As well as being an incredibly encouraging week as far a our schools ministry is concerned it has also been a week of sadness and prayer as we heard during our time in Glenrothes of the ‘home-call’ of someone very special. Aunty Muriel is the older sister of my dad and 2nd of 5 siblings, a very lovely lady.
So today saw Andy and I heading up to Neatishead in Norfolk to meet up with the rest of the family to pay our respects and give thanks for a life well lived, a light in the darkness and a lady who has been a real legend and a true servant of the King.
In a little tiny Baptist church in the back of beyond we had the chance to get together, some of these cousins we sadly haven’t seen for years, but now drawn together in a love for this woman of God. She has been an amazing influence on many lives right up until her death, particularly loving her work with children and young people, giving her time money and energy to anyone that needed her attention.
But my real abiding memory of family moments with my aunty were those where she and best friend Mary had the whole young family; me and my cousins, over to hers for her famous Christmas parties:-) We loved it! Great fun games, moments of hilarity and real frivolity. They were lovely times and we remember and look back with fond memories.
This afternoon we headed over to Surrey Chapel in the city and had further opportunity to hear about her life and reminisce with the wider group of friends and family. My most vivid memories and ones that sister Angela and Mary shared, were of her as a ‘no-nonsense’ commandant or Commie as she was affectionately known, at Bible Camp each summer on the East Coast of Norfolk. She ran a tight ship and even though I was her niece there was no hint of favouritism but an expectation that I would be a good example as the daughter of a renowned speaker and preacher.
To my shame I was a bit of a rebel but she was a lady that I looked up to and admired, teaching me unswervingly what it was to be a follower of Jesus with a passion for the word but a love for life. Even through some of these rebellious years I continued to go to camp and would always commit my life afresh to Jesus as I heard of his love and power through her ministry and the preaching from those great bible teachers at the camp.
I remember one year as I took my GCEs, waiting for my results at camp and preparing to ring home to find out how I had done, really struggling as I was worrying about whether those grades would enable me to do the nursing I was so hoping to apply for, she shared a verse with me:
Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
She encouraged me with this verse assuring me that my future, whatever it held, whatever it holds, is safe and secure in His hands, that He is my joy, that He is storing up those pleasures in eternity. Muriel can testify to this today! That as we mourn, she is enjoying those pleasures, that freedom which is waiting for us all as we step into eternity with Him!! She is more alive now than she has ever been, immersed in His presence and overwhelmed with His glory.
We love you Aunty Milaroo:-)
That ia a lovely tribute to Aunty Muriel, a wonderful lady! My best memory of her is opening the MASSIVE CRACKER at Dolphin court! What fun we had with her… My thoughts have been with you all day… Love you xx