Wow. Our family just received the news that Teresa Mobley died and moved on to Heaven tonight at 8:15. This comes after a long battle with aggressive cancer, including several chemo and radiation treatments to shrink the painful tumors in her brain, lungs, abdomen, and bladder. (Today marks exactly three months since the death of Jenni Kufahl, another strong woman of God who also died after a long battle with cancer. Please stop and pray for both families right now.)
They had just transitioned Teresa to a hospice this morning, but it's safe to say that her death was unexpectedly sudden. My Dad had gone up to see her about an hour before this happened, and I'm very thankful he got to see her one last time. Her daughter wrote that she died "peacefully surrounded by her family and friends" - I'm thankful for that also. She knew Jesus well and reflected a deep faith and love for Him throughout her life, especially in this final season. Her ability to smile and laugh and bring joy to others in the midst of her own pain and suffering was truly an awesome testimony of what it means to abide in Christ. It's surreal but comforting to know that she is alive and completely healed and whole and celebrating in heaven right now!
Teresa had been my Dad's Secretary and then Office Manager at State Farm for the past 31 years, (ie since the day he started his business the year before I was born). She's the only one who's been there the entire time, and her faithfulness and joyful attitude at work did not go unnoticed or unappreciated! I remember well going to visit Dad at the office when I was a kid and being so excited to see Teresa and Valerie! Random story, but I also remember her telling me one day that if I planted popcorn 'seeds,' the popcorn would grow and we could eat it together. So we 'planted' them together outside, then the next time I came to State Farm, she'd made popcorn and poured it out over that spot - I was so excited! :)
And it's her heart and joy in the little details -- (like caring enough to create memorable moments like that) -- that made her so special! :) I realize I'm using the word joy a lot, but it seems like the most fitting adjective to describe how I think of her: JOYFUL and living her life to the fullest, right down to the last day!
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died... Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words."
~I Thessalonians 4:13-18
"But what seemed failure from man's standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God's, because God's purpose is never man's purpose... As we go on in the Christian life it gets simpler, because we are less inclined to say, 'Now why did God allow this and that?' A [mature] Christian is one who trusts the knowledge and wisdom of God, and not his own knowledge."
~My Utmost for His Highest
"Fellowshipping with Christ in our suffering guards it from purposelessness."
~Beth Moore
"Your reactions determine your reach. People will know you by how you face hardship!" ~Lysa Terkeurst
"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants."
~Psalm 116:15
"I will never forget this awful time as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!”
~Lamentations 3:19-24
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