Its with a mixture of Joy and sadness I write this and even with tears in my eyes of gratitude and thanksgiving – on the one hand joy that Mrs Smith is with her Lord whom she loved and served so vigilantly and carefully all her life; what a reward she will deservedly receive…. Well Done Good and Faithful Servant – Come and receive the Reward I have prepared for you! But also sadness that she will not be with us! I’ll esp miss the hugs and quips! Oh here’s Gregory our Vicar! (which could not have happened without her contientious work in my life!) A major part of my life for over 30 years… Her Love; acceptance: hugs: teas: celebrations: Birthdays! challenges: times for me to repent: forgiveness – Healing! Setting the lonely within a family! Thank you for your precious Life Laid Down for the forgotten; the survivor: the victim: the disadvantaged; the hurting the Lord’s People; even the stranger; the waifs and strays of life building something beautiful in the Garden of Love from broken bricks like me – that is Eternal! Thank you for adopting me as a spiritual son and for paying the price for being my extraordinary spiritual Mother! The wisdom; discernment … I cherish it all and will miss you humour and wit too…. Love; Gratitude: Thanksgiving and streams of Living Water flow because of what you have invested in me – I will try to live my life on the foundations you have laid in me to honour your life: dedication and work. Gone for now; never forgotten: much loved and precious with an incredible legacy that words are inadequate to express. Rest at last.. and so well deserved! I will miss you deeply. Always in my heart with love – Your ‘Work in Progress’ Gregory
