Saturday, August 16, 2008

Simple Faith

I had a funeral today: an old woman who was considered to be, I suppose, "developmentally disabled". She was single and lived with her sister and many dogs her whole life. She loved dogs and hoped to see her dogs Binkie, Melody, Billy Blue, and others, in heaven. Her sister died in 2000. She lived alone until she fell this winter, and her extended family discovered that she had cancer.

They took her to their small town to care for her; she lived in the nursing home where she loved to watch the birds (that's where her statement "not enough people watch birds" came from); she went to church with them almost every week. It was a little country church; she told her nephew and his wife that "she loved that nino church."

As she grew sicker and began to be in pain, her nephew's wife would often go to visit her and to care for her. She told this woman on one occasion, "I wish you didn't have to suffer." And she replied, "Jesus suffered on the cross for me. I can do this."

They told me I could share this story.

14 comments:

Lindy said...

You just never know where you're going to find a saint!

Thanks for sharing this Diane.

LoieJ said...

The pastor who was at my husband's church when he was young wrote a catechism for developmentally disabled people. It is true, we don't have to DO something or UNDERSTAND something to be saved.

Unknown said...

Bless her heart. Thanks for sharing this.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

May we all have such pure faith. Thank you for a beautiful post.

Gannet Girl said...

I'm glad you got to share in her life.

Terri said...

May she be at peace this day and always....

earthchick said...

Thank you for sharing her with us.

Fran said...

That is very beautiful - thanks for sharing this Diane.

Barbara B. said...

Wow, thanks for sharing this.

Hot Cup Lutheran said...

wow.

Crimson Rambler said...

thank you, Diane!

Sarah S-D said...

what a gift to have known her and to have known something of Christ through her. thanks be to God.

Diane Vogel Ferri said...

Just like children - some of the wisest thoughts come from those who are not considered "Smart"

Pastor Eric said...

Great story...thank you.

P.S. I love the penguins