“To be a sacramental personality means that the elements of the natural life are presenced by God as they are broken providentially.” Oswald Chambers, quoted in “My Utmost for His Highest” (September 30)

I have been privileged to know a “sacramental personality”, one who experienced the breaking work of God in various ways and blossomed with quiet beauty, “presenced by God”, through each trial and joy.

Though we laid to rest the “earthly tent”, the body of my mother a few days ago, she is more alive today than ever she was living on this earth. I rejoice, by faith, with her! Hers now is the life we all long for and anticipate. Though we do not wish to leave this life, we at the same time earnestly desire to be “clothed” with the life which will never end. My mom has now this new wardrobe and the desire of her heart fulfilled: to be in the presence of her God and Savoir whom she loves with all her being, and join in worshipping Him with those she loves who preceded her.

At mom’s funeral my brother Daniel read a eulogy he wrote in her honor. I share it with you.

Kindness

In Memory of Luella Rickett

Memory is the genesis of one’s future.  It shapes the mind toward good or evil.  It rules the life by the character of its contents. 

The memory of a mother is perhaps the most formative of all memories. 

The memory of a godly mother is exceeded only by the memory of God. 

I want to share with you some memories of my mother, Luella Rickett, known affectionately as Peg. 

My memory of Mom is infused with the fragrance of Christ. 

She loved Jesus and that love framed her life. 

It is said that the measure of a woman is her prayer life. 

Who in her family or circle of friends can say she never prayed for them?  Not one.

She prayed for countless strangers too.

As for me, I am alive because she prayed for me. 

The Word of God and prayer was her daily bread. 

She didn’t always have sunny days, but she always gave thanks to God. 

Even in her dying, when disease stripped her memory and words came only in fragments, when asked what she would like to say in a letter to her friends, she said, “I want to say what I’m thankful for.” 

Every memory of my mother glows with kindness.

Just as the moon reflects the light of the sun, my mother reflected the kindness of God. 

The beauty of her kindness shines in the love of her children, the admiration of her friends, and the respect of strangers. 

She was gentle and compassionate toward all. 

She wasn't one to chide or hold a grudge.

She was patient with my waywardness though uncompromising in her devotion to Jesus. 

She forgave my wildness and endured my absence without complaint.

It was Mom’s unconditional love that led a young troubled woman to Christ who later became my wife.

Mom wore modesty like a ball gown, elegant and plain. 

And though I never saw her dance, forbearance moved her graciously through every injury, struggle, and loss.  

Anyone who knew her will understand why I define kindness by the memory of my mother.

And now dear family and friends I must tell you, Mom’s passing is a temporary loss.  For in the words of the Apostle Paul, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:14, 16-17; NIV 1984).

This hope is the memory of the future and because of it we remember Luella Rickett not only for the godly woman she was but for the glorious woman she is today in the presence of the Lord. 

After the funeral Randy, who as a young pastor in Canada preached at many funerals, commented that he had never been at a person’s funeral where Jesus was so often spoken of as having been seen in the person’s life. 

A sacramental personality, one shaped by the hand of God through the hard times of life, into a thing of beauty, one in which God is pleased to dwell.

I love you, Mom. Thank you…for everything.