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Friday, November 16, 2012

Henceforth May Your Life Pay Tribute

Psalm 84:10-12 (NIV)

Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.


The funeral service for Kathy was held Tuesday, November 13, 2012. Visitation began in the chapel at at 11:30 AM and the service began at 12:00 noon. There were testimonials in her honor by family, extended family, and friends.

Today I would like to include two tributes of mine made that day. The first is a poem I wrote on her 50th birthday in 2010. It was printed in the funeral service program. The second is a poem I completed the morning of the funeral and shared by reading it during my tribute that day to Kathy.


To Kathy on her 50th Birthday

Like a fresh breeze on a stifling day,
You came into my life this very decade,
You brought your kindness and thoughtfulness,
You brought friendship and faithfulness,
You brought your love and gifted me,
With thoughts of you that never leave;
My life is now grounded in intimacy.
Thank God for bringing us together at First Church,
Where we shared smiles in Mitch’s class,
And enjoyed weekend dates like clockwork--and artwork,
And permanently set our relationship in place,
With a divinely guided wedding at North Beach,
Where our vows sealed us into a single family;
For once and always your birthdays will mean to me,
The beginning of everything fresh and free,
The end of paralysis, the arrival of peace.


Assurance of Authenticity

Kathy you made my days
By standing humble and true,
Your steady strength was incredible
Your major impact—you.

I regret when I have reproached you
For finding me--as you would say--”sweet”,
For now I see what sweetness is
It is what all should be--

It is your hopeful smile,
Your winning generosity,
Your simple grasp of facts
Filled with humility.

It is your kind insistence
That no worthwhile effort is void;
It is your reliable innocence
Saving me from despair;
It is your steady focus when at work or play
Trusting that passion's disciplines
Will reap abundant things.

My dearest you have gifted me --when all is said and done --
With love's powerful insights,
With childlike faith,
The assurance of authenticity.















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