A tribute

Proverbs 31

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?

She is worth more than precious rubies.

Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life.

She will not hinder him but help him all her life...

She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household...

She watches for bargains...

She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy...

She is clothed with strength and dignity,

and she laughs with no fear of the future.

When she speaks, her words are wise,

and kindness is the rule when she gives instructions...

Her children stand and bless her.

Her husband praises her.

"There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,

but you surpass them all!"

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;

but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

My mother-in-law, Shirlee Jean Larson, went to be with Jesus last week. It was very unexpected. She was only 67 years old. She has left great holes in many lives.

Shirlee's family (about 1960)

back row: Shirlee's mom, brother Jim, and dad

front row: Al and Shirlee (Scott's parents:), Shirlee's sister and her husband

Al and Shirlee, young and in love!

Totally the '80s.

One thing I love about Scott's family is their love of the outdoors.

My family wasn't so great at that. We had a tendency to take part in great commercialism.

Here we are enjoying the great outdoors, in Wisconsin, I think.

top: Rachel, Scott's sister

Scott, Christy (Scott's sister), Shirlee, Al

Me, with the big hair!

Another outdoor excursion. I think in Door County.
I need Scott here to identify all these adventures!



Al and Shirlee, at Rachel's wedding, 1992

Shirlee with our two kids, Jake and Noelle, 1996

Shirlee and Noelle, Holland, Michigan

It's funny, everyone always says she looks like me.

I think she sure looks like Scott's mom and sister!

Al and Shirlee dancing at Christy's wedding.

Shirlee was pretty infamous for tea parties with the grand kids.

Here they are with Aunt Rachel, 2001

Fairly sure this is in Duluth.

We all met there for a long weekend.

It is one of Al and Shirlee's favorite places.

Another tea party!

Cousin Micah joins in.

Handmade Christmas presents!

Story time with Noelle and Micah.

Thanks for reminiscing with me. I noticed a couple of things as I went through pictures. First, Al and Shirlee were so in love. They were high school sweethearts and have been together over 50 years! What a fantastic model for our family. Second, I had a hard time finding recent photos of Shirlee with our family. I have been dealing with so much regret since Shirlee passed away.

I have always joked that patience was a virtue that I didn't have. I am seeing the seriousness of that, it isn't very funny any more. God has called us to portray the FRUIT of the Spirit, singular, not plural. We don't get to pick and choose. I fear that my impatience drove a distance into our relationship with Scott's parents. I knew it was there but I didn't know how to fix it and I didn't pursue the healing of the relationship like I should have.

This is a cautionary tale. We don't get time back!! Love your family with all that you have! Don't let little differences come between you!

"Regret, remorse imply a sense of sorrow about events in the past, usually wrongs committed or errors made. Regret is distress of mind, sorrow for what has been done. Remorse implies pangs, qualms of conscience, a sense of guilt, regret, and repentance for sins committed, wrongs done or duty not performed. Antonym: JOY"

Don't live with regret.

Al and Shirlee, I am so sorry!! I am so sorry to my family for the time that they lost with their mom and grandma! I thank God that He is my Father and that in Him I can someday find peace in this situation.

Romans 8:6 "If your sinful nature controls your mind (and tongue), there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace."

Hebrews 12:14 "Try to live in peace with everyone, and seek to live a clean and holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord."

I Peter 3:11 "Turn away from evil and do good. Work hard at living in peace with others."

II Peter 1:2 "May God bless you with His special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better."

That's another thing about Scott's parents (and my parents). They are not stagnant in their relationship with their Lord. I pray this will be a wake up call to me. Maybe the reason Shirlee was so patient and peaceful is because she started each day with Jesus.

Please pray with me that the Lord will be everything that Scott and his family need during this hard, hard time. Pray with me that I will witness a transformation. That I will finally invest in my spiritual life in a way that will pore out of me in a new way, peace and patience. I have always loved the word meek. Pray that somewhere inside me there is a shred of meekness.

Pray that before it is too late, that Scott and I would model a dailyness in the Lord. That our kids won't have to look to their grandparents to see that. That our relationship with Jesus would be intimate and apparent, more that Wednesday, Sunday and meal time prayer.