George Lepp decided he wanted to take a bike ride to visit his friend Marie. The trip was many miles but I'm sure it was the sweet smile of Marie that made the ride seem only a few minutes. So when my immediate family stood around in the back room of the church I grew up in last Saturday, the church I was baptized in, the church I was married in, and we numbered ourselves at 71 I had to laugh at Uncle Ken's comment in my ear, "all of these people, just because Grandpa wanted to go for a bike ride." Mary (Marie) Lepp died January 2nd around 4:10pm. The first death in a family of 71.
She was 82, and she was a soldier. My greatest fear with her passing is the lack of prayer going to God on my behalf. Selfish isn' t it? There is nothing else to do but pick up where she left off. On January 2nd she put her sword and her helmet down for the first time, and now we pick up ours with renewed inspiration
What a faith we have! A faith where the same song was sung at both my wedding and my grandma's funeral, by my Dad. Faithful one. So unchanging.
Two of her most worn books.
After the funeral, all the cousins (grandchildren) and their kids (great grandchildren) met for an evening of games.
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
