Since a few days ago, I have been finding myself uttering the phrase, "Dare to be a Lillie." Now, you might just be asking yourself, "What on earth does this even mean?". Hopefully, after reading this you'll want to be like a Lillie, too.
So, Who is Lillie? Lillie is my 87 years (young) Great Aunt. Though in reality she was just my cousin, she always was an aunt to me. She always embodied everything I wished and pray to be in a woman, mother, and child of God. My Aunt Lillie was and is, what the bible verse about love says,
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Growing up, I did not get to see her very often due to insanely long distance between us. However, when I did get to go to her house and see her when I was in town, Aunt Lillie was always patient with me. Having a child like me in anyone's house was like having a bull in a china shop. Even if I got into things she was always kind to me. In all of my years on this earth I do not think I ever heard a bad word about anyone said, ever!
Sunday after Sunday, Aunt Lillie was in church. She was not there just to fill a pew, she was there to worship the Lord. She never boasted about the things she did within our church; however, she went above and beyond to make sure the other children were catered to as well. Anytime there was any help to be needed, she was there with open arms and willing hands. She truly did these things all for the Glory of God. Aunt Lillie truly did love.
I loved what my pastor said during her services this past Wednesday, instead of mourning her he rejoiced in what life she lived. He talked time and time again about how beloved she was within our church. He spoke of great things about her, and he actually meant it.
This was a poem read at that same day too, I feel like even though this is speaking about the Easter Lillie that it reflects my aunt's life, too.
"Easter morn with lilies fair
Fills the church with perfumes rare,
As their clouds of incense rise,
Sweetest offerings to the skies.
Stately lilies pure and white
Flooding darkness with their light,
Bloom and sorrow drifts away,
On this holy hallow'd day.
Easter Lilies bending low
in the golden afterglow,
Bear a message from the sod
To the heavenly towers of God."
-Louise Lewin Matthews
When reflecting on my aunt's long life, I come back time and time again to this Bible verse,
"She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her"-Proverbs 31:25-28
I know without a doubt my Aunt Lillie is a Proverbs 31 woman. I know she loved The Lord and she is in Heaven with our precious Heavenly Father. I know when she spoke, it was undoubtedly words of true wisdom and instructions said with grace. Lillie was a great mother and took fantastic care of her children and her husband. She was always ready to go out and go on adventures and was never idle. Her children are blessed, beyond measure.
If anything, my hearts prayer is that I can be the woman she is. Not was, is. If I can love Christ like her, love my family like her and love devoting my time to The Lord like she did I know I would be living life like Lillie.
