Light and Grace

         

Yesterday we celebrated the life of a great lady named Mildred Cole.  After 100 years, Mildred left her earthly home early Wednesday morning.  Her bright shining light is now finally at home with the Father of lights.  She was truly a lady to be respected and admired. 

Mildred was one of my role models.  She lived her life with strength, grace and dignity.  She literally graced this earth for 100 years. I believe she was loved by all who knew her.  Yesterday seemed to prove this true as people of all ages were there to honor her. 

Sometimes it seems words are never enough – to explain what someone meant to us – to speak of the love and joy one gave – or to comfort the loved ones left behind.  But the heart speaks the words we cannot say and shows the love and comfort we long to give.  Sometimes words do not have to be spoken.  Sometimes they are simply felt. 

Mildred was a wonderful example of a Christian.  God always came first in her life.  She wanted others to love and serve Him too.  She often encouraged the young men when they led singing or gave a devotional.  Mildred showed an interest in them and they loved her for it.  

As Tony Brown reminded us yesterday, Mildred lived through things in her lifetime we can only read or study about.  Being born in 1918, she was a child during the Great Depression.  She was only 23 when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese in 1941.  She lived through the assassination of JFK and Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon.  We can only read about the Great Depression and WW2 – Mildred lived through it.  She knew what it was like because she was there. 

She dearly loved her husband, Pete. They were married for almost 70 years before he passed away.  Pete and Mildred were two of the people who helped form the congregation of Hillcrest Church of Christ in Baldwyn, MS.  Pete was an elder and Mildred filled the role of an elder’s wife gracefully. 

Pete and Mildred worked actively with the teens in their church family.  They were a bright shining light for those young people. The couple often hosted youth events in their home.  My brother Todd attended Hillcrest for a few years.  He had a great respect for both of them. 

In fact, Todd asked Pete to be a groomsman in his wedding in Nashville.  Oh, Mildred was so happy for Pete! She was so proud of him.  It meant the world to her that Todd loved Pete enough to ask him to be a part of his wedding.  I still remember her smiles that day.  She simply glowed with love and pride for the husband she loved so well.

Mildred was always serving God in one fashion or another.  She was a wonderful cook and graced many homes with her fine dishes.  She and her good friend Daisy Rowland prepared fruit baskets for the elderly and needy.  Oh, they had help – but it was their project.  In doing so, they brought a little light to those who needed it. 

I don’t know how long Mildred served refreshments during Vacation Bible School. Forty years later some of us still remember her passing out cookies.  She often served in the background – doing those very necessary things most people don’t think about but still always takes a good bit of time and effort. 

Another way Mildred and Pete served Christ was by working as cooks at Maywood Christian Camp.  Talk about hard work!  But they loved the camp.  It meant so much to them to see young people grow stronger in Christ while they were there.  I still remember seeing Mildred walking through the camp between cooking and serving meals.

Mildred and Pete lost their youngest son during his first semester at Freed-Hardeman University.  I didn’t know them back then. But this is something no parent ever expects to go through.  Despite their grief, the couple never lost their faith in God.  Even during this sad time in her life, the word a friend recently used to describe Mildred was “grace.”  And a few months later, when another couple lost their daughter, Mildred and Pete were right there to offer comfort to the family.

When our Christian brother Pete left this world, Mildred continued to be graceful, strong and courageous.  She kept on loving and serving the Heavenly Father.  She maintained her joy in Christ.  I’m sure her faith was the major factor that kept her going. 

Mildred loved her family.  She always spoke of her children and grandchildren with such a keen love.  I remember how bright her smile was when she talked about them and their accomplishments.  I also remember her happiness when they were there to be with her for worship. 

Mildred loved life.  She had a great sense of humor and loved playing dominoes and card games.  She enjoyed being a lady and dressing like one. She was always neat as a pin.  Personally, I thought Mildred was a beautiful woman.  Perhaps her joy, compassion, goodness and love for God is what made her beautiful. 

Whatever it was, Mildred was a beacon of light to those who knew her.  Like Russ and Tony said yesterday, she could brighten a room by her presence.  Mildred was the type of person others wanted to be around.  And she never stopped talking to others about Jesus.

If I had to use one word to describe Mrs. Mildred Cole, I just wouldn’t be able to do it.  I would have to use at least two.  Light and grace. 

Mildred was light and grace.... and I will miss her.

Christ above all things,

Robin