Funeral- Blanche Garrett

Opening Remarks

Good afternoon. On behalf of the family, I want to thank you for being here today. Your presence in this moment is a testimony of your love and support.

We are here to celebrate the life of Blanche Garrett and to honor her memory. But also, to grieve together, placing our hope and trust in Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

There is much that can be said about this lady and I doubt that I will be able to capture even a glimpse of what many of you have experienced in your relationship with her; Yet, as we spend this time together today, it is my prayer that you will find peace and comfort in God’s Word and supernaturally through the Holy Spirit.

I want to invite you to bow your heads with me as we open our time in prayer.

PRAY

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Scripture

Blanche was an exceptional woman by all accounts. She was compassionate and generous. She was strong- tough and yet full of grace. She enjoyed life, and she enjoyed the people in her life.

As I sat with some of her family, each of them had a special relationship with Blanche. And, even in their sorrow, they shared of travel adventures, times of tough love, and of selfless sacrifice; they spoke of her forgiveness and hospitality- how she was a friend to everyone she met. I heard about her cooking and how she somehow made regular moments feel special. I heard of how she helped take 2 broken families, and unite them - children who were grafted into her own family and treated as her own; a husband who, for nearly 52 years, enjoyed the devotion and love of this woman.

I’d like to read a passage of Scripture for you that I believe paints a picture of what Blanche demonstrated in her own life.

Proverbs 31:25–31 NASB95

Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in 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 bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.

Praise God for the testimony of this woman.

REGINA?

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Message

I mentioned to you that I sat with the family for a while- listening to memories and descriptions of Blanche. Every person spoke of the love that this woman demonstrated. As they talked, I was led to this passage in John 15.

In this passage, Jesus instructs his disciples (verse 12) to love one another as I have loved you.

And Jesus didn’t say simply to love, but he made this statement of the greatest kind of love we can give. Let me read John 15:13.

There it is… the love demonstrated by laying down our lives.

Now, I don’t think he was talking about an act of heroism here- like taking a bullet. We could all likely muster enough courage to do that.

Oswald Chambers, in his book My Utmost for His Highest noted that dying is easy, but laying down our life is entirely different and considerably more difficult. You see, laying down your life means that you choose daily to put others before yourself, that you “deny yourself”, that you carry burdens that don’t belong to you, and you do it all willingly and joyfully.

Yes, this sounds like the life that Blanche endeavored to live.

But what all does that take? I believe we can see 3 attributes that are necessary in order to love this way.

The first is Being Humble.

Jesus said (Mat. 18:4) that whoever humbles himself as a child will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Likewise, Paul said in (Phil. 2:3) that we should not do things out of selfish ambition, but in humility, treat others as better than ourselves.

One could hardly make the daily decision to love this way without being humble. Yet, I believe that Blanche gave numerous examples of this kind of love.

The second necessary attribute is

Compassion

– that is, putting empathy into action. James asked (ch. 2) What good is it if you see someone who is cold and hungry and say to them be filled and warm, yet do not give them what is necessary for their body.

It would do little good to simply talk about meeting a need or talk about loving someone. I am confident that, while we should vocally express our love, words are hardly enough. No, Jesus requires us to put love into action.

Finally, in order to love like Christ commanded, it takes

Mercy

That is, freely giving forgiveness and withholding judgment. Laying down one’s life means to recognize the mercy given by Christ, and act accordingly. Even as Christ was placed on an old Roman cross, his executioners spitting on him, shouting obscenities, mocking him- Jesus interceded in prayer for their forgiveness for their sins.

We could go on and on through Scripture- there’s a whole chapter of in 1 Corinthians on what it is to love according to God’s command. But these are simply the fruits displayed.

Do you ever think about why Blanche lived this way? What would cause her to be so hospitable and kind?

Let me read to you a couple verses preceding this command. (READ 9-11)

I believe that Blanche’s love for her Savior compelled his works so that you - her family and friends might come to know and experience the love of Christ… So that you might experience that fullness of joy Jesus talked about.

You see, friends, this old world can never offer that which can only be found in Jesus.

Today, Blanche is in the presence of King Jesus. She is no longer battling sickness or weakness. She is no longer experiencing pain or confusion. And I am confident that her plea before you today would be that you would trust in His sacrificial love-

John 3:16 NASB95

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

I am grateful for the life of Blanche Garrett. I am grateful that the gospel of Jesus was preached through her life- both in word and deed. And now as we draw our time to a close, I’d like to point your grieving hearts to some promises of God.

The Lord is near to the broken-hearted (Ps. 34:18)

• God has promised that we can come to him with our burdens, and He will give us rest. (Matt. 11:28)

• He has said that in our weakness, He is made strong (2 Cor. 12:9-11)

• God is the God who give peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7)

Romans 8:38–39 NASB95

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May we find hope and comfort in our Lord. Will you pray with me?

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