John 14:1-6; 1 John 3:1-2; Isaiah 43:1-3a, 25
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“God is my light,” that is what the name Eleanor means. Our Eleanor was a lamp bearing the light of God, and God’s light shone through her in all the ways she showed and shared His love with you and with countless others. Whether it was through the carefully planned, lovingly prepared, and simply delicious holiday meals she prepared for you her family, or simply dining out at Pizza Ranch or some other local eatery, or road trips to Amish and Mennonite farms and markets to purchase produce and flowers or to enjoy some authentic family farm cooking, where she knew the names of all the people who grew, sold, and served, or at St. John’s women’s Bible study which was as much about food, fun, and fellowship, and lots of laughter, as it was about serious study of the Bible and cultivating one’s faith, or if it was quilting bedspreads and runners and wall hangings and so much more, or even polka dancing in Decorah, and this is hardly an exhaustive list, Eleanor was a lamp bearing the light of God, and God’s light shone through her in all the ways she showed and shared his love.
However, that wasn’t always the case. Now, don’t hear me wrong – I’m not saying that Eleanor at one time wasn’t loving and caring and giving and sharing, or even that she was not a Christian – no, not at all. Nonetheless, there was a time in her life when she plainly didn’t know God and her Lord Jesus Christ in the same way that she so obviously did these past ten years or more. Eleanor seemingly was baptized and confirmed at the same time in 1958. She was twenty-two then and had just recently married Ralph. It appears that both Eleanor and Ralph were baptized and confirmed on the same day. That’s kind of sweet and very special. So, it was later in her life that Eleanor became a Christian, at least in an official manner. I have no doubt she had faith before then, but most of us know the Eleanor after then rather than before. Eleanor’s faith and Christian life really began to grow and bear fruit in large part, however, through her participation in the St. John’s Women’s Bible study and then her battles with cancer and other health challenges.
Becky McBurney related to me how when Eleanor first began attending the Bible study, she had only a worn-out and somewhat obscure translation of the Bible. So, Becky bought her a new Bible as a gift and Eleanor began to really tear into it. After that, Eleanor came to Bible study prepared, having read the day’s selection beforehand, and with an arsenal of precise questions to ask and to have answered. Where she had once been shy and afraid to read the Scripture aloud in front of the group, that all changed, and Eleanor became an extremely competent and confident reader admired by all. Isn’t it truly amazing what the Word of God and the Holy Spirit can do? The Holy Spirit bolstered Eleanor’s confidence even while He helped her to maintain a humble, servant demeanor. Eleanor used to count the number of verses that were going to be read in class and then sit one seat beyond that number away from Becky so that she could avoid having to read as turns were taken around the table. That was Eleanor then. The Eleanor we commend to the Lord today was much more confident, loved to read the Scriptures, took notes, asked questions, and saved clippings of verses, comments, questions, and articles. Becky said that Eleanor really “blossomed as a Christian” and that she underwent a “transformation.”
Eleanor would need that re-kindled faith to face cancer in the years to follow. The first time I met Eleanor was when she was in the hospital suffering from a mass in her abdomen. It was cancer again and things seemed grim, but they were able to operate and remove the mass and things went well for a while. But then the cancer came back again and there would be no beating it this time. However, Eleanor had a lot of support. She had her family, the church, and her friends from the Women’s Bible study; she had Hospice; but most of all, she had her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To quote Becky once again, “Eleanor’s faith gave her the peace and acceptance she came to embrace when the cancer came back this last time and she knew she didn't have long to live. She did what needed to be done and lived every day to its fullest right up to the end. She was a woman of fortitude.” This time the doctor advised that Eleanor should consider hospice care and told her that it would go quickly. Nevertheless, Eleanor stayed with us another year. Eleanor confided that she believed that all the prayers were why she was still feeling as good as she was. Before and after the cancer, and throughout it all, Eleanor held a fierce love for her family. She never missed a chance to go somewhere with her sons Marvin or Roger or to go to see a grandchild or great-grandchild participate in a school activity or sport. She always wanted them to feel special and loved. And they did. She loved cooking and baking and preparing festive meals for her family, laughing, and joking around, and just being with the people she loved.
“God is my light,” that is what the name Eleanor means. Our Eleanor was a lamp bearing the light of God, and God’s light shone through her in all the ways she showed and shared His love with you and with countless others. You see, what makes a Christian is not so much what they do as it is what they receive. A Christian receives God – the Word of God Jesus Christ – the way a lamp receives the light of a candle. The light shines within the lamp, but more importantly, the light shines out and through the lamp for the benefit of others. My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, that is precisely what Eleanor did for you and for countless others – The light of God shone through her upon you, so that you could receive and experience the comfort of God’s love too.
God is love. Jesus taught that there was no greater love possible than to lay down one’s life for your friends – that means sacrifice. And Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as He had loved them. This is what it means to be a Christian – to love God and to love others. However, we can only love if we first have God’s love ourselves. The result is that we love others with God’s love; we shine with God’s light. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.” “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” In love for Eleanor, in love for you, and in love for all the world God gave His only Son Jesus that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Eleanor knew the love of God in Jesus, and you knew that love also in her love for you. This prayer was in her Bible on a handwritten note: “Father, thank You that You love me. Thank You that Jesus died for me. I want to come home. Thank You for waiting for me. Amen.” Eleanor has not perished, but she is with her Lord in His house where He has prepared her a room. Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Jesus; He is the way to the Father, the truth, and the life. With Jesus there is boundless hope; apart from Him there is no hope. That is why our hearts need not be troubled this day, for Jesus was Eleanor’s hope and she is celebrating her 86th birthday today in His presence. As you have received and experienced the light of God’s love through Eleanor, so let it shine through you and share it with others to the glory of God’s holy Name. You couldn’t honor Eleanor’s faith and life, or celebrate her first birthday in heaven, in any better way or in a way that would make her happier.
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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