Brenda

"Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing; then said they among the heathen, The Lord has done great things for them. The Lord has done great things for us; whereof we are glad." Psalm 126:2-3



The first time I met Brenda was at the Church's State Convention in 1979. Her husband, Ray, had just been appointed as our Pastor, and we went to the stage to welcome them. I was struck first by his pink suit; then, by her wide, beautiful, dimpled smile. I told my mother-in-law afterward that Brenda seemed very sweet, quiet, and shy.

OK, OK...at least I got the "sweet" part right.

While they were moving into the parsonage in Antioch, I invited them to our apartment for dinner. At some point, I forget when, the room was filled with high-pitched, purely joyous, and infectious laughter. I learned very quickly Brenda loved to laugh; and I think that is what I will always remember most.

Brenda was not afraid to laugh right out loud if it brought the Joy of the Lord to the House of God and the hearts of others. We found that Brenda was serious about her faith, but seriously happy about it. It was Brenda who took a group of us to our first Ladies' Retreat one Halloween weekend, where we shared rooms close to general and state WMB workers. It was also Brenda who painted our faces with eyeliner and lipstick, and led us up and down the halls of the lodge trick-or-treating in our nightgowns and robes. It was Brenda who made us see the silly side of our whining..."Oh, for goodness' sake, you're not dying, you're just pregnant!"...and the child side of our worried, adult lives..."No, what you need is a good spanking!"

She gave the best hugs! When she wrapped us in her arms, we could feel every ounce of love and warmth she had to give; and when she let go, we could still feel it, like a blanket around our shoulders. Children would line up around her and stand there until they got one of those hugs!

And speaking of the children..."Beeba" saw them all as pure joy and wonder. Never did she allow children or young people to be shoved aside or ignored. And they adored her. Who can forget her as Mother Goose in the children's Christmas pageant? Or, year after year, working in youth camps? While some worried about the problems they could cause, Brenda saw only the energy, passion, and eagerness in the young. More often than not, she was encouraging harmless mischief, her "camp voice" and that wonderful laughter leading the way, urging the kids to have fun, and the adults to "lighten up."

That joy, that love, and that laughter will be my memory of Brenda.

Brenda stepped into Glory this morning, just a little while ago. I pray for comfort and peace for Ray, her beautiful daughters, and all those precious grandchildren she cherished so. A dear friend was wondering what would be the first thing Brenda would do when she walked through the gates of her new Home. I think I know. Above the sound of the angels singing, I can almost hear her laughing, all the way to His throne. He's going to love that hug.

I love you, Brenda. Save me a seat.