A Tribute To A Friend (a poem)

Isn't it interesting what God can do with the life of one obedient soul? A whole family, church, community, yes, the world is affected by the life of just one redeemed life given to God. This is a tribute to a woman that was to me a mother and in so many ways a mother to all her knew her. Her life was an example of what God could accomplish through someone that just said "yes" to Him. After she died of an inoperable cancerous brain tumor, we all had to grow up to try to stand in the gap she left among us. So we grew, some a little, some a lot when she left but the gap is still felt by everyone that knew her.

This is a tribute to my friend Elke Maney, always a part of Victory Baptist Church (now Victory Church), always a part of my heart, and always my friend and sister in the Lord.

Why do you sorrow, O my soul?

Why doth my life, not seem whole?

Do not leave me, I hear my heart scream

Yet my spirit knows, it's not as it seems,

I remind myself, of all the right things

Of the blessings and joys, that heaven brings

Yet that does little, to ease the pain

That blows in the wind, and falls in the rain,

When I see my brother, begin to smile

I want to stop him, for just a little while

A while longer, to remember her life

A woman, a hero, a wonderful wife,

A model for all, of a soldier strong

Whose quiet spirit, edified all,

And now I'm left, with this empty space

That comes from not seeing, her smiling face,

Or the tilt of her head, that I thought was so funny

Or hearing the words, "I'll pray for you honey"

So up till today, I've cried silent tears

The kind I was sure, that no one hears.

"So what changed?" my friend asked with puzzled look

And wondered how much, strength it took

To put away, such an awful pain

And to count my loss, as only gain,

So I said, "I suddenly realized today

That my friend, never really went away

It's like she went, into an upper room

And never was buried in a tomb

Like I discovered an attic, above the stair

Behind a door, that opens with prayer

And one day, when God says it's time

God will open that door, and I'll make my climb

And at the top of the stairs, with arms open wide

There is my sister, at the Lord's side

There she will be, with head tilted funny

And say, 'Bout time you got here, I missed you honey.

How could I be sad, since I found that stair

And the door, that opens wide with prayer?"

Then I saw my friend, have tears in his eyes

And on his face, a look of surprise,

"S'cuse me", he said, "Gotta go find that stair

And that door that opens, wide with prayer."

Elke Maney changed and affected so many lives. She cared about each soul she met and you knew when you talked to her that you saw her heart. Nothing phony, superficial or plastic about her. She ministered to her family, her church, at the prison and so many other ways that only God knows. I know that her fondest wish was to know her influence would help people see the Savior she so loved. So many people came to Jesus because she cared to share Him with them. So in her memory, because of her legacy, I do what she would have wanted on any page written of her- I offer the Savior to you.

If you do not know Jesus as personal Lord and Savior of your life it is very simple to reach out to Him. First, it is important to realize you are a sinner because Jesus came to earth to bleed and die for sinners. The Bible says "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." If you believe that Jesus was the Son of God and that He was buried and in three days rose from the dead, you can cry out to Him to save you.

Pray this: Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that You came to die to pay for my sins and to make me Your child. I believe that You were buried but in three days You rose from the dead. Lord please forgive me of my sin and save me. I turn from my sin and turn to You as the only way of salvation. Thank You for hearing me and saving me. I pray this in Jesus' holy name, Amen.