Mary Horner has died, and in doing so she continues to live. Mary is alive forever; she has been welcomed to paradise by her husband Otis, and all of the folks who have died their physical death while living in the Lord. In my earthy way of looking at things, I’m not sure what her job will be in Heaven. Here she was an encourager. She gave others strength with her little nod of her head, or the way she closed her eyes while displaying that look that only those who were privileged to have had her in their audience would recognize.
In every auditorium class I ever taught at Denver City Mary sat in the same place. During every sermon I ever gave in Denver City, Mary sat in the same seat. It made no difference whether class or worship, I could count on seeing Mary’s beautiful face radiate the love of Jesus, and portray the strength of encouragement that helped me proclaim what God had put on my heart. Mary was very special in that way.
Since I no longer live where Mary lived, I won’t miss her like her family, and those who worshiped with her for the past ten years, will miss her. I’ve grown accustom to not seeing her smile physically. I no longer look four rows back, dead center of the auditorium, expecting to see her nodding her head in approval, or absorbing the words of God with her eyes closed in love and appreciation for the gift of life He freely gave her. I won’t miss that because for the last ten years I have rarely taught a class, or preached a sermon when I didn’t see her face in my minds eye even thou she wasn’t there, and I will continue to do that until I join her in paradise.
Congratulations Mary, you have fought the good fight, you have completed the course, and you have use the gift of encouragement that God gave you so you could bless those you came in contact with. Thank you for sharing that gift with me.
Till next time,
Grump