanted you to hear today. That verse is from the third letter of John, verse 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Though she rarely showed it, what pained her most was when those she loved took for granted God’s love and didn’t come to church as often as she thought they should go. She would want you to know that it is not too late to come to church with her, to rejoice in the salvation that God has given to us. Every Sunday as we gather together, she too gathers into the heavenly choir to praise our God. In our Christmas readings we hear, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Now Marianne has joined the hosts of heaven to glorify God and at the same time to behold his presence. One thing that gave her the greatest joy was to see the faith of her children, a faith that is vibrant, a faith that is strong, a faith that is shared with each other. I don’t know if she said it, but it is true none the less, she was proud of you. And she should be. Your faith in Jesus Christ is her living legacy. She has given you the greatest gift. Because you believe in Jesus Christ you share more than a life that lasts for 82 years. You share eternal life.

It is said that the man is the head of the home, maybe it should also said that the wife and mother is the foundation of a home. At least in Marianne’s case this was true. This foundation was made all the more sure because her foundation was Jesus Christ. That foundation was centered in Church life. Just as Marianne shared the good news of Jesus birth, life, death and resurrection with you, she also desired to share the gospel with all people. This is why she sang in the choir, and no doubt still does in the heavenly choir. This is why she was a charter member of Immanuel’s Ladies Aid, and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. This is why she was a member of the Lutheran Laymen’s League, to Bring Christ to the Nations-and the Nations to the Church. She worked side by side with Gerhard. And she worked side by side with us sharing her faith with us in loving service in gratitude for what Jesus Christ had done for her. Her confirmation verse was fulfilled, Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. Psalm 37: 4,5

Marianne’s life was characterized by service. Then the Lord gave us the opportunity to serve her. Just as Marianne loved you, her children, and held you in her arms when you were babies, you had the opportunity to love and hold her in your arms. Gerhard, Marianne showed her love and faithfulness to you for many years, and though you thought she would take care of you in your old age, the Lord gave you the opportunity to take care of her and to show your love for her. It was not easy, what all of you did. This too was a great expression of your Christian faith. A faith that she passed onto you.

The last few years were difficult for Marianne and all of you. It is hard enough to watch other people suffer, but when you watch a person of great faith suffer, loose their memories, un- able to function in a way that we call normal, we may question why God would allow all these things to happen. We live in a fallen world. Just as sin wreaks havoc in our world it also ravishes our bodies and minds. This is the not so wonderful aspect of life for us right now. Suffering does not define our lives; the Lord who goes through suffering with us defines them. Jesus Christ, true man, and holy God, came to suffer and die for us, for Marianne, so that even though we suffer for a while, even though we die, yet shall we live. Yes we must suffer and even die before we see the salvation of the Lord. This was the cross that our Lord bore for us. This is the cross that we share with Him, for we are baptized into His death and baptized into His resurrection. This is our living hope and the hope and reality of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. This was Marianne’s hope, this is now her reality. She is home for Christmas.

This Christmas heaven and earth rejoice again in the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Just as Mary, the mother of our Lord, praised her Lord and God Marianne does too. Perhaps her song of praise is like Mary’s, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.” Amen. Gerhard’s question…