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In Loving Memory
I met Brenda around October of 2004. We were introduced by Cynthia and struck up a conversation easily. Our conversations blossomed into a friendship. Brenda presented her life to me as a huge canvas, painted totally outside the lines, in vibrant colors [no shades or subtle hues], here and there were spots void of any color and I slowly found out that these were the areas where she was questioning, seeking, not having fully made up her mind about the issue. Brenda loved and lived for her mom. She had questions about the God of her mother, but she was thankful that her mom had introduced her to God since very young. At the same time she was a little leery of a God who might take away her fun. Brenda loved to have fun. Brenda and I talked about a God who loves and accepts unconditionally, who keeps no records of wrong of those who love Him, who gives His good gifts to His children simply because they are His children. A God who drinks at weddings and cries at funerals and never gives up on us, who always encourages us, who separates us from our sin as far as the east is from the west. I saw Brenda develop a deep and abiding love for Christ during these short years. She lived out the gospel and I was able to see Jesus through her life. Brenda never waited to do good, when she heard of a need she did her best to meet it. I have seen her cook for the sick, encourage the broken-hearted, and be compassionate to the down in their luck. She was the same with us at the church as with her friends at the pub. Sometimes she would make me laugh because she would say things like: Cary, I'm getting better at this. I went by the pub and had only two beers even though I could have had a dozen. We laughed together because we knew that our relationship with the Lord goes beyond what we could do to please Him. He has been pleased with us since before the beginning of time when He sent His son Jesus to take our place. I know Brenda is rejoicing with Him in Heaven. Here is what she wrote:
Thanks Cary. Life is good, I want to carry on in my life and do as much good as I can for the Lord. I need to work harder, praise more and open my eyes and heart and to reach out. I hope you had a great New Year's day. I love you.oxoxoxB. thanks for the New Years eve call
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