Yesterday was one of those bittersweet kind of days. Bitter because much of the day was spent at a funeral for my Aunt Marjory; sweet because we all knew she was in Heaven.
I didn’t know my aunt well. She was married to my mom’s brother, a man who is more than 15 years older than my mom. Their children–my cousins–are closer in age to Mom than to me. One of those cousins has a daughter who is 2 weeks older than I am. And because all of these cousins had moved away from Milan, Michigan, the small town where Mom and her siblings were raised, before I was born, I didn’t get to see them much as I was growing up (though I have heard plenty of stories of one cousin and his wife babysitting me when I was an infant.) It wasn’t until connecting with them on Facebook that I really got to know my cousins. But I did not have the chance to really know Aunt Marjory well.
That hasn’t stopped me from being deeply touched by her life.
Her life was a double love story. Just to hear about the depth of her love for her husband and Her Savior left such an impression on me. I don’t know if words can really explain or capture the emotions that are swirling inside of me.
When Nicholas Sparks wrote THE NOTEBOOK, he could well have used Aunt Marjory and Uncle Arthur as inspiration. They were married on February 2, 1951. He was nearly 20 and she was 21. The wedding took place on her 21st birthday. They raised six children in a home lovingly built by my uncle right next door to my grandparents. Aunt Marjory was my uncle’s sweetheart, his precious treasure from God. He always treated her with love and respect. That’s not to say they never fought. Over the course of their 61 year and 20 days of marriage, I am sure there were plenty of disagreements. But that love and respect, for each other and for God, kept them glued together.
In her later years, Aunt Marjory battled demensia. Uncle Arthur kept her at home with her, providing her with the most tender care he could. He scoffed at anyone who suggested he move his Sweetheart into a nursing home. The vows said in sickness and in health and he was not about to turn his back on those vows just because she was ill. He stayed at her side, loving her and nursing her at home.until his own health problems made that impossible. But even living apart did not alter the love and devotion shared by my aunt and uncle. He still woke up early every morning to drive to his wife’s side. They shared prayer time every day.
That is how Aunt Marjory’s other love story played out. There is no doubt in my mind that she loved God even more deeply than she loved my uncle. Two of her children spoke of childhood memories of Aunt Marjory’s prayers. They said they could hear her pray for them all by name every night after she had shared prayer and Bible reading with them. She moddeled God’s love for her children in all she did, everyday. Even on had days, ahem the demtia left her confused and scared, two things never changed–her love for her family and her love for her God. It give s me goosebumps to think of all the damage done in hell by this small woman’s faithfullness.
The spray of roses on top of her casket held a banner that said “Sweetheart.” She was more than just hia wife and the mother of his children; she was my uncle’s friend. Aunt Marjory was always Uncle Arthur’s sweetheart. Watching him say good-bye to her was hard. Mom choked up and whispered to me that she had never seen her big brother cry before. His heart is broken with the loss of his wife and companion–his precious Sweetheart. Broken but still beating. As I watched him grieve, I realized that the love story of Aunt Marjory and Uncle Arthur has not yet come to an end. The kind of love they shared can never truly end. It lives on in his heart and kn the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
And because that love was rooted in Christ, they will be together again some day. The only joy that could overshadow that of being reunited with his sweetheart is the joy Uncle Arthur will feel when he sees Jesus face-to-face.
Aunt Marjory will be missed. But knowing she has received her reward for the race she ran kn life makes saying good-bye just a little easier.
If you would like to know a little more about Aunt Marjory, here is her on-line obituaty
One of those bittersweet times. Thanks for sharing this.
I’ve always looked to Uncle Arthur and Aunt Marjory as an example of what love should be and of what type of love I want in my life. Though it wasn’t easy to say good-bye, I feel honored that I got to be at the celebration of her life.
And did I mention that her son delivered the funeral message? I admire him for doing that. I don’t know that I could hold it together enough to preach at my mother’s funeral.
Thanks Lynn, I am always inspired by hearing stories of long term relationships. That to me is love, staying with another person through all the ups and downs of life and being able to end well. What an inspiring story.
Lynn, Thanks for sharing this. I wish you could have known Mom better. I am blessed to be able to call her Mom.
Thank you, Lynn. You have captured and written of Dad and Mom’s love so well. Thank you for being there for all of us.And your Mother, also. Losing Mom was hard but hearing how she inspired others lifts our Spirit. Thank you. Cathy