so many lovely memories and feel her loss deeply. The rest of this article are the words I shared at her celebration service. Belinda would move mountains to come alongside to share in your joy or your grief no matter how hard it was for her physically and asking us how she could pray for us. I will never forget her joy as she shared in my joy of my first ever, long-awaited and prayed for house and how she stood by me in my grief in the passing of my mom. Belinda and her dad drove nine hours roundtrip to be with me at my mom’s funeral service, what a surprise and what a support. Belinda was our encourager. She would encourage us in our group’s job searches, numerous losses of family members and she also shared in the joys of three weddings, two sons, birthday celebrations and holiday dinners. Our small group has lived life together for 18 years as a family, as sisters in Christ. I miss her so much, but I picture her hearing every word in heaven, pain free and jumping for joy and that shifts my focus from my loss to her gain of being with her heavenly Father and getting to see his face. For years I have been telling Belinda she is the strongest person I know. We watched over time how her health diminished, and our God got bigger. It was because she entrusted her life to Christ daily. She continues to influence us, and she has impacted our small group with her kind, caring ways and all her prayers have shown us how to love deeply. Belinda has taught us that life is short, don’t neglect what is truly important, our days are numbered by God and life without Christ is empty. Belinda had a full life, and her life continues in heaven. Our small group family looks forward to seeing her again in heaven when our days are done here on earth.
The Longing Bert Bunn I long for the wine that Jesus made, that came not from vine, but when He prayed. Good wine from Cana, sweeter still, To quench both longing and selfish will. I long for the bread brought by the Lad, Along with fishes all he had. Food to nourish and assuage, My empty longing throughout this age. I long for water, drawn not from a well; Once offered to a woman who at once could tell; Springs of water living within, That once received save from sin. I long for the supper at table with Christ, The cup to share his blood sufficed. Unleavened bread broken and torn, As his body for us has borne. I long for those, gone on before, No pain, no want, their bodies pure. At rest in glory, beside the throne Their faith complete, their race reached home.
