A Tribute to Aunt Bea
Sunday, July 1, 2007
- Mark McAdow
It was my great privilege to be "Aunt Bea's" pastor for these last three weeks. Hers was the first home I visited on my first day here. I'm so glad Kirk invited me to go with him to take Communion to Aunt Bea. Her name reminded me of another famous Aunt Bea of "Mayberry fame," whom I had loved to watch as a young boy!
As I shared at her service on Saturday, she was a delightful, godly lady. Thanks to each of you who knew and loved Bea a lot longer than I had the opportunity to--this side of heaven. I surely appreciated hearing your great stories of her life and faithful witness for Jesus Christ! We concluded the service with "I'll Fly Away," one of her all-time favorites which she loved to clap her hands and dance to--right in the church aisle! What a joyful, full-of-life Christian she was!
I did some research on her name and found out Bea means "Bringer of joy," and the spiritual connotation is "Love of life." She certainly represented her name very well. We will miss Bea very much, but the good news is that as Christians we never really say "Goodbye," but "I'll see you again!" There is a reunion in heaven awaiting all born again believers! Psalm 116:15 says it so well: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."
We've been blessed to know a real saint firsthand! Well done good and faithful servant!
Yours in Christ,
Mark