Yesterday, an old friend of our family, Lovice Paul, passed on to glory at the age of 96. If there was ever a woman who embodied the spirit of living wholly, it was Lovice. I met her when I was 28 years old. Her husband, Ray, ran a cafe in Randolph where I had moved to the year before beginning my first Pastoral position. Ray and Lovice came to our church along with their two kids Lona and Michael about a year after I met Ray at the cafe. Their last name was Paul - which oddly enough was my mother's maiden name. The connection was made in conversation - Ray was my mother's cousin. Their fathers were brothers, and so my grandfather was Ray's Uncle.
As time passed, our oldest kids began school at Randolph Elementary. Lovice was their teacher. We had another connection. At the same time, Lona became our children's babysitter - another connection. Ray and Lovice were hospitable and generous people. Many a Friday night, or Saturday night, or any other night sometimes, we took our kids out to Ray and Lovice's to play games and eat meals. When our third child was born it was the middle of the night. Lovice drove in and took our two back to their house while I drove Linda to the hospital. That was repeated four and a half years later when our fourth child came along.
Ray and Lovice tapped into my wife's greatest joy - they played games. We had some wild card games full of laughter and even shoes being thrown. Our kids loved being out and the Paul's because Ray and Lovice had a house full of food - at all times - food that kids loved. Ray had grown up in the depression and had gone hungry a number of times and determined after it was all over with that he would never have a house without food. They gave away food to families who needed also. More than once we drove away from their place with the leftovers of a meal we had with them.
Ray passed away in the mid-2000s and Lovice lived alone for several years, until around 90, her family convinced her that her failing memory, and health, needed full-time care. She lived for a few years in Randolph nursing home and then was moved to a nursing facility connected to Portage hospital. Recently she was moved to another nursing facility where in a very short time hospice was called in and on Tuesday, she passed into the glory of her Savior and Lord.
There's an Advent story about a woman who saw Jesus. After Jesus was born, his parents took him on his 8th day to the Temple to be circumcised. The scripture records two events that were not expected:
Luke 2:25-38
Now there was a man in
Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting
for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he
would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the
parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the
Law,
he took him up in his arms and blessed God
and said,
“Lord, now you are
letting your servant depart in peace, according to your
word;
for my eyes
have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to
the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
And his father and his mother
marveled at what was said about him.
And Simeon
blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for
the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed
(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so
that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel,
of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband
seven years from when she was a virgin,
and then
as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple,
worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks
to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of
Jerusalem.
They both saw Jesus. Lovice didn't know - because of dementia - that about eleven months ago, her youngest son, Michael would pass into glory - at a very young age. I had this imaginary thought today asking myself "I wonder what it was like for Lovice to come face to face with Jesus?" My first thought was that Lovice would say something like "Hi, so that's what you look like!" My second thought is she would turn to see Michael and say, "what are you doing here?" Then Ray, her Mom, and Dad, friends, and other relatives. Knowing Ray and Lovice they would want to put on a gathering around the throne to both give praise to God and celebrate being all together again.
That's it: An Advent story of a Woman who Sees Jesus.
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